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Actors leading high-profile movies and major franchises are nothing new in Hollywood. However, some like Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks have consistently turned projects into box office successes. These actors have become a reliable brand for audiences to turn to in theaters.
Many of their movies have easily crossed the $100 million mark, and some of them have even achieved the billion-dollar mark at the box office. Here are the actors who have thrived in action juggernauts, dramatic event movies, and animated hits, and have given us the most number of $100 million+ hits.
10 Will Smith – 24 Movies
Will Smith‘s box office dominance peaked during an era when star power alone could open films worldwide. Smith has 24 movies that crossed the $100 million mark. After gaining popularity from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith had a grand entry into Hollywood. One of his first movies, Made in America, crossed the $100 million mark.
He landed the lead role in the 1996 movie, Independence Day, which went on to become his highest-grossing movie until 2019’s Aladdin. That movie propelled him into an action star. He later starred in the Bad Boys and Men in Black franchise movies, all of which collected well north of $100 million at the box office.
No.Smith’s MoviesBox Office1Aladdin (2019)$1.054 billion2Independence Day (1996)$817.4 million3Suicide Squad (2016)$749.2 million4Men in Black 3 (2012)$654.2 million5Hancock (2008)$629.4 million6Men in Black (1997)$589.4 million7I Am Legend (2007)$585 million8Men in Black II (2002)$445.1 million9Bad Boys For Life (2020)$426.5 million10Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)$405 million11Shark Tale (2004)$374.6 million12Hitch (2005)$371.6 million13I, Robot (2001)$353.1 million14The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)$307.1 million15Bad Boys II (2003)$273.3 million16Enemy of the State (1998)$250.8 million17After Earth (2013)$243.8 million18Wild, Wild West (1999)$222.1 million19Gemini Man (2019)$173.5 million20Spies in Disguise (2019)$171.6 million21Seven Pounds (2008)$169.7 million22Focus (2015)$158.8 million23Bad Boys (1995)$141.4 million24Made in America (1993)$104.9 million
He was one of the highest-paid stars, even making a $100 million in total income for Men in Black III. Another one of his highest-grossing movies was the 2016 DCEU ensemble movie, Suicide Squad.
9 Julia Roberts – 24 Movies
Julia Roberts in a still from Pretty Woman | Credits: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Julia Roberts emerged as a remarkable romantic-comedy star of the ’90s before expanding into thrillers and ensemble blockbusters that broadened her global reach. Her commercial triumphs in the ’90s include her cultural classic Pretty Woman, The Pelican Brief, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Notting Hill. Roberts has 28 movies in her filmography that crossed $100 million.
No.Roberts’s MoviesBox Office1Pretty Woman (1990)$463.4 million2Ocean’s Eleven (2001)$450.7 million3Notting Hill (1999)$364 million4Ocean’s Twelve (2004)$362.9 million5Wonder (2017)$315 million6Runaway Bride (1999) $309.5 million7Hook (1991)$300.9 million8My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)$299.3 million9Erin Brockovich (2000)$256.3 million10Valentine’s Day (2010)$216.5 million11Eat Pray Love (2010)$205.3 million12Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017)$197.6 million13The Pelican Brief (1993)$195.3 million14Mirror Mirror (2012)$183 million15Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)$175 million16Ticket to Paradise (2022)$168.8 million17Stepmom (1998)$159.7 million18Charlotte’s Web (2006)$148.9 million19The Mexican (2001)$147.8 million20Mona Lisa Smile (2003)$141.3 million21America’s Sweethearts (2001)$138.3 million22Conspiracy Theory (1997)$137 million23Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)$119.5 million24Closer (2004)$115.5 million
Pretty Woman still remains her highest-grossing movie. She started the 2000s strong with roles in Erin Brokovich, The Mexican, and the Ocean’s franchise. Her recent hits include the 2017 film Wonder, the voice role in Smurfs: The Lost Village, and her reunion with George Clooney in Ticket to Paradise.
8 Denzel Washington – 24 Movies
Denzel Washington as Macrinus in Gladiator II | Credits: Paramount Pictures
Denzel Washington found the right balance in his career between critical acclaim and commercial success. He consistently brought the numbers at the box office, with some solid stories that critics seemed to love. He is one of the rare prestige actors who has so many blockbusters to his name.
