Predicting 2018’s Top Grossing Actor

On the heels of a year which saw a box office dominated by actors in super hero movies, 2018 sets the stage for more comic book movie actors to claim top ranks on the charts ranking the top grossing actors of the year.

In 2017, it was Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Gal Gadot finishing one, two, and three atop the list of top grossing actors. Diesel appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, leanding his voice for Groot, and Gadot took on the role of Wonder Woman for a pair of films, boosting their box office hauls. Johnson managed to grab the second spot with a trio of non-comic book films, including Fate of the Furious with Diesel as a co-star.

2018, however, comes down to a few films propelling a slew of actors to big box office hauls. Several comic book movie sequels and other franchise films will help launch a few new names to the top of the list while 2017’s top contenders quiet down a bit.

The top grossing actor is determined at year end when each film they starred in has completed its box office haul for the year. For example, Tessa Thompson would certainly be on the list would she have been confirmed for Avengers: Infinity War, with the film likely garner a $2 billion total for her to toss into a total which will be supplemented by fie other films releasing in 2018, including a Creed sequel. On this list, however, she is merely used as an example, seeing as she has not been officially confirmed for the Marvel Studios ensemble flick.

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt, like several names on this list, will earn most of his box office revenue by starring in Avengers: Infinity War. The Marvel Studios ensemble flick is in conversation to top Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ record-breaking opening weekend of $247 million domestically. With Avengers: Infinity War alone, Pratt, along with several actors to come on this list, will have a $2 billion title on their 2018 resume. 

Beyond the third Avengers film is where the list’s competitors will be able to claim their title as top grossing actor of 2018. Pratt seems to have the best chance to do so with a blockbuster sequel set to release over the summer in the form of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Pratt’s first Jurassic outing opened to $208 million domestically, but a record-breaking $524 million worldwide. The return to the Jurassic world after years away from the franchise may have bolstered the release’s buzz but the sequel is all but guaranteed to give Pratt two films which will crack $1 billion worldwide. 

For perspective, Diesel won 2017 with $1.6 billion.

Josh Brolin

The biggest competition Pratt will face for the title of top grossing actor in 2017 will come from Josh Brolin.

Brolin will also appear in Avengers: Infinity War as the villainous Thanos but also has three additional titles releasing in 2018. Among those titles is The Untitled Deadpool Sequel where he is set to portray the highly anticipated Cable role. Having only become more popular since Deadpool‘s 2016 release, the franchise is looking to build on the massively successful R-rated first film’s $783 million worldwide.

The Deadpool sequel may not crack $1 billion (such a feat has never been accomplished by an R-rated movie) but it will certainly come close. That’s where Brolin’s other films become a factor. Adding to Brolin’s totals at the box office will be the Sicario sequel Soldado and the biopic George and Tammy.

Chadwick Boseman

The third (but not final) actor on the list set to star in Avengers: Infinity War is Chadwick Boseman.

Prior to Infinity War the actor from South Carolina will star in his own Black Panther movie which will aim to break February box office records. The first Marvel Studios film to release during the year’s second month will aim to prove the month can be incredibly lucrative outside of Valentine’s Day romances, something only Deadpool has truly proven so far. 

Boseman will have trouble reaching the top of the list with only two films releasing in 2018 but Black Panther‘s success might over-deliver on expectation, propelling him toward the top of the list. 

Danai Gurira

Along with Boseman comes Danai Gurira.

Gurira will unquestionably be the busiest actress through 2018, with 16 new episodes of The Walking Dead set to air, but will also appear in both Avengers: Infinity War and Black Panther. Starring the the latter as Okoye, Gurira’s total box office landing spot depends only on success of Black Panther. Given the films buzz, however, it’s likely she, Boseman, and several other cast members who will appear in both films, will land in respectable ranks.

 

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd will likely finish among the top grossing actors of 2018 with four total films on the horizon.

Appearing in Avengers: Infinity War, the Scott Lang actor will follow up the cosmic adventure with Ant-Man and The Wasp later in the summer. Ant-Man and The Wasp, however, is unlikely to beat Black Panther’s box office haul (barring a thorough Avengers: Infinity War connection and leads-in). 

Aside from the Marvel movies, Rudd also has The Catcher Was a Spy on the way in mid-January. It’s not a film which will be identified as a blockbuster in any way but will certainly add to Rudd’s total, along with Mute, which is set for release later in 2018.

Should Evangeline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne appear in Avengers: Infinity War with Rudd, she will also be among the top ranks but will fall short with no other films releasing during the year.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch (noticing the Avengers trend here?) will have a real shot at being the top-grossing actor of the year with four big films on the way.

Outside of the third Avengers, Cumberbatch will appear in The Jungle Book movie previously titled Mowgli from Warner Bros. in October. He will add to the total with the sure fire Christmas movie hit The Grinch and really show off his acting chops in the crime drama Rio from Steven Knight late in the year. 

Depending on the performances of Cumberbatch’s three Avengers-haul supplementing films, the British actor has a real chance at being te top grossing at the box office for the year.