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Highlights

  • Colin Farrell's roles in films like The Batman and Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them contributed to his significant box office returns.
  • Farrell has had success in both blockbuster hits and independent films, earning numerous awards.
  • His versatility is showcased through a range of roles, from dark and intense characters to comedic roles.

Over more than two decades in Hollywood, Colin Farrell has built a reputation as one of the most marketable actors around.

An acclaimed leading man in both blockbuster hits and independent films since the early 2000s, he has garnered numerous awards and nominations.

Farrell made his film debut in the drama The War Zone in 1999. He then won his first lead film role in the war drama Tigerland, and he made his breakthrough in Steven Spielberg's science fiction film Minority Report.

While known for the intensity he brings to darker roles, Farrell has also shown his range in comedic films alongside playing comic book characters.

Farrell has played a variety of leading roles laced with versatility in films like Alexandria, Total Recall, and The Banshees Of Inisherin. In 2022, Farrell played Penguin in Matt Reeves' The Batman.

He is set to reprise the role in a spin-off solo, The Penguin. Farrell has appeared in over 50 films that have grossed a collective sum of $4.8 billion worldwide.

Colin Farrell's net worth is estimated at $80 million; his lead roles have brought him paychecks of $10 million or more.

Let's dive into Colin Farrell's highest-grossing films, ranked according to Box Office Mojo:

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10 Alexander (2004)

Global Box Office, Alexander - $167,298,192

In Oliver Stone's ambitious historical epic Alexander, Colin Farrell landed a career-defining role as Alexander the Great.

Despite the grand scale of the project and Farrell's committed performance, the film met a mixed reception. While it found some success internationally, it underperformed domestically.

In its opening weekend, Alexander grossed $13.7 million in North America, eventually earning $34.3 million. However, its international box office performance was stronger, bringing in $133 million.

With a worldwide total of $167.3 million, the film fell short of recouping its production budget of $155 million, plus additional marketing expenses.

Ultimately, Alexander was deemed a box-office disappointment, with projected losses reaching as high as $71 million.

Even with its box office struggles, Alexander established Farrell's ability to embody complex, larger-than-life characters.

Estimated Budget

$155,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$13,687,087

Box Office (Domestic)

$34,297,191

Box Office (International)

$133,001,001

Box Office (Total)

$167,298,192

9 Daredevil (2003)

Global Box Office, Daredevil - $179,179,718

Colin Farrell landed a role in Daredevil just as he was starting to get noticed in Hollywood.

Daredevil features Ben Affleck as the blind lawyer Matt Murdock, moonlighting as the vigilante Daredevil. Farrell took on the villainous role of Bullseye, a ruthless assassin with exceptional aim.

Daredevil arrived at a time when superhero films were starting to gain mainstream popularity.

While the movie itself received mixed reviews, often criticized for lacking ambition in its story, Farrell's performance as Bullseye was a highlight.

Daredevil grossed $102.5 million in North America and $76.6 million in the rest of the world, totaling the film's worldwide takings at just $179.2 million, grossing over double its budget of $78 million.

Estimated Budget

$78,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$40,310,419

Box Office (Domestic)

$102,543,518

Box Office (International)

$76,636,200

Box Office (Total)

$179,179,718

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8 Total Recall (2012)

Global Box Office, Total Recall - $198,467,607

Colin Farrell took on the role of factory worker Douglas Quaid in the 2012 reboot of the sci-fi action film Total Recall (1990), which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

A relatively loose adaptation of the Philip K. Dick story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale, this version focused on slick action visuals over the original's more mind-bending themes.

While updating the visual spectacle of the original, the remake sticks closely to the original plot.

Unfortunately, the film did not capture the same magic, receiving mixed-to-negative reviews and ultimately performing poorly at the box office.

Total Recall grossed $58.9 million in the United States and Canada and $152.9 million internationally, grossing $211.8 million worldwide against a production budget of $125 million.

Estimated Budget

$80,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$37,062,535

Box Office (Domestic)

$116,934,650

Box Office (International)

$90,790,989

Box Office (Total)

$207,725,639

7 S.W.A.T. (2003)

Global Box Office, S.W.A.T. - $207,725,639

Gearing up alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell portrayed Jim Street in this action-packed reboot of the classic 1970s TV series S.W.A.T.

Farrell played a hotshot LAPD officer who gets the chance to redeem his reputation by joining an elite SWAT team led by Hondo (Jackson).

Their skills are put to the test when they must transport an incarcerated international crime lord who's offered a massive reward for his own liberation.

The film received several negative reviews from critics, with some pointing out its lack of story depth. It debuted at number one, earning $37 million domestically in its opening weekend.

With a production budget of $80 million, S.W.A.T. ultimately grossed $117 million in North America and an additional $90.8 million internationally, resulting in a global total of $207.7 million.

Estimated Budget

$125,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$25,577,758

Box Office (Domestic)

$58,877,969

Box Office (International)

$139,589,199

Box Office (Total)

$198,467,607

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6 Horrible Bosses (2011)

Global Box Office, Horrible Bosses - $209,838,559

In the 2011 black comedy Horrible Bosses, Colin Farrell played Bobby Pellitt, the obnoxious and cocaine-addicted boss of Nick Hendricks (played by Jason Sudeikis).

Pushed to their limits, Nick and his two buddies (Jason Bateman and Charlie Day) hatch a dark plan to eliminate their terrible bosses.

