The year 2016 was truly a year of movie contrasts. On the one hand, we have movies like “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” a standalone film released between the sequel trilogy films: “Rogue One” (2016) and “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018). This forms part of the iconic Star Wars story. Felicity Jones is rightly celebrated for her role as Jyn Erso. In contrast, we have up-and-coming stars like Eric Stonestreet who did the voice for the Newfoundland Duke in “The Secret Life of Pets”.
Another top star in our line-up is Ellen DeGeneres for her portrayal of Dory, a regal blue tang in the movie “Finding Dory”. Dory suffers from short-term memory loss. We also look at the contributions of stars like Jason Bateman, Auli’i Cravalho, and Chris Evans, to name a few.
To determine the top movie stars by year, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on domestic box office from the film industry site The Numbers, a subsidiary of Nash Information Services. Actors were ranked based on their total contributions to the domestic box office in a given year. Box office contributions were calculated based on billing order, with domestic box office figures successively halved according to billing order. If an actor received top billing, for example, they would be assigned half of the film’s box office. Actors receiving second billing were assigned one-fourth of a film’s box office, actors receiving third billing one-eighth, actors receiving fourth billing one-sixteenth, and so on. Domestic box office data is adjusted for inflation. (These are the highest grossing movie characters of all time.)
Here is the list of the top 25 movie stars of 2016.
25. Ben Kingsley
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $110.8 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: The Jungle Book ($443.1 million)
24. Eric Stonestreet
KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 29: Actor Eric Stonestreet announces the fourth round draft pick selection of the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $112.1 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: The Secret Life of Pets ($448.4 million)
23. Melissa McCarthy
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $116.5 million
- Movies in 2016: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Ghostbusters ($156.2 million)
22. Amy Adams
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $117.8 million
- Movies in 2016: 3 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($402.2 million)
21. Robert Downey, Jr.
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $124.2 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Captain America: Civil War ($496.8 million)
20. Anna Kendrick
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $133.9 million
- Movies in 2016: 5 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Trolls ($187.2 million)
19. Kevin Hart
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $136.9 million
- Movies in 2016: 4 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: The Secret Life of Pets ($448.4 million)
18. Benedict Cumberbatch
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $141.6 million
- Movies in 2016: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Doctor Strange ($283.1 million)
17. Jason Bateman
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $142.0 million
- Movies in 2016: 4 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Zootopia ($415.4 million)
16. Eddie Redmayne
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $142.2 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ($284.4 million)
15. Auli’i Cravalho
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $150.6 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Moana ($301.1 million)
14. Dwayne Johnson
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $152.9 million
- Movies in 2016: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Moana ($301.1 million)
13. Albert Brooks
HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Actor Albert Brooks attends the Centerpiece Gala Premiere of Columbia Pictures' Concussion during AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 10, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $155.0 million
- Movies in 2016: 3 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Finding Dory ($592.0 million)
12. Ben Affleck
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $159.1 million
- Movies in 2016: 4 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($402.2 million)
11. Diego Luna
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $161.1 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ($644.5 million)
10. Matthew McConaughey
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $182.3 million
- Movies in 2016: 4 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Sing ($324.6 million)
9. Henry Cavill
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $201.1 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($402.2 million)
8. Ginnifer Goodwin
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $207.7 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Zootopia ($415.4 million)
7. Will Smith
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $216.6 million
- Movies in 2016: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Suicide Squad ($395.8 million)
6. Ryan Reynolds
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $221.0 million
- Movies in 2016: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Deadpool ($442.0 million)
5. Bill Murray
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $221.6 million
- Movies in 2016: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: The Jungle Book ($443.1 million)
4. Louis C.K.
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $224.2 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: The Secret Life of Pets ($448.4 million)
3. Chris Evans
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $248.4 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Captain America: Civil War ($496.8 million)
2. Ellen DeGeneres
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $296.0 million
- Movies in 2016: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Finding Dory ($592.0 million)
1. Felicity Jones
- Box office contributions in 2016 (inflation-adjusted): $332.7 million
- Movies in 2016: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ($644.5 million)