Only One Top-Grossing Actor Hasn’t Worn a Cape as Superheroes Dominate Box Office

As of this past weekend, Scarlett Johansson officially became the highest-grossing movie star ever, thanks to the success of Jurassic World: Rebirth. According to updated box office numbers, her films have pulled in over $14.9 billion globally, putting her ahead of fellow Marvel actors Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson.

But while most of the actors in the top ten have worn superhero suits or voiced Marvel characters, there’s one big exception, Tom Cruise.

Cruise is the only actor in the top ten highest-grossing stars who hasn’t appeared in a Marvel movie or any superhero film at all. And yet, he’s managed to keep pace with actors from billion-dollar blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame and Guardians of the Galaxy.

The reason? Cruise has built his career on action hits and long-running franchises. His biggest movie so far is Top Gun: Maverick, which made nearly $1.5 billion worldwide, and he’s been the face of the Mission: Impossible series for nearly 30 years. That series alone has brought in billions, with films like The Final Reckoning easily clearing $500 million.

Even without a Marvel credit to his name, Cruise’s star power has kept him right up there with actors like Chris Hemsworth, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt, and Vin Diesel, all of whom appear in multiple superhero movies.

While Johansson, Downey Jr., and Jackson have leaned heavily on Marvel roles to climb the ranks, Cruise has taken a different path. He’s chosen grounded action, big stunts, and classic characters, and the box office has followed.

The numbers come from box office tracking and updates following the opening of Jurassic World: Rebirth, which pushed Johansson to the top.

Cruise, who continues to make new Mission: Impossible films and other action-packed projects, isn’t slowing down anytime soon. And that means he’s likely to stay in the top ranks, even without ever playing a superhero.

So far, he’s proven you don’t need a cape to rule the box office.

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