Against the film's more grounded characters, Farrell's Bobby Pellitt stands out as a cartoonishly inappropriate boss.

It's an unexpected performance from the actor, and he completely owns every second of it. This R-rated comedy proved a hit with audiences, grossing a total of $209.8 million worldwide.

According to Box Office Mojo, Horrible Bosses grossed $117.5 million in North America and $92.2 million in other territories, which was against its budget of $35 million.

Estimated Budget

$35,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$28,302,165

Box Office (Domestic)

$117,538,559

Box Office (International)

$92,300,000

Box Office (Total)

$209,838,559

5 Epic (2013)

Global Box Office, Epic - $268,426,634

Epic transported Colin Farrell into a whimsical animated world of miniature warriors and fantastical creatures.

The film is loosely based on William Joyce's children's book, The Leaf Men And The Brave Good Bugs.

Epic follows teenager Mary Katherine, who finds herself shrunk and whisked away to a hidden world inhabited by fantastical creatures.

Epic received positive reviews from critics for its stunning animation and engaging story line.

Produced on a budget of $93 million, Epic shrugged off stiff competition at the box office and grossed $107.5 million in North America and $160.9 million in other countries, resulting in a total of $268.4 million worldwide.

Estimated Budget

$100,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$33,531,068

Box Office (Domestic)

$107,518,682

Box Office (International)

$160,907,952

Box Office (Total)

$268,426,634

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4 Dumbo (2019)

Global Box Office, Dumbo - $353,284,621

Tim Burton's reinterpretation of Dumbo in live-action deviated significantly from the beloved animated original.

Colin Farrell takes on the role of Holt Farrier, a former circus star struggling to care for his children after his wife's passing.

The struggling circus acquires a newborn elephant with oversized ears, a spectacle that both endangers and elevates Dumbo's status.

It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its ambition and performances but criticized its lack of emotional depth.

Even with an incredible cast – including Farrell, Michael Keaton, and Danny DeVito – Dumbo only pulled in a worldwide total of $353.3 million, with $114.8 million of it coming from North America and $238.5 million from other territories.

It was estimated the film would have had to gross more than $500 million worldwide to break even, given its production budget of $170 million.

Ultimately, Dumbo was considered a financial disappointment for Disney, failing to meet box office projections and resulting in losses.

Estimated Budget

$170,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$45,990,748

Box Office (Domestic)

$114,766,307

Box Office (International)

$238,518,314

Box Office (Total)

$353,284,621

3 Minority Report (2002)

Global Box Office, Minority Report - $358,372,926

Shadows of the future painted a dark canvas for Colin Farrell and Tom Cruise in Steven Spielberg's thought-provoking sci-fi masterpiece, Minority Report.

Set in 2054, Minority Report features a specialized police unit called "Precrime," which utilizes psychics called "Precogs" to predict crimes before they happen.

Farrell plays Danny Witwer, a Justice Department agent sent to audit the system. Hailed for its mind-bending concepts and engaging action, the film was nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award.

It scored a box office debut of over $35 million and proceeded to pull in $132 million domestically. Internationally, it was even more successful, adding $226.3 million.

With an estimated production budget of $102 million and a worldwide total of $358 million, Minority Report marked a major financial and critical win for Farrell and the filmmaking team.

Estimated Budget

$102,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$35,677,125

Box Office (Domestic)

$132,072,926

Box Office (International)

$226,300,000

Box Office (Total)

$358,372,926

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2 The Batman (2022)

Global Box Office, The Batman - $772,245,583

In Matt Reeves' The Batman, Farrell sheds his skin and becomes the unrecognizable Oswald Cobblepot, better known as the Penguin.

Farrell's Penguin is a highlight of the film, a grotesque gangster lurking in the shadows of Gotham's corrupt underworld.

Despite arriving after numerous Batman films, The Batman found critical acclaim for its dark atmosphere and a new, younger version of "the Dark Knight."

The Batman grossed $369.3 million in North America and $402.9 million from other territories, resulting in a worldwide total of $772.2 million, a standard total for a Batman movie.

Deadline Hollywood reports that The Batman made over $177 million in net profit.

The Batman is intended to launch a shared universe with two sequels and two spin-off television series in development, including The Penguin starring Farrell.

The first sequel, titled The Batman – Part II, is set for release on October 2nd, 2026.

Estimated Budget

$200,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$134,008,624

Box Office (Domestic)

$369,345,583

Box Office (International)

$402,900,000

Box Office (Total)

$772,245,583

1 Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (2016)

Global Box Office, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them - $816,037,575

Mystery and magic swirled around Colin Farrell as Percival Graves, a powerful figure in David Yates' Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, the first installment in the Harry Potter prequel series.

Graves was a complex and ultimately antagonistic figure within the film's plot. Although it is a spin-off from the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts proved it could enchant audiences on its own.

Critics responded warmly, and the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them went on to be a box office hit. The film earned $74 million domestically during its opening weekend, signaling a strong start at the box office.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them grossed $234 million in the United States and Canada and $580 million in other countries, resulting in a total worldwide gross of $814 million.

Taking into account its production budget of $180 million, marketing costs and revenue, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them made $164 million in net profit.

Estimated Budget

$180,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$74,403,387

Box Office (Domestic)

$234,037,575

Box Office (International)

$582,000,000

Box Office (Total)

$816,037,575

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