His highest-grossing movie arrived very recently in Gladiator II, where he played the antagonistic character, Macrinus. His crime drama, American Gangster, and action thriller, Safe House, are also among the top of his commercial hits. Washington’s The Equalizer franchise also performed well at the box office.
No.Washington’s MoviesBox Office1Gladiator II (2024)$462.2 million2American Gangster (2007)$269.8 million3Safe House (2012)$208.1 million4Philadelphia (1993)$206.7 million5The Pelican Brief (1993)$195.3 million6The Equalizer (2014)$192.3 million7The Equalizer 3 (2023)$191.1 million8The Equalizer 2 (2018)$190.4 million9Inside Man (2006)$184.4 million10Déjà Vu (2006)$180.6 million11Unstoppable (2010)$167.8 million12The Magnificent Seven (2016)$162.4 million13Flight (2012)$161.8 million14Crimson Tide (1995)$157.4 million15The Book of Eli (2010)$157.1 million16The Bone Collector (1999)$151.5 million17The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)$150.2 million18Remember the Titans (2000)$136.8 million192 Guns (2013)$131.9 million20Man on Fire (2004)$130.3 million21The Siege (1998)$116.7 million22Training Day (2001)$104.9 million23John Q. (2002)$102.2 million24Courage Under Fire (1996)$100.9 million
The actor’s 24 movies have crossed the $100 million mark at the box office. He previously shared that he would retire after a few more movies. His potential appearance in blockbuster franchise movies like Black Panther 3 gives fans confidence that he will get more $100 million+ movies before he retires.
7 Bruce Willis – 28 Movies
Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense | Credits: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Bruce Willis helped define the modern action hero with his Die Hard movies. However, he also delivered surprisingly dramatic performances that broadened his audience appeal. His highest-grossing movie wasn’t an action movie. The Sixth Sense, which grossed $672.8 million, relied largely on Willis’s intense performance.
His disaster epic, Armageddon, is his second-highest-grossing movie, while the franchise revival, Live Free or Die Hard, is his highest-grossing Die Hard movie. It should be noted that most of his $100 million+ movies came in the ’90s and 2000s. Willis had a total of 28 movies in his filmography that crossed $100 million.
No.Willis’s MoviesBox Office1The Sixth Sense (1999)$672.8 million2Armageddon (1998)$553.7 million3Live Free or Die Hard (2007)$388.2 million4G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)$375.7 million5Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)$366.1 million6Over the Hedge (2006)$339.8 million7The Expendables 2 (2012)$315 million8A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)$304.7 million9Look Who’s Talking (1989)$297 million10The Fifth Element (1997)$263.9 million11Unbreakable (2000)$248.1 million12Glass (2019)$247 million13Die Hard 2 (1990)$240 million14Pulp Fiction (1994)$213.9 million15Red (2010)$199 million16Looper (2012)$176.5 million1712 Monkeys (1995)$168.8 million18The Jackal (1997)$159.3 million19Sin City (2005)$158.7 million20Death Becomes Her (1992)$149 million21Red 2 (2013)$148.1 million22Die Hard (1988)141.5 million23Surrogates (2009)$122.4 million24Look Who’s Talking Too (1990)$120.9 million25The Siege (1998)$116.7 million26The Last Boy Scout (1991)$114.5 million27The Kid (2000)$110.3 million28The Whole Nine Yards (2000)$106.4 million
In the 2010s, most of his movies were released directly to video, with the exception of a few. The actor retired from acting after his family revealed his condition of aphasia in 2022. In February 2023, his family announced to the world that he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
6 Sylvester Stallone – 28 movies
Sylvester Stallone has an inspirational story to tell in Hollywood, turning underdog grit into blockbuster mythology. He stood his ground to star in Rocky (1976), which he wrote. He went on to create a franchise that continues to generate massive global box office decades after its debut. It also paved the way for his entry into Hollywood action movies.
Stallone has 28 movies in his filmography that crossed $100 million. He also led the Rambo movies, which proved to be another blockbuster franchise for the actor. His highest-grossing movie is the ensemble smash, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, followed by the second installment of his own ensemble creation, The Expendables.
