Which stars are at the top of the mountain when it comes to overall domestic box office grosses? Well, this trusty blogger has your answers in my new series. This will be a five-part series revealing the Top 25 Highest Grossing Actors of All Time from #25 to #1.
When looking at the performers who make up the list, you’ll notice some very big names aren’t listed. Brad Pitt. Jim Carrey. Nicolas Cage. Denzel Washington. Why? Well, as you’ll see, it helps to be an actor involved in a successful franchise… or franchises. Therefore – some of the names may well surprise you.
Let’s get to it, shall we?
25. Tommy Lee Jones
Career Earnings: $2.4 billion
Franchises: The Men in Black series. The Fugitive/U.S. Marshals. *Jones also made one time appearances in ongoing franchises with Batman Forever and Captain America: The First Avenger.
Highest Grossing Picture: Men in Black – $250 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 8. The Fugitive, Batman Forever, Men in Black, Double Jeopardy, Men in Black II, Captain America: The First Avenger, MIB 3, Lincoln.
Lowest Grosser: House of Cards – $322,000
24. Stellan Skarsgard
Career Earnings: $2.5 billion
Franchises: The Marvel Universe (Thor, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest/Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. *Skarsgard also appeared in Angels&Demons, the Da Vinci Code sequel.
Highest Grossing Picture: The Avengers – $623 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 9. Good Will Hunting, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Mamma Mia!, Angels&Demons, Thor, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World.
Lowest Grosser: Boogie Woogie – $2,000
23. Helena Bonham Carter
Career Earnings: $2.5 billion
Franchises: The Harry Potter series. *Bonham Carter also appeared in Terminator: Salvation.
Highest Grossing Picture: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – $381 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 9. Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Terminator: Salvation, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Les Miserables.
Lowest Grosser: The Theory of Flight – $73,000
22. Orlando Bloom
Career Earnings: $2.5 billion
Franchises: The Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Hobbit series.
Highest Grossing Picture: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $423 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 9. Black Hawk Down, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Troy, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Lowest Grosser: Main Street – $2,500
21. Julia Roberts
Career Earnings: $2.6 billion
Franchises: The Ocean’s series.
Highest Grossing Picture: Ocean’s Eleven – $183 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 11. Pretty Woman, Sleeping with the Enemy, Hook, The Pelican Brief, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Notting Hill, Runaway Bride, Erin Brockovich, Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve, Valentine’s Day.
Lowest Grosser: Fireflies in the Garden – $70,000
That’s all for now! I’ll be back tomorrow with numbers 20-16!