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Most Bankable Actors in America Right Now

Most Bankable Actors in America Right Now

While directors sometimes have a strong idea of who should play a particular part in their films (Woody Allen created the character of Annie Hall with Diane Keaton in mind, for instance), an actor’s bankability has always been a major factor when casting the major roles in a movie. Producers and studio executives often place their thumb on the scale of casting decisions, then.

To determine the most bankable actors in terms of potential domestic box office earning power, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from industry site Opus Data, a product of Nash Information Services. Actors were ranked based on the amount they are forecasted to add to the average non-franchise film at the domestic box office as of October 2022. The estimated added value is a component of the Numbers Bankability Index, and is based on past box office performance.

Data on each actor’s age and on inflation-adjusted domestic box office used to determine an actors’ highest-grossing film also came from Opus Data. To determine an actor’s highest-rated film, 24/7 Tempo developed an index based on user scores on IMDb, an online movie and TV database owned by Amazon, and audience and critics’ Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, weighting all measures equally. Only films for which an actor was listed among the top-four billed actors on IMDb were included.

What studios are concerned about is what the industry calls “box office poison.” That term gained prominence in 1938 when the Hollywood Reporter ran an advertisement from the Independent Theatre Owners Association complaining about highly paid stars “whose appeal was negligible” and whose films were not hits. The advert cited Hollywood legends Fred Astaire, Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, Mae West, and Joan Crawford as examples. (These are some A-list actors’ biggest box office flops.)

Box office poison doesn’t appear to be an issue with those on our list, who can potentially add anywhere from $6.8 million to $18.0 million to a future non-franchise film’s domestic ticket sales.

Though many of the actors here have appeared in some of the industry’s most profitable movie franchises, such as Marvel Comics Universe’s X-Men, Spider-Man, and the Avengers; action franchises like Star Wars and The Hunger Games; and animation series such as Despicable Me and Kung Fu Panda, they have proved their bankability in non-franchise films such as “Perfect Storm,” “Minority Report,” and “Saving Private Ryan.”

Of the 50 actors on this list, all but five are male – including the top seven. The highest female actor is Scarlett Johansson, who has appeared in the The Avengers franchise films, but also in such acclaimed non-franchise features as “Jojo Rabbit” and “Marriage Story.” (Here’s a list of the biggest Scarlett Johansson movies, ranked from worst to best.)

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

50. Jason Bateman
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$6.8 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Zootopia (2016)
> Highest-rated film: Zootopia (2016)
> Age: 53 years

Source: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

49. Elizabeth Banks
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$6.8 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: The Lego Movie (2014)
> Highest-rated film: The Lego Movie (2014)
> Age: 48 years

Source: Jason Kempin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

48. Jamie Foxx
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$6.8 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
> Highest-rated film: Django Unchained (2012)
> Age: 54 years

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

47. Nicole Kidman
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$6.8 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Batman Forever (1995)
> Highest-rated film: Lion (2016)
> Age: 55 years

Source: Jemal Countess / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

46. Forest Whitaker
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$6.9 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Good Morning Vietnam (1987)
> Highest-rated film: Arrival (2016)
> Age: 61 years

Source: Ernesto S. Ruscio / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

45. Owen Wilson
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$6.9 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Cars (2006)
> Highest-rated film: Midnight in Paris (2011)
> Age: 54 years

Source: Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

44. Andy Serkis
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$6.9 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
> Highest-rated film: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
> Age: 58 years

Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

43. Stanley Tucci
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.0 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: The Hunger Games (2012)
> Highest-rated film: Big Night (1996)
> Age: 62 years

Source: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

42. Hugh Jackman
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.0 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
> Highest-rated film: Logan (2017)
> Age: 54 years

Source: Amy Sussman / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

41. Mark Ruffalo
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.0 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Highest-rated film: Spotlight (2015)
> Age: 55 years

Source: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

40. Chris Hemsworth
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.0 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Highest-rated film: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Age: 39 years

Source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

39. Djimon Hounsou
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.1 million
> Highest-grossing film: Constantine (2005)
> Highest-rated film: In America (2002)
> Age: 58 years

Source: Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

38. George Clooney
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.2 million
> Highest-grossing film: The Perfect Storm (2000)
> Highest-rated film: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
> Age: 61 years

Source: Rich Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

37. Alan Tudyk
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.4 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
> Highest-rated film: Serenity (2005)
> Age: 51 years

Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

36. Idris Elba
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.4 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: The Jungle Book (2016)
> Highest-rated film: Zootopia (2016)
> Age: 50 years

Source: Carlo Allegri / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

35. Clint Eastwood
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.5 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Every Which Way but Loose (1978)
> Highest-rated film: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
> Age: 92 years

Source: Jeff Spicer / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

34. Benedict Cumberbatch
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.5 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)
> Highest-rated film: The Imitation Game (2014)
> Age: 46 years

Source: gageskidmore / Flickr

33. Angelina Jolie
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.5 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Kung Fu Panda (2008)
> Highest-rated film: Kung Fu Panda (2008)
> Age: 47 years

