good movie will transport you into a separate time or era with an intriguing story, everlasting characters, and imaginative plot development. It could have a happy, sad, romantic, or action packed theme. As a whole, the world population adores the character actors who star in these stories. People can personally relate to certain movie characters and individual actors. In the history of cinema, billions of dollars has been grossed in movie theatres and rental stores worldwide. Certain actors have made their mark on the industry becoming the most successful at the box office. I have compiled a list of the most successful actors in world history, according to money made on films they have starred in.
Top 10 Most Successful Actors at the Box Office
10. Robin Williams
U.S. Gross – $3,177,675,199
Worldwide Gross – $5,749,935,745
9. Will Smith
U.S. Gross – $2,542,908,988
Worldwide Gross – $5,771,022,176
8. Morgan Freeman
U.S. Gross – $3,138,301,600
Worldwide Gross – $5,851,042,996
7. Eddie Murphy
U.S. Gross – $3,470,799,901
Worldwide Gross – $6,211,397,821
6. Bruce Willis
U.S. Gross – $3,045,317,743
Worldwide Gross – $ 6,432,992,990
5. Tom Cruise
U.S. Gross – $3,274,294,878
Worldwide Gross – $6,642,337,497
4. Orlando Bloom
U.S. Gross – $2,390,308,637
Worldwide Gross – $6,554,217,251
3. Harrison Ford
U.S. Gross – $3,630,449,689
Worldwide Gross – $6,657,454,464
2. Tom Hanks
U.S. Gross – $3,985,186,565
World Gross – $8,007,367,700
1. Samuel L Jackson
U.S. Gross – $4,458,983,764
Worldwide Gross – $8,640,150,950
Samuel L Jackson is the world’s highest grossing actor and his movies have made over $8.5 billion dollars worldwide. Samuel is different from many actors on this list and has played smaller character roles in many blockbuster films. You may argue that he doesn’t deserve the top spot over leading actors who have appeared in fewer films. Although, Samuel L Jackson has been the busiest man in Hollywood for the last twenty years and should be commemorated for appearing in so many famous motion pictures, over 70 productions in all. Movies that he has appeared in have an average gross of $57,166,459 million dollars. As you would expect, Samuel L Jackson will be appearing in some upcoming features, including Iron Man 2, Quantum Quest: Cassini Space Odyssey, and Blown. He is well aware of his sales record and is continuously trying to land roles in the year’s biggest blockbuster hits
Honorable Mentions
Frank Welker
U.S. Gross – $4,954,899,301
Worldwide Gross – $9,282,114,860
Frank Welker is the most famous voice actor in Hollywood. Over the last 40 years he has provided voice work and special effects for over seventy films and television series. I have added him as an honorable mention because he is not a screen actor, but Frank is listed as number one on the list of the All Time Top 100 Stars at the Box Office, which is generated by total revenue in films he participated in. The average gross for a film that Frank Welker was involved with is $55,054,437.
Most Successful Films
1.Independence Day (Vocal Effects) – $817,400,878
2.The Lion King (Additional Voice) – $783,839,505
3.Aladdin (Abu the Monkey) – $504,050,219
4.Beauty and the Beast (Footstool) – $403,476,931
Can’t Forget the Ensemble Actors:
When creating this list, one of the criteria was that the actor played a leading role in a portion of their featured films. There is a small list of actors who are not officially leading men, but have starred in some of the biggest grossing movies in history. Many of these men contributed to the widely successful Harry Potter series, but in order to get to the level of multi-billion dollars sales, an actor must have numerous popular roles. Here is a short list of some of the actors that deserve recognition
Although Samuel L Jackson is a good actor surprised hes in top spot
Top 10 Most Successful Actors at the Box Office
10. Robin Williams
U.S. Gross – $3,177,675,199
Worldwide Gross – $5,749,935,745
9. Will Smith
U.S. Gross – $2,542,908,988
Worldwide Gross – $5,771,022,176
8. Morgan Freeman
U.S. Gross – $3,138,301,600
Worldwide Gross – $5,851,042,996
7. Eddie Murphy
U.S. Gross – $3,470,799,901
Worldwide Gross – $6,211,397,821
6. Bruce Willis
U.S. Gross – $3,045,317,743
Worldwide Gross – $ 6,432,992,990
5. Tom Cruise
U.S. Gross – $3,274,294,878
Worldwide Gross – $6,642,337,497
4. Orlando Bloom
U.S. Gross – $2,390,308,637
Worldwide Gross – $6,554,217,251
3. Harrison Ford
U.S. Gross – $3,630,449,689
Worldwide Gross – $6,657,454,464
2. Tom Hanks
U.S. Gross – $3,985,186,565
World Gross – $8,007,367,700
1. Samuel L Jackson
U.S. Gross – $4,458,983,764
Worldwide Gross – $8,640,150,950
Samuel L Jackson is the world’s highest grossing actor and his movies have made over $8.5 billion dollars worldwide. Samuel is different from many actors on this list and has played smaller character roles in many blockbuster films. You may argue that he doesn’t deserve the top spot over leading actors who have appeared in fewer films. Although, Samuel L Jackson has been the busiest man in Hollywood for the last twenty years and should be commemorated for appearing in so many famous motion pictures, over 70 productions in all. Movies that he has appeared in have an average gross of $57,166,459 million dollars. As you would expect, Samuel L Jackson will be appearing in some upcoming features, including Iron Man 2, Quantum Quest: Cassini Space Odyssey, and Blown. He is well aware of his sales record and is continuously trying to land roles in the year’s biggest blockbuster hits
Honorable Mentions
Frank Welker
U.S. Gross – $4,954,899,301
Worldwide Gross – $9,282,114,860
Frank Welker is the most famous voice actor in Hollywood. Over the last 40 years he has provided voice work and special effects for over seventy films and television series. I have added him as an honorable mention because he is not a screen actor, but Frank is listed as number one on the list of the All Time Top 100 Stars at the Box Office, which is generated by total revenue in films he participated in. The average gross for a film that Frank Welker was involved with is $55,054,437.
Most Successful Films
1.Independence Day (Vocal Effects) – $817,400,878
2.The Lion King (Additional Voice) – $783,839,505
3.Aladdin (Abu the Monkey) – $504,050,219
4.Beauty and the Beast (Footstool) – $403,476,931
Can’t Forget the Ensemble Actors:
When creating this list, one of the criteria was that the actor played a leading role in a portion of their featured films. There is a small list of actors who are not officially leading men, but have starred in some of the biggest grossing movies in history. Many of these men contributed to the widely successful Harry Potter series, but in order to get to the level of multi-billion dollars sales, an actor must have numerous popular roles. Here is a short list of some of the actors that deserve recognition
Although Samuel L Jackson is a good actor surprised hes in top spot
