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Highlights

  • Zoe Saldana is the highest-grossing film actress when considering all roles, including non-leading roles.
  • Saldana starred in four of the highest-grossing films of all time, including Avatar and Avengers: Endgame .
  • Her films, including Guardians Of The Galaxy and Avatar: The Way Of Water , have collectively earned over $14 billion at the global box office.

Renowned for her roles in science fiction film franchises, Zoe Saldana has left her star on the box office walk of fame, notably featuring in four of the highest-grossing films to date: Avatar, Avatar: The Way Of Water, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

The cumulative global box office earnings of these films is reportedly in excess of $14 billion, making Saldana not only the second-highest-grossing film actress in leading roles, but the highest grossing actress when all roles, including non-leading roles, are also considered.

Starting from humble beginnings on television, she appeared in Law & Order and Nicholas Hytner's Center Stage. She achieved a breakthrough with her roles in the Star Trek film series and James Cameron's Avatar, for which she earned $4 million, and $8 million for the sequel,Avatar: The Way Of Water.

Saldana also portrayed Gamora in Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, spanning from Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) to Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, and featuring in films that grossed over $7.2 billion in the franchise.

Zoe Saldana's net worth is estimated in the range of $40 million to $60 million; her efforts in the industry reflect her raw talent and knack for picking roles in blockbusters – and nailing them.

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Across her filmography to date, these are the highest-grossing Zoe Saldana movies.

10 Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Global Box Office, Star Trek Beyond - $343,471,816

Exploring the farthest reaches of uncharted space, the crew of the USS Enterprise, with Saldana reprising her role as Uhura, encounters a ruthless enemy in this third installment of the rebooted Star Trek series.

While hailed for its humor and action, the film faced a crowded summer box office, struggling to compete with blockbusters like Ghostbusters and Jason Bourne.

Domestically, it earned $158.8 million, while international audiences chipped in another $184.6 million, bringing the global total to $343.5 million.

However, with a production budget of $185 million, Star Trek Beyond fell short of industry expectations, estimated to have lost around $50.5 million.

Despite its financial performance, the film received positive reviews for its performances, visuals, and themes of unity and exploration.

Estimated Budget

$185,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$158,848,340

Box Office (International)

$184,623,476

Box Office (Total)

$343,471,816

9 Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Global Box Office, Star Trek Into Darkness - $467,365,246

In this action-packed sequel to the 2009 reboot, the Enterprise crew, including Saldana's Uhura, faces a cunning terrorist who threatens the very fabric of Starfleet.

The film's thrilling plot, coupled with its stunning visuals and performances, propelled it to the top of the box office charts by fetching $70.6 million during its opening weekend, surpassing big names like The Great Gatsby and Iron Man 3.

Star Trek Into Darkness grossed over $228 million through domestic theaters and $238.6 million from overseas, for a worldwide total of $467.4 million, making it the highest-grossing film of the franchise.

Considering all expenses for the film's production and the box office performance, Deadline Hollywood estimated that the film earned $30 million in profit.

Estimated Budget

$190,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$228,778,661

Box Office (International)

$238,586,585

Box Office (Total)

$467,365,246

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8 Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Global Box Office, The Curse Of The Black Pearl - $654,264,015

This swashbuckling blockbuster unexpectedly launched a billion-dollar franchise:

Saldana swashbuckles her way onto the screen as Ana Maria, a cunning pirate captain with a mysterious past and a hidden connection to Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp).

In spite of skepticism before its release, the film unearthed a treasure chest of success. Critics praised its thrilling action, witty dialogue, and Depp's iconic performance as the enigmatic Jack Sparrow.

The Curse Of The Black Pearlyielded $654 million at the global box office, placing it among the top four highest grossing films of 2003.

Even more surprisingly, it defied the odds of the then-unpopular pirate genre, revitalizing it and spawning a beloved franchise that continues to sail the box office seas today.

Estimated Budget

$140,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$305,413,918

Box Office (International)

$348,850,097

Box Office (Total)

$654,264,015

7 Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

Global Box Office, Guardians Of The Galaxy - $773,350,147

Blast off on a hilarious romp through space with this Marvel Cinematic Universe gem, where Saldana takes center stage as Gamora, the deadliest assassin in the galaxy (with a heart of gold hidden deep down).

She is joined by Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a roguish space outlaw; Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), a genetically engineered gun-toting talking raccoon; Groot (Vin Diesel), a sentient tree with limited vocabulary; and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), a vengeance-seeking brute, as they become an unlikely team navigating the cosmic chaos after stealing an Infinity Stone:

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Guardians of the Galaxy exceeded critics' and audiences' expectations.

The film was praised for its originality, fresh take on the superhero genre, and the lovable chemistry of its misfit crew.

Guardians Of The Galaxy earned $333.7 million in North America and an estimated $439.6 million in other countries, culminating in a $773.3 million global haul.

The film made $204 million in net profit when box office numbers and production budgets are all tallied together.

Estimated Budget

$170,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$333,718,600

Box Office (International)

$439,631,547

Box Office (Total)

$773,350,147

6 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Global Box Office, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 - $845,555,777

Capping off the Guardians' thrilling trilogy, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, written and directed by James Gunn, saw Zoe Saldaña reprise her role as Gamora, embarking on a journey of self-discovery amid galactic threats.

The film navigated themes of identity, loss, and familial bonds, garnering critical acclaim for its emotional depth, humor, and action sequences.

Saldana's nuanced portrayal of Gamora was particularly lauded, as audiences witnessed her character grapple with complex revelations and inner conflict.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 was projected to gross around $110 million in its opening weekend in North America. It debuted with $118.4 million, topping the box office.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 grossed $359 million in the United States and Canada and $486.6 million in other territories for a total of $845.6 million worldwide.

