Most Box-Office–Successful Actors Never Nominated for an Oscar

Blockbusters often define an era, and some performers become synonymous with the kind of movies that pack theaters worldwide. Many of these stars headline or anchor ensembles in mega-franchises, contribute to record-setting openings, and help drive the kind of repeat viewing that keeps a film in the top tier for weeks. Yet, despite undeniable commercial impact, a surprising number have never heard their names read among the Academy Award nominees.

This list spotlights performers whose films have grossed huge sums across global markets—through tentpoles, long-running series, and family-friendly hits—without a single Oscar nomination. Each entry notes the franchises, roles, and milestones that illustrate just how far box-office success and awards recognition can diverge.

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt fronts multiple billion-dollar global grossers across franchises, including lead turns in ‘Jurassic World’ and ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’, ensemble roles in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ entries, and appearances in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’. He also voiced the title character in ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’, which sustained strong legs internationally and expanded his reach in animation.

His filmography combines live-action leads and voice roles that consistently convert with broad audiences. Alongside franchise work, he has headlined action-adventure projects and comedies that travel well in overseas markets, all without a single Academy Award nomination.

Chris Evans

Chris Evans anchored the Marvel Cinematic Universe through ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’, ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, and ‘Captain America: Civil War’, and served as a core presence in ensemble tentpoles like ‘The Avengers’, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, and ‘Avengers: Endgame’. These titles sit among the highest-grossing releases of the modern era.

Outside superhero projects, Evans appeared in commercially successful titles such as ‘Knives Out’ and took on voice and ensemble work that performed across platforms. Despite major box-office contributions and broad audience recognition, he has not secured an Academy Award nomination.

Chris Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth’s portrayal of Thor runs through multiple Marvel entries—’Thor’, ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’—and the ensemble ‘Avengers’ films, each delivering strong global returns. He also toplined action releases such as ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ and the ‘Extraction’ series, extending his box-office profile beyond capes and hammers.

His drawing power spans theatrical runs and streaming-era hits that sustain viewership across regions. Awards tallies include nods from genre and popular-vote ceremonies, but there is no Academy Award nomination on his resume.

Tom Holland

Tom Holland leads the ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy within the MCU and appears in crossover events like ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’, all of which delivered standout global grosses. He also fronted adventure fare such as ‘Uncharted’, translating franchise momentum into non-superhero box-office performance.

His career includes voice roles in family releases and a balance of prestige-leaning and commercial projects across genres. While prominent in some of the biggest films of the past decade, he has not been nominated for an Oscar.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson has headlined a wide range of hits, from ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ and ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ to entries in the ‘Fast & Furious’ saga such as ‘Furious 7’ and ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’. He also led family and adventure titles like ‘Moana’ and ‘San Andreas’, sustaining strong performance across multiple demographics.

His releases routinely deliver large international splits, aided by franchise recognition and four-quadrant appeal. Despite sustained box-office dominance and broad brand visibility, he has not received an Academy Award nomination.

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel is a cornerstone of the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise, including ‘The Fast and the Furious’, ‘Fast Five’, and ‘F9’, and he voices Groot across the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Avengers’ films. These series have amassed multibillion-dollar totals across numerous installments.

His producing role on key ‘Fast & Furious’ titles and his presence in sci-fi properties like ‘xXx’ and ‘Riddick’ broaden his commercial footprint. Even with those marquee credits and cumulative grosses, he has not received an Oscar nomination.

Jason Statham

Jason Statham has been a reliable action draw through the ‘Transporter’ films, ‘Crank’, ‘The Meg’, and ‘The Meg 2: The Trench’, as well as ensemble powerhouses like ‘The Expendables’ series and ‘Furious 7’ and ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’. These titles consistently perform well in overseas markets where action travels efficiently.

He is known for physically demanding roles and franchise continuity that encourages repeat attendance across multiple entries. Despite numerous global hits and long-running series work, he has not been nominated for an Academy Award.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves anchors multiple enduring franchises, notably ‘The Matrix’ series and the ‘John Wick’ films, each generating strong worldwide revenue and deep catalog value. He also appeared in popular titles such as ‘Speed’ and ‘Point Break’, which established his action credentials internationally.

His career includes voice work in family releases and appearances in ensemble projects like ‘Toy Story 4’, broadening audience reach to younger viewers. Across decades of box-office relevance spanning action, sci-fi, and animation, he has not received an Oscar nomination.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey fronted a run of blockbusters including ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’, ‘The Mask’, ‘Dumb and Dumber’, ‘Liar Liar’, and ‘Bruce Almighty’, as well as high-performing family titles like ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’. He also delivered acclaimed dramatic turns in ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, both commercially successful.

Carrey has won major awards in other ceremonies and has multiple nominations across guild and press organizations. Despite that recognition and a track record of commercial hits, he has not been nominated for an Academy Award.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger led the ‘Terminator’ franchise, including ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’, and blockbuster action titles such as ‘Predator’, ‘Total Recall’, and ‘True Lies’. His films helped define large-scale action cinema and drew substantial international audiences over multiple decades.

He also carried comedies like ‘Twins’ and ‘Kindergarten Cop’, demonstrating box-office viability beyond action. For all his marquee success and franchise leadership, he has not received an Oscar nomination.

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis starred in ‘Die Hard’ and its sequels, headlined ‘Armageddon’, and appeared in widely seen titles such as ‘The Sixth Sense’, ‘Pulp Fiction’, and ‘Red’. Several of these films became cultural touchstones while delivering strong domestic and international grosses.

His filmography spans action, thriller, and ensemble drama, contributing to sustained theatrical performance across eras. Despite participation in high-earning and award-recognized films, he has not been nominated for an Academy Award.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds propelled ‘Deadpool’ and ‘Deadpool 2’ to standout global grosses, revitalizing the R-rated superhero space. He also toplined hits such as ‘Free Guy’ and family-targeted releases like ‘The Croods’, expanding his box-office reach.

His catalog includes franchise work, voice roles, and streaming-era successes that draw large cross-platform audiences. Even with multiple commercially strong releases, he has not received an Oscar nomination.

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom was a key ensemble player in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy and ‘The Hobbit’ entries, as well as a lead in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ series. These franchises rank among the highest earners globally, with strong international legs and long-term home-entertainment value.

He also appeared in big-canvas historical epics and action adventures that performed across regions. Despite sustained involvement in globally dominant series, he has not been nominated for an Academy Award.

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell’s filmography includes enduring box-office performers such as ‘Escape from New York’, ‘Big Trouble in Little China’, and later franchise roles in ‘Furious 7’ and ‘The Fate of the Furious’. His work spans decades of commercially resilient titles across action, sci-fi, and family adventure.

He has collaborated with notable directors and joined ensembles in modern blockbusters that extended his audience to new generations. Across this long-running, crowd-drawing career, he has not received an Oscar nomination.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan built an international box-office legacy with the ‘Police Story’ series, ‘Drunken Master’, and Hollywood hits such as ‘Rush Hour’ and ‘Shanghai Noon’. His blend of action and comedy has translated into strong receipts across Asia, North America, and Europe.

He received an Academy Honorary Award acknowledging his contributions to film, yet he has never been nominated in a competitive Oscar category. Despite the honorary recognition, his competitive nomination tally remains at zero.

Share the names you think belong on this list—and which roles best prove their box-office power—in the comments.