It’s the way of the box office.
Zoe Saldaña officially became the highest-grossing actor of all time after the 2025 film “Avatar: Fire and Ash” was released in December.
The third “Avatar” movie grossed $1.23 billion at the worldwide box office, per Box Office Mojo, which led the actress to dethrone Scarlett Johansson.
Saldaña, 47, played Neytiri opposite Sam Worthington’s Jake Sully in all three James Cameron films, including 2009’s “Avatar” and the 2022 sequel “The Way of Water.”
Saldaña has also worked closely with Marvel over the years, starring as Gamora in 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War” and 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.”
The Oscar winner appeared in three “Star Trek” movies from 2009 to 2016 featuring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Simon Pegg.
She starred in 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” which brought in $654 million worldwide.
Johansson, 41, made box office history thanks to Marvel hits such as “Avengers: Endgame, “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015).
The actress, 41, sealed the deal for the number one spot after starring in 2025 “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which brought in more than $800 million.
The Marvel films have been a fan-favorite franchise for years, and feature a star-studded cast, including Robert Downey Jr., 60, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Josh Brolin and more.
Saldaña, meanwhile will return as Neytiri in two more “Avatar” projects, which follows life on the lush alien moon Pandora and the evolving threats the Na’vi face.
“I don’t know about six or seven,” costume designer Deborah Scott, who has worked closely with Cameron across multiple projects, admitted to The Post last month. “We’ve always had a sort of plan for four or five, possibly. We’ll see how these movies do, how the public likes this one.”
“I think he’s prepared for anything,” the 71-year-old added. “Jim always has something up his sleeve. There are always new worlds to go to, in ‘Avatar’ or something else.”
“Pandora is always interesting,” Scott continued. “It’s exciting because there’s going to be new stuff. We’re not going to stay in the same place we are now, and I think that’s going to have incredible creative challenges.”
Cameron, 71, previously revealed that the “Avatar” story is already mapped out far past “Fire and Ash.”
“We’re fully written through movie five, and I’ve got ideas for six and seven,” he told People last year. “Although I’ll probably be handing the baton on at that point. I mean, mortality catches up.”
Meanwhile, Saldaña’s milestone comes a year after she took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for “Emilia Pérez.”
“My mom is here. My whole family is here. I am floored by this honor,” she said through tears while accepting her award. “To my cast and my crew of ‘Emilia Pérez,’ I’m sharing this award with you.”
Saldaña added: “To my mom, my dad and my sisters — everything brave, outrageous and good I’ve ever done in my life is because of you.”
The top two spots for highest-grossing actor were previously held by Samuel L. Jackson and Downey Jr.
Jackson, 77, is now number three.