No.Stallone’s MoviesBox Office1Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)$869.1 million2The Expendables 2 (2012)$315 million3Rocky IV (1985)$300.5 million4Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)$300.4 million5The Expendables (2010)$274.5 million6Rocky III (1982)$270 million7Cliffhanger (1993)$255 million8Rocky (1976)$225 million9The Expendables 3 (2014)$214.7 million10Creed II (2018)$214.1 million11Rocky II (1979)$200.1 million12Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)$197 million13Rambo III (1988)$189 million14Creed (2015)$173.6 million15Antz (1998)$171.8 million16The Specialist (1994)$170.4 million17Zookeeper (2011)$169.8 million18The Suicide Squad (2021)$168.7 million19Cobra (1986)$160 million20Demolition Man (1993)$159 million21Daylight (1996)$159 million22Rocky Balboa (2006)$156 million23Escape Plan (2013)$137.3 million24First Blood (1982)$125.2 million25Tango & Cash (1989)$120.4 million26Rocky V (1990)$120 million27Judge Dredd (1995)$113.5 million28Rambo (2008)$113.2 million
The success of Stallone’s brand of muscular cinema prompted Paramount to kick off the crime drama series, Tulsa King, with Stallone in the lead. Despite the failure of his latest Expendables movie, fans believe that Stallone has more to offer when it comes to theatrical movies.
5 Matt Damon – 29 Movies
Matt Damon as Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves in Oppenheimer | Credits: Universal Pictures
Matt Damon has 29 movies that have crossed the $100 million mark, with The Martian being his highest-grossing solo movie. He has quietly become one of the industry’s most reliable box office performers. He can thrive in both critically acclaimed movies and commercial blockbusters.
Damon can be your traditional protagonist, running around and kicking a** in action movies. He can also easily fit into any ensemble and deliver a brilliant standout performance. For instance, his highest-grossing movies are Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Interstellar, where he played supporting characters.
No.Damon’s MoviesBox Office1Oppenheimer (2023)$975.8 million2Interstellar (2014)$773.8 million3The Martian (2015)$630.6 million4Saving Private Ryan (1998)$482.3 million5Ocean’s Eleven (2001)$450.7 million6The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)$444 million7Jason Bourne (2016)$416.2 million8Ocean’s Twelve (2004)$362.9 million9The Great Wall (2016)$334.9 million10Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)$311.7 million11The Bourne Supremacy (2004)$311 million12The Departed (2006)$291.5 million13Elysium (2013)$286.1 million14True Grit (2010)$252.3 million15Good Will Hunting (1997)$225.9 million16Ford v Ferrari (2019)$225.5 million17The Bourne Identity (2002)$214.4 million18Happy Feet Two (2011)$159.2 million19The Monuments Men (2014)$156.4 million20Contagion (2011)$136.5 million21The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)$128.8 million22The Adjustment Bureau (2011)$127.8 million23Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)$122.6 million24Invictus (2009)$122.2 million25We Bought a Zoo (2011)$120 million26Hereafter (2010)$107 million27The Brothers Grimm (2005)$105.3 million28Courage Under Fire (1996)$100.9 million29The Good Shepherd (2006)$100.3 million
Studios have increasingly chased Damon’s talent for his sheer ability to blend intellectual material with mainstream spectacle. With Nolan’s upcoming movie, The Odyssey, Damon might be able to add another big number to this list.
4 Harrison Ford – 29 Movies
Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd/Disney
Harrison Ford‘s biggest hits in his filmography are the franchise movies, including Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the original phenomenon Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. He is one of the industry’s foundational blockbuster stars, having anchored two of cinema’s most enduring franchises.
Ford’s 29 movies have crossed the $100 million mark, and his highest-grossing movie is among the few movies that crossed the $2 billion mark. His appearance continues to draw people to theaters, earning millions for his modern movies.
No.Ford’s MoviesBox Office1Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)$2.071 billion2Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)$786.6 million3Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)$775.4 million4Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)$550 million5Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)$482 million6Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)$474.2 million7The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)$431.1 million8Captain America: Brave New World (2025)$415.1 million9Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)$389.9 million10Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)$384 million11The Fugitive (1993)$368.9 million12Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)$333.1 million13Air Force One (1997)$315.2 million14What Lies Beneath (2000)$291.4 million15Blade Runner 2049 (2017)$276.6 million16Presumed Innocent (1990)$221 million17Clear and Present Danger (1994)$215.9 million18The Expendables 3 (2014)$214.7 million19Patriot Games (1992)$178.1 million20Cowboys & Aliens (2011)$174.8 million21Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)$173.6 million22Six Days, Seven Nights (1998)$164.8 million23Apocalypse Now (1979)$150 million24The Devil’s Own (1997)$140.8 million25American Graffiti (1973)$140 million26Ender’s Game (2013)$125.5 million27Witness (1985)$117.1 million28The Call of the Wild (2020)$111.1 million29Working Girl (1988)$103 million
Ford has also entered the Marvel Universe as Red Hulk, and there is a possibility that his character could return in the future. It means that the actor might have more movies in this list.