Estimated Budget

$250,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$358,995,815

Box Office (International)

$486,559,962

Box Office (Total)

$845,555,777

5 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Global Box Office, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 - $863,756,051

Returning as the emerald assassin Gamora, Saldana led the Guardians on a hilarious and heart-wrenching journey in this sequel to the first space-faring hit:

The cosmic crew faces hilarious hijinks as they unravel the mysteries of Quill's lineage and confront Ego, a celestial being claiming to be Quill's father (played by Kurt Russell).

However, laughter gives way to poignant reflections on family, loss, and the ties that bind them. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 dazzled audiences with its vibrant visuals, action-packed sequences, and a soundtrack that rocked the galaxy.

Critics praised its humor and the deepening relationships between the characters, despite some considering it slightly less impactful than the original.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 grossed over $389.8 million in North America and over $473.9 million in other countries, for a total of $863.8 million worldwide.

With a reported production budget of around $200 million, research estimated the film's net profit to be around $157 million.

Estimated Budget

$200,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$389,813,101

Box Office (International)

$473,942,950

Box Office (Total)

$863,756,051

4 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Global Box Office, Avengers: Infinity War - $2,052,415,039

The stakes soar to astronomical heights in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, where Zoe Saldana joins Earth's mightiest heroes in a desperate battle against Thanos, the galaxy's ultimate threat.

Again reprising her role as Gamora, Saldana finds herself torn between loyalty to her adopted family (the Guardians of the Galaxy), and her past allegiance to Thanos.

The film's worldwide opening weekend of $640.5 million was the biggest of all time until it was dethroned by its sequel, Avengers: Endgame.

Avengers: Infinity War was the fastest film to make $1 billion at the worldwide box office, doing so in the eleven days after its release.

Within 48 days of its premiere, the film crossed the $2 billion mark, making it the fourth movie to achieve this milestone.

Notably, reports indicate that Infinity War generated a gross profit of $500 million for Disney.

Estimated Budget

$400,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$678,815,482

Box Office (International)

$1,373,599,557

Box Office (Total)

$2,052,415,039

3 Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)

Global Box Office, Avatar: The Way Of Water - $2,320,250,281

Saldana returns to the breathtaking world of Pandora, this time immersing herself in the oceanic Na'vi clan as Neytiri, mother and fierce protector.

In this long-awaited sequel, Jake Sully and Neytiri face new threats to their existence, forcing them to seek refuge with the reef people.

Interestingly, Saldana underwent extensive freediving and underwater acting training for the film, pushing her physical and emotional limits to embody Neytiri's aquatic agility and maternal instincts.

The Way Of Water proved that the magic of Pandora remained undimmed, crashing through box office records with a $2.32 billion haul.

The Way of Water was the highest-grossing film of 2022, the third-highest-grossing film of all time, and the highest-grossing film of the pandemic era. Domestic audiences contributed $516 million, while international markets brought in $1.8 billion.

Despite a reported production budget reaching $470 million, the movie proved highly lucrative for the studio. Estimates suggest the film generated an impressive net profit of $531.7 million.

Estimated Budget

$460,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$684,075,767

Box Office (International)

$1,636,174,514

Box Office (Total)

$2,320,250,281

2 Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Global Box Office, Avengers: Endgame - $2,799,439,100

Saldana reprises her role as Gamora, now grappling with the complexities of a new timeline and her past sins. In this epic culmination of the MCU's 22 film saga, the remaining Avengers unite for a desperate last stand against Thanos:

Remarkably, Saldana, along with other cast members, filmed her scenes for both Endgame and its predecessor, Infinity War, simultaneously, allowing her to embrace the emotional arc of Gamora fully across both films.

Endgame delivered the epic culmination of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first decade.

The film broke records at the box office, including becoming the highest-grossing film of all time from July 2019 until March 2021, when it was surpassed by Avatar (2009) due to a 2021 re-release in China.

The film grossed $2.799 billion worldwide, surpassing Infinity War's theatrical run in eleven days. Endgame created a global cinema frenzy with a record-breaking worldwide opening of $1.2 billion, nearly doubling Infinity War's record of $640 million.

It became the fastest film ever to reach both the $1 billion and $1.5 billion milestones in just five and eight days, respectively. Deadline Hollywood calculated the film's final net profit as $890 million.

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Twelve days after its premiere, the film's earnings at the global box office passed the entire theatrical run of Infinity War and became the fastest film ever to gross $2 billion worldwide.

Estimated Budget

$356,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$858,373,000

Box Office (International)

$1,941,066,100

Box Office (Total)

$2,799,439,100

1 Avatar (2009)

Global Box Office, Avatar - $2,923,706,026

Zoe Saldana's reign as queen of the box office began with 2009's groundbreaking Avatar.

She plays Neytiri, the fierce and graceful princess of the blue-skinned Na'vi, a race living in harmony with their lush alien world, Pandora.

Director James Cameron's revolutionary visual effects brought Pandora to life in breathtaking detail, creating a stunning spectacle that audiences had never witnessed before.

While critics offered mixed opinions on the film's narrative, Avatar's impact at the box office was undeniable. It shattered box office records; it dethroned Titanic to become the highest-grossing film of all time just 41 days after it debuted.

The film was the highest-grossing film of all time until briefly toppled by Avengers: Endgame. With subsequent re-releases, it reclaimed the top spot in 2021.

Just 44 days after its premiere, Avatar became the first film to gross over $2 billion worldwide.

Avatar grossed $785 million in the United States and Canada and $2.14 billion in other countries for a total of $2.923 billion worldwide.

Estimated Budget

$237,000,000

Box Office (Domestic)

$785,221,649

Box Office (International)

$2,138,484,377

Box Office (Total)

$2,923,706,026

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