Source: Amy Sussman / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

32. Ben Affleck
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.6 million
> Highest-grossing film: Armageddon (1998)
> Highest-rated film: Good Will Hunting (1997)
> Age: 50 years

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31. Michael Peña
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.7 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
> Highest-rated film: End of Watch (2012)
> Age: 46 years

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

30. Steve Carell
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.7 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Despicable Me 2 (2013)
> Highest-rated film: Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
> Age: 60 years

Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

29. Willem Dafoe
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$7.9 million
> Highest-grossing film: Spider-Man (2002)
> Highest-rated film: Finding Nemo (2003)
> Age: 67 years

Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

28. Channing Tatum
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.0 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: 22 Jump Street (2014)
> Highest-rated film: 21 Jump Street (2012)
> Age: 42 years

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

27. Adam Sandler
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.0 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: The Waterboy (1998)
> Highest-rated film: The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)
> Age: 56 years

Source: Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

26. Sandra Bullock
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.1 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Minions (2015)
> Highest-rated film: Gravity (2013)
> Age: 58 years

Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

25. Chris Evans
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.1 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Highest-rated film: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Age: 41 years

Source: Jerod Harris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

24. Seth Rogen
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.2 million
> Highest-grossing film: The Lion King (2019)
> Highest-rated film: 50/50 (2011)
> Age: 40 years

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

23. Chris Pratt
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.3 million
> Highest-grossing film: Jurassic World (2015)
> Highest-rated film: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
> Age: 43 years

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

22. Denzel Washington
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.4 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: The Pelican Brief (1993)
> Highest-rated film: Glory (1989)
> Age: 67 years

Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

21. Colin Farrell
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.4 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Minority Report (2002)
> Highest-rated film: In Bruges (2008)
> Age: 46 years

Source: Amy Sussman / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

20. Kevin Hart
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.5 million
> Highest-grossing film: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
> Highest-rated film: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
> Age: 43 years

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

19. Woody Harrelson
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.9 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
> Highest-rated film: No Country for Old Men (2007)
> Age: 61 years

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

18. Will Ferrell
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$8.9 million (tioe)
> Highest-grossing film: The Lego Movie (2014)
> Highest-rated film: The Lego Movie (2014)
> Age: 55 years

Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

17. Ryan Reynolds
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$9.0 million
> Highest-grossing film: Deadpool (2016)
> Highest-rated film: Deadpool (2016)
> Age: 46 years

Source: Francois Durand / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

16. Liam Neeson
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$9.3 million
> Highest-grossing film: Star Wars Ep. I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
> Highest-rated film: Schindler’s List (1993)
> Age: 70 years

Source: Tristan Fewings / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

15. Johnny Depp
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$9.4 million
> Highest-grossing film: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
> Highest-rated film: Edward Scissorhands (1990)
> Age: 59 years

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

14. Morgan Freeman
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$9.7 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Bruce Almighty (2003)
> Highest-rated film: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
> Age: 85 years

Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

13. Leonardo DiCaprio
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$9.7 million (tie)
> Highest-grossing film: Titanic (1997)
> Highest-rated film: The Departed (2006)
> Age: 48 years

Source: Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

12. Tom Cruise
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$9.8 million
> Highest-grossing film: Top Gun (1986)
> Highest-rated film: Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
> Age: 60 years

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

11. Robert De Niro
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$10.2 million
> Highest-grossing film: Meet the Fockers (2004)
> Highest-rated film: The Godfather: Part II (1974)
> Age: 79 years

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

10. Matt Damon
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$10.4 million
> Highest-grossing film: Saving Private Ryan (1998)
> Highest-rated film: Saving Private Ryan (1998)
> Age: 52 years

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9. Mark Wahlberg
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$10.8 million
> Highest-grossing film: The Perfect Storm (2000)
> Highest-rated film: The Departed (2006)
> Age: 51 years

Source: Jason Merritt/TERM / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

8. Scarlett Johansson
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$10.9 million
> Highest-grossing film: The Avengers (2012)
> Highest-rated film: The Avengers (2012)
> Age: 38 years

Source: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

7. Brad Pitt
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$11.1 million
> Highest-grossing film: Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
> Highest-rated film: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
> Age: 58 years

Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

6. Will Smith
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$11.2 million
> Highest-grossing film: Independence Day (1996)
> Highest-rated film: Men in Black (1997)
> Age: 54 years

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

5. Robert Downey, Jr.
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$12.0 million
> Highest-grossing film: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Highest-rated film: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Age: 57 years

Source: Jesse Grant / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

4. Dwayne Johnson
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$12.3 million
> Highest-grossing film: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
> Highest-rated film: Moana (2016)
> Age: 50 years

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

3. Bradley Cooper
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$12.7 million
> Highest-grossing film: American Sniper (2014)
> Highest-rated film: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
> Age: 47 years

Source: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2. Tom Hanks
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$13.5 million
> Highest-grossing film: Forrest Gump (1994)
> Highest-rated film: Toy Story (1995)
> Age: 66 years

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

1. Samuel L. Jackson
> Added domestic box office to avg. non-franchise film: +$18.0 million
> Highest-grossing film: Star Wars Ep. III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
> Highest-rated film: Pulp Fiction (1994)
> Age: 73 years

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