Casting movies is a complicated process. Casting directors are generally in charge of filling out the cast for a film, though writers and directors may have an idea about who could best play a role. Sometimes producers or the financiers of the movie may demand to choose the lead actors — and their choice is often based on bankability.
The last few years in Hollywood may be characterized as the age of record-breaking superhero blockbusters. A small group of actors have been cast in these massive productions and are now among the box office greats. But there is a bigger group of actors who don’t necessarily star in franchise movies but still draw the most people to theaters.
To determine the 40 most bankable actors of the 21st century, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on average box office for roughly 8,000 actors. Actors were ranked based on the average domestic box office per film in which they received the lead star credit, according to credit data from the Internet Movie Database. Animated films, sequels, and franchise films were excluded from the average box office calculation.
Nine of the most bankable actors on this list are women, one of them only recently retired. Almost half have been cast as the lead in at least three motion pictures over the last decade that have grossed more than $100 million in the U.S. alone.
The actors on the list are among the most popular names in the entertainment business right now. Their path to becoming one of the main reasons people pay for a ticket at a movie theater had to start somewhere — these are the movie roles that launched the careers of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Click here to see the most bankable actors of 21st century
To determine the most bankable actors, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on average box office for roughly 8,000 actors. Actors were ranked based on the average domestic box office per film in which they received the lead star credit, according to credit data from the Internet Movie Database.
Animated films, sequels, and franchise films were excluded from the average box office calculation.
Data on domestic box office came from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and film industry data site The Numbers.
Only actors with at least five lead acting roles throughout their careers and who have starred in at least one movie that grossed at least $100 million since 2011 were considered. Actors were also excluded from consideration if more than half of their lead film roles were in sequels to their own movies.
Only films with at least 25,000 reviews on IMDb were included in our analysis.
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
40. Amy Adams
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $43 million (total: $474 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 9)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.67
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Sunshine Cleaning (2008) — $2.41
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Nocturnal Animals (2016) — $0.47
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Enchanted (2007) — $127,706,877
> Lowest grossing film: Nocturnal Animals (2016) — $10,663,357
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Hillbilly Elegy (2020)
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Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
39. Jennifer Lawrence
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $43 million (total: $1.7 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 5 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 10)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $2.00
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Hunger Games (2012) — $5.10
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Mother! (2017) — $0.59
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) — $424,668,047
> Lowest grossing film: Winter’s Bone (2010) — $6,530,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.7 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Red Sparrow (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
38. Idris Elba
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $44 million (total: $184 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 5)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $0.48
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Losers (2010) — $0.94
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) — $0.24
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Pacific Rim (2013) — $101,802,906
> Lowest grossing film: Bastille Day (2016) — $40,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.4 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: The Dark Tower (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
37. Clint Eastwood
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $44 million (total: $1.2 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 28)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.51
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Unforgiven (1992) — $7.02
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Blood Work (2002) — $0.52
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Gran Torino (2008) — $148,095,302
> Lowest grossing film: Kelly’s Heroes (1970) — $1,380,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.2 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: The Mule (2018)
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Source: Courtesy of Touchstone Pictures
36. Daniel Day-Lewis
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $45 million (total: $406 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 9)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $0.93
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Lincoln (2012) — $2.80
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Nine (2009) — $0.25
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Lincoln (2012) — $182,207,973
> Lowest grossing film: The Crucible (1996) — $7,340,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.4 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Lincoln (2012)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
35. Anna Kendrick
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $46 million (total: $693 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 4 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 8)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $2.04
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) — $6.36
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Table 19 (2017) — $0.72
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) — $184,296,230
> Lowest grossing film: Mr. Right (2015) — $30,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.3 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: A Simple Favor (2018)
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Source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images
34. Matthew McConaughey
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $47 million (total: $1.3 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 22)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.09
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Dallas Buyers Club (2013) — $5.46
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Paperboy (2012) — $0.05
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Sing (2016) — $270,329,045
> Lowest grossing film: The Paperboy (2012) — $677,200
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.7 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: The Gentlemen (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
33. Ben Stiller
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $48 million (total: $2.2 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 23)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.35
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Meet the Fockers (2004) — $4.65
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Duplex (2003) — $0.24
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Meet the Fockers (2004) — $279,167,575
> Lowest grossing film: Greenberg (2010) — $4,220,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.2 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Zoolander 2 (2016)
Source: Brendon Thorne / Getty Images
32. Jack Black
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $50 million (total: $1.0 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 13)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.17
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: School of Rock (2003) — $4.06
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Gulliver’s Travels (2010) — $0.38
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Kung Fu Panda (2008) — $215,434,591
> Lowest grossing film: Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006) — $8,320,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.4 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
31. Jason Bateman
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $52 million (total: $571 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 11)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.81
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Gift (2015) — $8.76
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Change-Up (2011) — $0.72
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Identity Thief (2013) — $134,506,920
> Lowest grossing film: Disconnect (2012) — $7,440,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.5 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Game Night (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
30. James Franco
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $52 million (total: $591 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 3 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 9)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.01
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: This Is the End (2013) — $3.17
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Interview (2014) — $0.14
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) — $234,770,996
> Lowest grossing film: True Story (2015) — $4,720,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.8 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: The Disaster Artist (2017)
