Four years after leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Scarlett Johansson has achieved a major milestone by becoming Hollywood’s highest-grossing lead actor. This accomplishment was fueled by her performance in the new blockbuster Jurassic World Rebirth, which has grossed an impressive $318 million globally within six days of its release.
Johansson’s recent success has elevated her above fellow MCU stars Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr., marking a significant shift in box office rankings.
Surpassing MCU Heavyweights With Fewer Films
According to The Numbers, this surge has pushed Johansson from third place to first, surpassing Jackson and Downey Jr. Jackson previously held the top spot with $14.6 billion in career box office earnings from lead and lead ensemble roles, while Downey stood close behind at $14.3 billion. Johansson now leads with a total of $14.8 billion, largely boosted by Jurassic World Rebirth’s rapid earnings.
Despite having appeared in only 36 films, Johansson surpassed Jackson’s 71 and Downey’s 45, underscoring the remarkable efficiency of her box office draws over a smaller number of projects.
Key Contributions From Marvel and Other Blockbusters
A significant portion of Johansson’s career earnings come from her role as Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, in the MCU. Her highest-grossing Marvel films include Avengers: Endgame ($2.7 billion), Avengers: Infinity War ($2 billion), The Avengers ($1.5 billion), Avengers: Age of Ultron ($1.4 billion), Captain America: Civil War ($1.1 billion), Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($714 million), and Iron Man 2 ($621 million). Despite the pandemic, her solo 2021 Black Widow film earned $379 million.
Beyond Marvel, Johansson has starred in lucrative films such as The Jungle Book ($951 million), Sing ($631 million), and Lucy ($457 million), further adding to her overall box office success.
Johansson’s Role in Jurassic World Rebirth and Personal Connection
In Jurassic World Rebirth, Johansson portrays Zora Bennett, a mercenary enlisted by pharmaceutical representative Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) to accompany paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) on a mission to extract dinosaur DNA from a Jurassic Park facility. This role marks Johansson’s first appearance in the Jurassic Park franchise after years of interest in joining it.
Johansson, a longtime fan of the original Jurassic Park, revealed that she had been eager to join the series for more than a decade, expressing enthusiasm when her casting was announced.
“I’ve been trying to get into this franchise in any possible way for over 10 years,”
Johansson said last year when the film was announced.
“I’m like, ‘I’ll die in the first five minutes! I can get eaten by whatever! I’ll do the craft service!’ I’ll do anything for it. The fact that it’s happened in this way, at this time, just is actually unbelievable. I can’t believe it.”
—Scarlett Johansson
Reflecting on the original film’s impact, she added,
“It’s one of the first films I remember seeing in the theater, I remember seeing it so vividly. It was like life-changing. It was mind-blowing. I cannot express how excited I am.”
—Scarlett Johansson
Implications of Johansson’s Box Office Achievement
The rise of Scarlett Johansson as Hollywood’s highest-grossing lead actor highlights her enduring appeal and diverse filmography spanning blockbuster franchises and stand-alone hits. Her box office dominance, achieved with fewer films than rivals Jackson and Downey, signals her efficient star power in a competitive industry.
With Jurassic World Rebirth still at the box office, Johansson’s record could continue to grow, reinforcing her status among the most bankable actors in Hollywood.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What kind of twin is Scarlett Johansson?
A. Scarlett Johansson has a twin brother, similar to Jenna Bush Hager. Her brother, Hunter Austin Johansson, completed a Master’s in Public Service at NYU’s Wagner School in 2019.
Q. Is Scarlett Johansson a natural blonde?
A. Scarlett Johansson is famous for her blond hair, but her natural color is a slightly darker brown. Throughout the years, she has tried many different styles, and lately, she has been sporting short hair.
