The Biggest Movie Stars in 2025
Movie stardom in 2025 is a global mix of franchise anchors, awards magnets, and cross platform headliners who move audiences in theaters and on streaming. These names front tentpoles, carry original stories, and keep long running series alive with reliable turnout across regions. They also show up in prestige projects that travel through festivals and awards seasons, which helps their reach and staying power.
Many of these stars run their own production companies, develop material from the ground up, and shape the kind of films that get made. Their credits stretch across action, drama, comedy, and animation, with recurring roles in series that audiences revisit year after year. Here are the performers whose resumes, box office histories, and franchise footprints define the current moment.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise remains the face of high stakes action with the continuing run of the ‘Mission Impossible’ series and the revival of ‘Top Gun’. He is known for staging large scale practical sequences and for building long term partnerships with directors, crews, and exhibitors that keep his releases positioned as global events.
Through his production banner, he develops and produces projects he stars in, which gives him a direct hand in shaping scripts and set pieces. His films regularly perform across North America, Europe, and Asia, with strong premium format turnout that extends theatrical legs beyond opening weekends.
Zendaya
Zendaya connects massive four quadrant franchises with festival driven titles. She plays MJ in the ‘Spider Man’ films and Chani in ‘Dune’ while also headlining ‘Euphoria’ on television. She balances studio work with character led dramas that travel well on the awards circuit.
Her career includes fashion partnerships, music, and voice work in animation, which broadens audience reach. She also produces select projects, giving her influence on development and casting while maintaining a schedule that alternates between blockbusters and smaller features.
Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet leads the ‘Dune’ films and carried ‘Wonka’ to strong family turnout worldwide. He built his early profile in festival favorites and continued to mix prestige choices with large scale studio properties.
He collaborates with top tier directors and often anchors ensemble casts that play to international markets. His projects generate significant interest from younger audiences while still landing in adult drama spaces, which supports a wide release strategy.
Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie starred in ‘Barbie’ and earned Academy Award recognition for ‘I, Tonya’. She built a franchise presence with ‘Birds of Prey’ and appeared in period and contemporary dramas that show range across genres.
Through LuckyChap, her company develops and produces features that spotlight distinctive voices and commercially viable concepts. This dual role expands her influence on budgets, talent attachments, and distribution plans while keeping her at the center of major releases.
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling brought musical and comedy chops to ‘La La Land’ and ‘Barbie’ while sustaining a long run of acclaimed dramas. He pairs marquee projects with director driven films that play well in limited release before expanding nationwide.
His work in action thrillers and streaming originals like ‘The Gray Man’ adds a consistent footprint beyond theaters. He often records music for select roles and participates in behind the scenes development, which keeps his slate varied and steady.
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy earned an Academy Award for ‘Oppenheimer’ after years of acclaimed work in film and the series ‘Peaky Blinders’. He has been a frequent collaborator with Christopher Nolan and appears in a mix of independent and studio productions.
His filmography spans psychological dramas, genre pieces, and historical epics. He records audiobooks and participates in theater, which broadens his audience across formats while keeping a strong presence during awards season windows.
Emma Stone
Emma Stone holds multiple Academy Awards and built a filmography that includes ‘Poor Things’, ‘La La Land’, and ‘The Favourite’. She moves between auteur led projects and studio releases with consistent critical and commercial interest.
She co founded Fruit Tree, a banner that produces films and series with emerging and established filmmakers. This keeps her connected to development pipelines and allows her to shape roles from early drafts to final cut.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio anchors major releases with a long running collaboration with Martin Scorsese on titles like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. He also fronts large scale adventures and historical dramas that draw sustained international interest.
He runs a production company that develops scripted features and documentaries and maintains a global philanthropic profile focused on environmental work. His films are eventized in premium formats and often carry strong legs through awards season.
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson leads action and adventure films with franchise roles in ‘Fast and Furious’, ‘Jumanji’, and voice work in ‘Moana’. His projects play across demographics and excel in overseas markets with strong family turnout.
He co founded Seven Bucks Productions, which develops features and series while managing cross platform branding. His slate includes streaming titles, live event appearances, and reality content that reinforce visibility between theatrical releases.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. defined the Marvel era with ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Avengers’ while earning an Academy Award for ‘Oppenheimer’. He continues to balance franchise possibilities with character forward dramas.
Through Team Downey, he develops film and television projects and supports adaptations with built in audiences. His features benefit from broad age range appeal and repeat viewing patterns that keep catalog titles active on platforms.
Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth is the face of ‘Thor’ in the Marvel series and headlines the ‘Extraction’ films on streaming. He brings action credentials to original properties and joins ensembles in adventure and sci fi titles.