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Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
29. Shailene Woodley
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $52 million (total: $504 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 3 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 6)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.39
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Fault in Our Stars (2014) — $10.41
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Adrift (2018) — $0.90
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Divergent (2014) — $150,947,895
> Lowest grossing film: White Bird in a Blizzard (2014) — $30,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.5 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Adrift (2018)
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
28. Channing Tatum
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $54 million (total: $791 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 11)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.33
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Magic Mike (2012) — $16.25
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Jupiter Ascending (2015) — $0.27
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: 22 Jump Street (2014) — $191,719,337
> Lowest grossing film: The Eagle (2011) — $19,490,041
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.2 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Smallfoot (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
27. Ice Cube
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $55 million (total: $560 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 9)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $2.73
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Friday (1995) — $7.85
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: xXx: State of the Union (2005) — $0.45
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Ride Along (2014) — $134,202,565
> Lowest grossing film: xXx: State of the Union (2005) — $26,873,932
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 5.8 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Fist Fight (2017)
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Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
26. Russell Crowe
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $56 million (total: $955 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 17)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $0.79
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: A Beautiful Mind (2001) — $2.19
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Water Diviner (2014) — $0.19
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Gladiator (2000) — $187,683,805
> Lowest grossing film: Romper Stomper (1992) — $180,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Unhinged (2020)
Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images
25. Steve Carell
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $57 million (total: $1.7 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 17)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.95
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Little Miss Sunshine (2006) — $7.49
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Beautiful Boy (2018) — $0.31
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Despicable Me 2 (2013) — $368,065,385
> Lowest grossing film: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) — $7,078,738
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.8 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Beautiful Boy (2018)
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
24. Paul Rudd
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $58 million (total: $629 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 6)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.71
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Our Idiot Brother (2011) — $4.96
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Ant-Man (2015) — $1.39
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) — $216,648,740
> Lowest grossing film: Our Idiot Brother (2011) — $24,814,830
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.8 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
23. Matt Damon
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $59 million (total: $1.8 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 3 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 24)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.01
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Martian (2015) — $2.12
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Great Wall (2016) — $0.30
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: The Martian (2015) — $228,433,663
> Lowest grossing film: Suburbicon (2017) — $5,780,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.8 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
22. Ben Affleck
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $61 million (total: $1.7 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 4 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 22)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.11
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Chasing Amy (1997) — $48.03
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Gigli (2003) — $0.11
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) — $330,360,194
> Lowest grossing film: To the Wonder (2012) — $590,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.4 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: The Way Back (2020)
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Source: Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images
21. Cameron Diaz
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $64 million (total: $700 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 10)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.86
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: There’s Something About Mary (1998) — $8.02
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Sweetest Thing (2002) — $0.57
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: There’s Something About Mary (1998) — $176,484,651
> Lowest grossing film: A Life Less Ordinary (1997) — $4,270,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: The Other Woman (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
20. Dwayne Johnson
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $64 million (total: $2.2 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 7 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 22)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.36
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) — $4.49
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Southland Tales (2006) — $0.02
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) — $404,508,916
> Lowest grossing film: Southland Tales (2006) — $275,380
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
19. Melissa McCarthy
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $64 million (total: $449 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 6)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.51
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Tammy (2014) — $4.23
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) — $0.88
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016) — $128,350,574
> Lowest grossing film: Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) — $8,803,865
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures Corporation
18. Denzel Washington
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $64 million (total: $2.0 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 3 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 31)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.22
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Remember the Titans (2000) — $3.86
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Little Things (2021) — $0.47
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: American Gangster (2007) — $130,164,645
> Lowest grossing film: Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) — $11,962,712
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.0 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: The Little Things (2021)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
17. Mark Wahlberg
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $64 million (total: $1.8 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 4 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 25)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.26
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Fighter (2010) — $8.51
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Deepwater Horizon (2016) — $0.39
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) — $245,439,076
> Lowest grossing film: Rock Star (2001) — $16,991,902
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.5 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Spenser Confidential (2020)
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Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
16. Angelina Jolie
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $66 million (total: $882 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 9)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $0.95
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Wanted (2008) — $1.79
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: A Mighty Heart (2007) — $0.61
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Maleficent (2014) — $241,407,328
> Lowest grossing film: A Mighty Heart (2007) — $9,176,787
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.5 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
15. Jamie Foxx
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $68 million (total: $338 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 7)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.12
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Ray (2004) — $1.88
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Soloist (2009) — $0.53
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Django Unchained (2012) — $162,805,434
> Lowest grossing film: Sleepless (2017) — $20,783,704
