Zoe Saldaña has firmly established herself as one of Hollywood’s most commercially successful actresses since her debut in the teen drama Centre Stage in 2000. Over the years, she has remarkably featured in four of the six highest-grossing films of all time and has played a crucial role in the top three. Collectively, Saldaña’s films have achieved an impressive box office total exceeding $15 billion globally, showcasing her versatility across various genres and roles.
As the second highest-grossing lead actress in cinematic history, trailing only behind Scarlett Johansson (source: IMDb), Saldaña’s on-screen capabilities are hard to ignore. With participation in blockbuster franchises, her financial success at the box office shows no signs of waning, especially with the anticipated Avatar sequels expected to generate similar colossal returns, further amplifying her impressive earnings.
10 Star Trek (2009)
Worldwide Gross: $387 Million
J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot of Star Trek marked a significant revitalization of the beloved sci-fi franchise and was met with widespread critical acclaim. Saldaña stood out as she breathed new life into the iconic character Nyota Uhura, originally played by Nichelle Nichols. The film not only garnered positive reviews but also achieved an impressive box office gross of nearly $387 million, effectively recovering its substantial budget of over $150 million. Notably, it became the first Star Trek film to win an Academy Award, securing the accolade for Best Makeup at the 82nd Academy Awards.
9 Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Worldwide Gross: $467 Million
In this sequel, which also served as the last film appearance of Leonard Nimoy, Saldaña once again portrayed Uhura alongside the familiar team. Though it did not reach the acclaim of its predecessor, the film managed a solid rating of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it claimed the title of the highest-grossing film in the Star Trek franchise with a remarkable box office return surpassing $467 million (source: The Numbers).
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Star Trek Reboot Series Rotten Tomatoes Approval Ratings |
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|---|---|
|
Star Trek (2009) |
94% |
|
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) |
84% |
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Star Trek Beyond (2016) |
86% |
8 Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
Worldwide Gross: $654 Million
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, released in 2003, began one of the most lucrative and iconic franchises. Directed by Gore Verbinski, this film has maintained its status as a fan favorite and is regarded by many as the best in the series. Even though Saldaña had a supporting role as Anamaria—a female pirate who is eager to confront Captain Jack Sparrow—this entry remains one of the most successful films in her career, grossing over $654 million globally (source: The Numbers).
7 Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Worldwide Gross: $771 Million
Celebrated as one of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s finest films, Guardians of the Galaxy introduced audiences to its ensemble cast of eccentric anti-heroes. Saldaña, donning vibrant green skin and purple hair, showcased her talent as the fierce alien assassin Gamora. The film’s positive reception translated into box office success, raking in $771 million and establishing Saldaña’s character as a fan favorite (source: Box Office Mojo).
6 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Worldwide Gross: $845 Million
Concluding the trilogy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) saw Saldaña reprise her iconic role as Gamora, wrapping up the storyline in a manner that resonated with both fans and critics. The film generated strong revenue, grossing over $845 million worldwide, marking its position as the fourth highest-grossing film of 2023 while highlighting the trilogy’s success (source: The Numbers).
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Guardians of the Galaxy Rotten Tomatoes Approval Ratings |
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|---|---|
|
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) |
92% |
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) |
85% |
|
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) |
82% |
5 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Worldwide Gross: $869 Million
2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 raised the stakes, featuring Saldaña and the original cast as they navigated the complexities of family and identity. The film, despite receiving mixed sentiments concerning its narrative compared to its predecessor, grossed more than $869 million, solidifying its commercial success (source: The Numbers).
4 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Worldwide Gross: $2 Billion
Marking a pivotal chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Infinity War (2018) featured Saldaña as Gamora, whose role became increasingly significant in the battle against Thanos. The movie broke numerous box office records, grossing over $2 billion, and set the stage for the grand finale of Phase Three of the MCU (source: The Numbers).
3 Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)
Worldwide Gross: $2.3 Billion
Returning to the breathtaking world of Pandora, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) saw Saldaña once again as Neytiri. The long-awaited sequel was a visual spectacle and, although it did not surpass the original’s box office total, it still managed to earn over $2.3 billion globally, making it one of the most profitable films of 2022 (source: The Numbers).
2 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Worldwide Gross: $2.7 Billion
The culmination of over a decade of interconnected storytelling, Avengers: Endgame (2019) reignited the excitement of audiences worldwide. Featuring Saldaña reprising her role as Gamora, the film obliterated box office records, garnering over $2.7 billion, making it the second-highest-grossing film of all time (source: The Numbers).
1 Avatar (2009)
Worldwide Gross: $2.9 Billion
Permanently etched in cinematic history, James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) remains the highest-grossing film of all time. Saldaña’s character Neytiri captivated global audiences, contributing to the film’s staggering gross of over $2.9 billion ever since its release. As of now, its status is bolstered by the anticipation of subsequent sequels planned for release through 2031 (source: The Numbers).
The phenomenal success of Zoe Saldaña signifies her significant impact on the film industry as one of the most bankable stars, with her films continuing to draw audiences worldwide.
Source: The Numbers, Rotten Tomatoes, Box Office Mojo
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