He collaborates with stunt and second unit teams to design large set pieces and maintains a training and wellness brand presence that supports action roles. His projects travel strongly in Europe and the Asia Pacific region with notable premium format performance.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson pairs franchise work in ‘Avengers’ and ‘Black Widow’ with acclaimed performances in ‘Marriage Story’ and ‘Lost in Translation’. She has voiced roles in animation and appeared in sci fi, drama, and comedy with consistent results.
She produces select projects and has navigated distribution shifts between theatrical and streaming. Her catalog sees steady platform engagement, and her new releases continue to open well in urban and international markets.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds fronts the ‘Deadpool’ series and drives high viewership for streaming titles like ‘The Adam Project’ and ‘Red Notice’. He also appears in family and adventure films that reach wide audiences.
He develops projects through Maximum Effort and holds business interests that keep him visible between releases. His promotional strategies and documentaries like ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ on television extend his audience beyond film.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves leads the ‘John Wick’ franchise and remains a central figure in ‘The Matrix’ series. He also lends his voice to animation and participates in video game performance capture, which expands his reach.
He produces and develops action projects with a focus on stunt driven storytelling and global rollouts. His films benefit from strong word of mouth and extended theatrical runs with late stage expansion in select territories.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence won an Academy Award for ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and led ‘The Hunger Games’ series to worldwide success. She continues to alternate between commercial comedies and intimate dramas.
She produces through Excellent Cadaver and champions female led projects with strong character arcs. Her films open well in major cities and sustain interest through platform releases and awards season exposure.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh moved from breakout roles in ‘Midsommar’ and ‘Little Women’ to franchise work in ‘Black Widow’ and appearances in ‘Dune’ and ‘Oppenheimer’. She shifts smoothly between independent dramas and large scale productions.
She records voice roles and participates in international co productions, which helps distribution across markets. Her choices often place her in ensembles with respected directors, giving her steady presence in festival lineups.
Ana de Armas
Ana de Armas drew global attention with ‘Knives Out’ and followed with high profile turns in ‘No Time to Die’ and ‘Blonde’. She has also appeared in action thrillers and streaming features with strong viewership.
She is set to lead the ‘John Wick’ spin off ‘Ballerina’, expanding her action credentials within a known universe. She continues to work in both English and Spanish language projects, which supports broad international interest.
Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan leads the ‘Creed’ series and played a key role in ‘Black Panther’. He moved into directing with the latest ‘Creed’ entry while maintaining an active acting slate.
Through Outlier Society he produces films and series and supports inclusive hiring initiatives. His releases play well in North America and show strong growth in overseas markets with reliable franchise turnout.
Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt has successful runs in ‘A Quiet Place’, ‘Edge of Tomorrow’, and ‘Oppenheimer’. She works across action, musical, family, and thriller genres with steady results.
She produces with John Krasinski on select projects and participates in development from early script stages. Her films perform strongly in premium formats and maintain durable home viewing after theatrical windows.
Pedro Pascal
Pedro Pascal reached global audiences through ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Last of Us’ while also appearing in features like ‘Wonder Woman’ and ‘Kingsman’. He brings franchise recognition that translates into strong opening interest.
He continues to balance film and prestige television, which keeps visibility high year round. His multilingual background supports international press tours and strengthens performance in multiple territories.
Austin Butler
Austin Butler broke through with ‘Elvis’ and followed with roles in ‘Dune’ and ‘The Bikeriders’. He shifted from television and supporting parts to leading roles in large scale films.
His work includes collaborations with veteran directors and roles that blend music, drama, and action. He remains active in festival titles and major studio projects, which keeps momentum across different audiences.
Paul Mescal
Paul Mescal moved from ‘Normal People’ on television to acclaimed features like ‘Aftersun’. He also joined large scale historical epics that position him for broad theatrical exposure.
He works frequently with European and American filmmakers and often selects scripts that premiere at major festivals. His projects travel well in limited release before expanding, which builds sustained interest.
Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega leads ‘Wednesday’ on television and appears in the ‘Scream’ series and in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’. She combines franchise roles with independent horror and drama.
She engages younger audiences through social platforms and supports releases with active promotional tours. Her projects perform well with teens and young adults while maintaining crossover appeal in general audiences.
Gal Gadot
Gal Gadot anchors the ‘Wonder Woman’ films and stars in global streaming hits like ‘Red Notice’. She built early recognition in ‘Fast and Furious’ and maintains a strong action profile.
She produces through her company Pilot Wave and develops both film and television projects. Her releases emphasize international distribution and benefit from significant brand partnerships during campaigns.
Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa leads the ‘Aquaman’ films and appeared in ‘Dune’ and ‘Fast and Furious’. He also created and starred in series like ‘See’, which broadened his reach beyond theatrical features.
He produces and develops adventure and fantasy projects and actively supports environmental causes through public initiatives. His films emphasize large scale world building and travel well in IMAX and premium formats.
Share your picks for the biggest movie stars this year in the comments so we can compare notes with your list.