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Soul (2020)
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
14. Daniel Craig
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $70 million (total: $1.3 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 5 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 10)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.02
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Knives Out (2019) — $4.13
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Layer Cake (2004) — $0.36
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Skyfall (2012) — $304,360,277
> Lowest grossing film: Layer Cake (2004) — $2,339,957
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Knives Out (2019)
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
13. Brad Pitt
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $72 million (total: $1.5 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 23)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $0.96
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Legends of the Fall (1994) — $2.22
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) — $0.13
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: World War Z (2013) — $202,359,711
> Lowest grossing film: Kalifornia (1993) — $2,400,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Ad Astra (2019)
Source: Ernesto S. Ruscio / Getty Images
12. Owen Wilson
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $72 million (total: $1.1 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 10)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.36
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Wedding Crashers (2005) — $5.23
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Big Year (2011) — $0.18
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Cars (2006) — $244,082,982
> Lowest grossing film: The Big Year (2011) — $7,204,138
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.7 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Cars 3 (2017)
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Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
11. Will Ferrell
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $73 million (total: $1.7 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 3 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 21)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.45
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Elf (2003) — $5.48
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Land of the Lost (2009) — $0.49
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Elf (2003) — $175,501,840
> Lowest grossing film: Everything Must Go (2010) — $2,712,131
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.3 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
10. Seth Rogen
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $78 million (total: $693 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 1 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 8)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $2.50
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Neighbors (2014) — $8.34
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Green Hornet (2011) — $0.90
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Neighbors (2014) — $150,086,800
> Lowest grossing film: Observe and Report (2009) — $24,007,324
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.3 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Sausage Party (2016)
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Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
9. Adam Sandler
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $86 million (total: $2.7 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 5 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 34)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.49
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Waterboy (1998) — $7.02
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Little Nicky (2000) — $0.49
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) — $169,700,110
> Lowest grossing film: Punch-Drunk Love (2002) — $17,791,031
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Hubie Halloween (2020)
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Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
8. Hugh Jackman
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $86 million (total: $1.3 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 5 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 13)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.07
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Les Misérables (2012) — $2.29
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Deception (2008) — $0.18
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Logan (2017) — $226,277,068
> Lowest grossing film: Deception (2008) — $4,598,506
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Bad Education (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
7. Bradley Cooper
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $87 million (total: $975 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 4 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 9)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $2.46
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Silver Linings Playbook (2012) — $6.29
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Aloha (2015) — $0.57
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: American Sniper (2014) — $350,126,372
> Lowest grossing film: Serena (2014) — $180,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.6 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Burnt (2015)
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Source: Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images
6. Tom Hanks
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $91 million (total: $4.5 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 3 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 38)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.74
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: That Thing You Do! (1996) — $10.34
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: A Hologram for the King (2016) — $0.12
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Toy Story 4 (2019) — $434,038,008
> Lowest grossing film: A Hologram for the King (2016) — $4,212,494
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.2 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Greyhound (2020)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
5. Sandra Bullock
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $91 million (total: $1.7 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 4 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 18)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.96
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Minions (2015) — $4.54
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) — $0.44
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Minions (2015) — $336,045,770
> Lowest grossing film: Murder by Numbers (2002) — $31,874,869
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Bird Box (2018)
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
4. Tom Cruise
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $94 million (total: $3.5 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 4 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 32)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.28
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Top Gun (1986) — $11.99
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Mummy (2017) — $0.41
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: War of the Worlds (2005) — $234,280,354
> Lowest grossing film: Lions for Lambs (2007) — $14,998,070
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.9 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
3. Emily Blunt
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $99 million (total: $493 million)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 2 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 5)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.92
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: A Quiet Place (2018) — $11.06
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: The Young Victoria (2009) — $0.31
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: A Quiet Place (2018) — $188,024,361
> Lowest grossing film: The Young Victoria (2009) — $11,001,272
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.1 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: A Quiet Place (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2. Will Smith
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $122 million (total: $3.3 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 4 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 23)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.46
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Independence Day (1996) — $4.08
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Gemini Man (2019) — $0.35
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Aladdin (2019) — $355,559,216
> Lowest grossing film: The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) — $30,695,227
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 6.7 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Bad Boys for Life (2020)
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Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
> Avg. domestic box office per film as lead actor: $129 million (total: $2.4 billion)
> Movies that grossed $100+ million as lead actor: 4 since 2011 (total movies as lead actor: 19)
> Avg. box office return per $1 invested in production: $1.40
> Film with highest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Titanic (1997) — $3.30
> Film with lowest dollar return per dollar spent as lead actor: Revolutionary Road (2008) — $0.51
> Highest grossing film as lead actor: Titanic (1997) — $659,363,944
> Lowest grossing film: The Basketball Diaries (1995) — $2,420,000
> Avg. IMDB rating of movies as lead actor: 7.6 out of 10
> Most recent film as lead actor: Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood (2019)
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