Join us on a journey taking you through the top movies and stars of 2012. We have everything from action-packed adventures to heartwarming comedies and thought-provoking dramas. The year 2012 really offered a cinematic smorgasbord! We unveil the top 25 stars who made this year a truly memorable year for cinema-goers.
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.
It will not be surprising that the top star for 2012 is none other than Robert Downey, Jr. for his role in The Avengers. Following close behind him are Jennifer Lawrence and Christian Bale. Click here for a link to a list of the top movie stars over the past 50 years.
Here is a list of the 25 top movie stars of 2012.
25. Martin Freeman
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Actor Martin Freeman attends the BFI London Film Festival Awards at Banqueting House on October 17, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI)
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $110.2 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ($399.7 million)
24. Hugh Jackman
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $114.9 million
- Movies in 2012: 3 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Les Misérables ($195.6 million)
23. Will Smith
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $118.4 million
- Movies in 2012: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Men in Black 3 ($236.8 million)
22. Daniel Day-Lewis
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $120.0 million
- Movies in 2012: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Lincoln ($240.0 million)
21. Chris Hemsworth
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $120.7 million
- Movies in 2012: 4 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Avengers ($824.6 million)
20. Adam Sandler
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $122.5 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Hotel Transylvania ($196.1 million)
19. Taylor Kitsch
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $122.8 million
- Movies in 2012: 3 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: John Carter ($96.6 million)
18. John C. Reilly
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $125.7 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Wreck-It Ralph ($250.3 million)
17. Danny DeVito
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $141.6 million
- Movies in 2012: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax ($283.1 million)
16. Denzel Washington
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $145.5 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Safe House ($166.9 million)
15. Liam Neeson
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $155.0 million
- Movies in 2012: 5 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Dark Knight Rises ($592.8 million)
14. Josh Hutcherson
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $155.8 million
- Movies in 2012: 3 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Hunger Games ($539.7 million)
13. Kelly Macdonald
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $158.0 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Brave ($313.9 million)
12. Channing Tatum
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $163.3 million
- Movies in 2012: 6 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: 21 Jump Street ($183.1 million)
11. Ben Stiller
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $165.9 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted ($286.3 million)
10. Andrew Garfield
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Andrew Garfield attends the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) at Royal Albert Hall on February 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $173.3 million
- Movies in 2012: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Amazing Spider-Man ($346.6 million)
9. Michael Caine
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $182.6 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Dark Knight Rises ($592.8 million)
8. Mark Wahlberg
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $188.6 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Ted ($289.3 million)
7. Ian McKellen
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Harriet Walter, Sir Ian McKellen and David Tennant perform on stage as part of a special production of Shakespeare Live! from the RSC on April 23, 2016 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is President of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Live! from the RSC marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death by celebrating Shakespeare's legacy in theatre, music, opera and ballet. (Photo by Tristan Fewings - WPA Pool / Getty Images)
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $199.9 million
- Movies in 2012: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ($399.7 million)
6. Daniel Craig
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $201.2 million
- Movies in 2012: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: Skyfall ($402.4 million)
5. Chris Evans
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $206.2 million
- Movies in 2012: 1 credit
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Avengers ($824.6 million)
4. Kristen Stewart
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $295.9 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 ($386.6 million)
3. Christian Bale
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Actor Christian Bale arrives at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $296.6 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Dark Knight Rises ($592.8 million)
2. Jennifer Lawrence
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $333.8 million
- Movies in 2012: 3 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Hunger Games ($539.7 million)
1. Robert Downey, Jr.
- Box office contributions in 2012 (inflation-adjusted): $412.3 million
- Movies in 2012: 2 credits
- Highest grossing movie in 2012: The Avengers ($824.6 million)