If you want to cut through the Hollywood hype and look at the cold, hard math of movie stardom, there is one database industry insiders trust: The Numbers .
Cruise is arguably the last true "movie star" in the sense that he sells tickets based on his name alone (see: Top Gun: Maverick ). However, on The Numbers’ all-time list, he sits outside the top 10. business report highest grossing stars the numbers
Why? He doesn't do franchises every year. He does one Mission: Impossible every three to four years and rarely appears in Marvel or DC films. His average per movie is astronomical, but his volume is low. If you want to cut through the Hollywood
Her $9.1 billion total is powered by two massive engines: in the MCU and her voice work as Rosie in the Sing franchise. But here is where the business report gets interesting: Johansson also has serious indie cred ( Marriage Story , Lost in Translation ), proving that she can draw audiences for prestige dramas as well as blockbusters. His average per movie is astronomical, but his volume is low
Unlike other sites that rely on estimates or global “cultural impact,” The Numbers tracks exact box office figures, adjusting for inflation and digging into the data behind who actually sells tickets. Their latest business report on the highest-grossing stars is out, and the results might surprise you.