One of cinema’s most commercially successful actresses,Zoe Saldañahas been a staple of Hollywood since debuting with the teen dramaCentre Stageall the way back in 2000. She’s come a long way since, with the actress starring in four of the sixhighest-grossing movies of all timeand featuring in the entirety of the top three.Saldaña’s array of movieshave raked in more than $15 billion worldwide at the box office, with her filmography encompassing a diverse range of genres and roles.
The second highest-grossing lead actress in cinematic history behind Scarlett Johansson (viaIMDb),Saldaña’s on-screen talent is undeniable.She’s credited for roles in some of the biggest franchises of all time, and her box office domination doesn’t look likely to change any time soon. TheupcomingAvatarsequelsare likely to be similar box office smash hits in the vein of their predecessors, potentially tacking a few more zeroes onto Saldaña’s already impressive returns.
Star Trek
Cast
J.J. Abrams' 2009 movie Star Trek rebooted the iconic sci-fi franchise in a totally new timeline. When a Romulan ship travels back in time and alters the past, the lives of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the future crew of the USS Enterprise are drastically changed. In this new timeline, the Romulan Nero (Eric Bana) sets out for revenge on Spock, setting off a chain of events that reshape the entire universe.
An ambitious reboot and modernization, J.J. Abrams’Star Treksignaled the beginning of a new dawn for the beloved sci-fi franchise. The 2009 movie received highly positive reviews upon release, with many critics directing praise towards the performances ofStar Trek’s “new generation” cast, all of whom were tasked with bringing the series' iconic characters to life. Dotted among these new faces was Saldaña.She took on the role of Nyota Uhura,originally played by Nichelle Nichols in the original show.
Star Trek 2009 Ending & Movies Future Explained
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2009 saw the young Kirk and Spock join forces to save Earth. A deep dive into how Star Trek 2009 ended and what it all means.
Star Trekproduced the commercial returns to match its glowing critical response, raking in nearly $387 million worldwide at the box office (viaThe Numbers). The movie easily earned back its eye-watering budget of more than $150 million, and it even became the firstStar Trekfilm to win an Academy Award, taking home the accolade for Best Makeup at the 82nd Academy Awards.
Star Trek Into Darkness
Star Trek Into Darkness follows Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise as they return home to find their organization under threat from a force within. Kirk leads a mission to apprehend a formidable adversary, navigating personal and professional challenges during this pivotal confrontation.
The sequel to 2009’sStar Trek, 2013’sStar Trek Into Darknessintroduced Benedict Cumberbatch’s terrifying Khan Noonien Singh as the latest evil foil to the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Marking the final movie appearance of the late Leonard Nimoy,the sequel also saw Saldaña reprise her role as Uhuraalongside the rest of the core cast members.
Star Trek reboot series Rotten Tomatoes approval ratings
94%
84%
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
86%
While it may not have received the same universal acclaim that its 2009 predecessor did,Star Trek into Darknessgarnered mostly positive reviews, earning an 84% rating onRotten Tomatoes. From a box office perspective, the movie became the highest-grossing entry in the entireStar Trekfranchise with a whopping return of more than $467 million (viaThe Numbers). The sequel produced a conclusive installment in 2016’sStar Trek Beyond, but this ultimately landed as the lowest-grossing entry in the reboot trilogy.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.
Introducing the world to what would go on to become one of the most successful and influential movie franchises of all time, 2003’sThe Curse of the Black Pearlstill retains its status as thebestPirates of the Caribbeanmovieby some distance. Inspired by the attraction of the same name at Disney theme parks,Gore Verbinski’s initial outing remains a timeless classic to this day.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlboasts a rating of 8.1 on IMDb.
In contrast to her other highest-grossing movies, Saldaña doesn’t actually have a hugely prominent role in the proceedings here.The actress plays Anamaria, a female pirate with a predilection for cracking Jack Sparrow in the faceas hard as possible due to his history of stealing her ships. However, while Saldaña’s solePirates of the Caribbeanappearance might not be one of her most celebrated roles, it’s still one of the most profitable.The Curse of the Black Pearlproved to be a hit at the box office, grossing more than $654 million worldwide (viaThe Numbers).
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring Chris Pratt as Peter Quill. Abducted from Earth as a child, Quill navigates intergalactic adventures, becoming entwined in a conflict centered on a powerful orb coveted by Ronan the Accuser.
One ofthe best feel good moviesthat cinema has to offer,Guardians of the Galaxyis widely regarded as one of the MCU’s finest offerings. Introducing audiences to Marvel’s motley crew of extraterrestrial criminals for the first time,the critically acclaimed film saw Saldaña donning the green skin and purple hair of alien assassin Gamorafor the first time. This would go on to be the most financially lucrative role of her career, as well as one of her most well-known characters.
Producing the box office returns to match the movie’s positive reviews,Guardians of the Galaxyswiftly became the third highest-grossing movie of 2014(viaBox Office Mojo). James Gunn’s riotous film raked in more than $770 million at the box office, completely justifying its hefty budget of more than $200 million (viaThe Numbers). This outing marked theGuardians of the Galaxyseries as one to watch as the MCU plowed forward.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 follows Peter Quill as he grapples with the loss of Gamora while rallying his team to defend the universe. The Guardians face a crucial mission to protect one of their own, with stakes that could alter the fate of the group forever.
Concluding one of thebest Marvel superhero trilogiesof all time, 2023’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3brought James Gunn’s sci-fi bonanza full circle in unashamedly crowd-pleasing fashion. The climactic installment saw Saldaña reprising the role of Gamora in aGuardians of the Galaxymovie for the first time since her return from the dead of sorts inAvengers: Endgame.This allowed the film to close the book on the original group’s story in a satisfactory manner.
Guardians of the Galaxy Rotten Tomatoes approval ratings
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
92%
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
85%
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
82%
Much like its predecessors,Vol. 3proved to be a critical and commercial success. While it failed to claim the top spot for the highest-grossingGuardians of the Galaxymovie, Gunn’s 2023 picture outperformed the original by more than $100 million. Earning more than $845 million worldwide (viaThe Numbers),the trilogy’s swan song landed as 2023’s fourth highest-grossing movie, according toBox Office Mojo.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the adventures of Peter Quill and his eclectic crew as they navigate complex family dynamics and revelations about Quill’s mysterious heritage. Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the film explores themes of family and identity against a backdrop of intergalactic adventure.
The highest-grossingGuardians of the Galaxyentry in the trilogy, 2017’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2sawSaldaña and the rest of the original movie’s cast return with a bang for their sophomore effort,which attempted to unravel the mysteries at the heart of Peter Quill’s parentage. The movie received positive reviews from fans and critics, although many argued that its predecessor still presented a superior offering.
Vol. 2remains Saldana’s fifth highest grossing piece of work to date.
However, this didn’t have much of an impact on the movie’s financial results, considering thatVol. 2grossed more than $869 million at the box office worldwide(viaThe Numbers). Remarkably, this colossal sum only saw James Gunn’s picture land as the eighth highest-grossing movie of the year, overshadowed by blockbuster titans in the vein ofStar Wars: The Last JediandThe Fate of the Furious. In any case,Vol. 2remains Saldana’s fifth highest-grossing piece of work to date.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
The first installment of the cinematic event that the MCU had been building to sinceIron Manback in 2008, 2018’sAvengers: Infinity Warkicked off the showdown between Earth’s mightiest heroes and Josh Brolin’s Thanos.The film saw Saldaña appearing as Gamora outside theGuardians of the Galaxymovies for the first time, and she took on a pivotal role in Thanos' quest to destroy half of all life in the universe.
Unsurprisingly,Infinity War’sperformance at the box office mirrored the widespread hype associated with the movie, which broke records left and right. The fourth highest-grossing movie ever made at the time of its release,Infinity Warended the year as 2018’s most financially profitable movie. Earning a titanic $2 billion at the box office (viaThe Numbers), the Russo Brothers' film also became the first superhero movie to attain this financial benchmark.
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water, set more than a decade after the original film, follows the Sully family as they face threats to their survival. With Jake and Neytiri at the helm, they strive to protect their children while combating external perils and confronting personal losses.
A highly anticipated sequel more than a decade in the making, 2022’sAvatar: The Way of Watersaw the return of most of the characters from James Cameron’s iconic 2009 sci-fi epic.Chief among them was Zoe Saldaña’s Na’vi charge, Neytiri.Much like the original,The Way of Waterreceived mostly positive reviewsfrom critics, many of whom praised the movie’s stunning visuals while lamenting its shortcomings in the script writing and pacing departments.
…Cameron’s sequel is the third highest grossing film in the history of cinema.
While it failed to topple its predecessor’s returns at the box office,Avatar: The Way of Waterstill grossed more than $2.3 billion worldwide to justify its mind-blowing budget of approximately $400 million (viaThe Numbers). 2022’s most profitable movie by a considerable stretch ahead ofTop Gun: Maverick’s$1.5 billion, Cameron’s sequel is the third highest-grossing film in the history of cinema.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, concludes the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. It follows the remaining Avengers as they attempt to reverse the destruction caused by Thanos, navigating complex dynamics and forging alliances to restore balance to the universe.
It should come as little surprise that box office titanAvengers: Endgameis Zoe Saldaña’s highest-grossing movie outside theAvatarfranchise. Bringing Thanos' world-ending story arc fromAvengers: Infinity Warfull circle, the 2019 sequel blew its predecessor out of the water at the box office in short order. In fact, it surpassed its entire theatrical run in the span of just 11 days (viaEW).
Avengers: Endgame boasts a rating of 8.4 on IMDb.
Taking home more than $2.7 billion worldwide (viaThe Numbers),Avengers: Endgameis officially the second highest-grossing movie of all time,in addition to being Saldana’s second most profitable film appearance. The culmination of the first three phases of the MCU saw a version of Gamora from an alternate timeline stepping into the void left by the original, following her death at Thanos' hands in 2018’sInfinity War.
Avatar
Avatar is a 2009 science fiction film directed by James Cameron. Set in the 22nd century, it follows a paraplegic Marine sent to the moon Pandora on a mission. He becomes conflicted between his orders and defending the indigenous Na’vi civilization.
The highest-grossing movie of all time, 2009’sAvatarstill reigns supreme from a commercial perspective, even over a decade after the sci-fi epic’s 2009 release.Introducing Saldaña’s character Neytiri to global audiences for the first time,James Cameron’s visually stunning box office titan has raked in more than $2.9 billion worldwide since its debut (viaThe Numbers). The franchise shows no sign of slowing down any time soon either, with three moreAvatarsequels slated for release by 2031.
“It Doesn’t Work That Way”: Avatar 3 Will Address Something James Cameron Says Hollywood Always Gets Wrong
Avatar: Fire and Ash will address something that creator James Cameron says Hollywood always gets wrong, explaining how it will be remedied.
It speaks volumes toZoe Saldaña’s immense profitability as an actress that her most financially successful movie just so happens to be the highest-grossing film of all time. The movie was briefly overtaken byAvengers: Endgamefrom 2019 to 2022, but adjustments for international re-releases have seenAvatarultimately come out on top.