3 Tom Hanks – 30 Movies
Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou in The Da Vinci Code | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing
Tom Hanks has built one of the most audience-trusted brands in cinema. His filmography seamlessly moves between heartfelt dramas, historical epics, and animated franchises that span generations of moviegoers. Between his award-winning commercial hits of the ’90s and the continued success of the Toy Story IP, he has 30 movies that have crossed $100 million at the box office.
No.Hanks’s MoviesBox Office1Toy Story 4 (2019)$1.074 billion2Toy Story 3 (2010)$1.067 billion3The Da Vinci Code (2006)$801.3 million4Forrest Gump (1994)$678.2 million5Toy Story 2 (1999)$511.4 million6Angels and Demons (2009)$485.9 million7Saving Private Ryan (1998)$482.3 million8Cast Away (2000)$429.6 million9Toy Story (1995)$401.1 million10Apollo 13 (1995)$355.2 million11Catch Me If You Can (2002)$352.1 million12The Polar Express (2004)$318.2 million13Elvis (2022)$288.7 million14The Green Mile (1999)$286.8 million15You’ve Got Mail (1998)$250.8 million16Sully (2016)$240.8 million17Sleepless in Seattle (1993)$227.9 million18Captain Phillips (2013)$220.6 million19Inferno (2016)$220 million20The Terminal (2004)$219.1 million21Philadelphia (1993)$206.7 million22Road to Perdition (2002)$183.4 million23The Post (2017)$179.8 million24Bridge of Spies (2015)$165.5 million25Big (1988)$151.7 million26A League of Their Own (1992)$132.4 million27Cloud Atlas (2012)$130.5 million28Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)$119.5 million29Saving Mr. Banks (2013)$117.9 million30A Man Called Otto (2022)$113 million
He has two billion-dollar hits: Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4. He also found enormous success in the Robert Langdon movie series, with The Da Vinci Code becoming his highest-grossing movie behind the Toy Story movies. Fans will probably continue to show up for his family blockbusters.
2 Brad Pitt – 32 Movies
Brad Pitt in a still from F1: The Movie | Credits: Warner Bros./Apple Original Films
Brad Pitt’s box office strength comes from his movie-star charisma and the risk-taking of a character actor. Whether headlining large-scale action projects or prestige ensembles, he has consistently drawn audiences across genres and generations. Pitt’s biggest box office achievement came in 2025 with the racing drama, F1: The Movie.
His other commercial peaks include the zombie juggernaut World War Z and the epic spectacle Troy. Pitt also appeared in the successful Ocean’s franchise, which came early in his career.
No.Pitt’s MoviesBox Office1F1: The Movie (2025)$633.1 million2World War Z (2013)$540 million3Troy (2004)$497.4 million4Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)$487.3 million5Ocean’s Eleven (2001)$450.7 million6Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)$392.1 million7Ocean’s Twelve (2004)$362.9 million8The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)$335.8 million9Se7en (1995)$327.3 million10Megamind (2010)$321.9 million11Inglourious Basterds (2009)$321.5 million12Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)$311.7 million13Bullet Train (2022)$239.3 million14Interview with the Vampire (1994)$223.7 million15Fury (2014)$211.8 million1612 Years a Slave (2013)$187.7 million1712 Monkeys (1995)$168.8 million18Sleepers (1996)$165.6 million19Burn After Reading (2008)$163.8 million20Legends of the Fall (1994)$160.6 million21Happy Feet Two (2011)$159.2 million22The Mexican (2001)$147.8 million23Spy Game (2001)$143 million24Meet Joe Black (1998)$142.9 million25The Devil’s Own (1997)$140.8 million26Babel (2006)$135.3 million27Ad Astra (2019)$135.2 million28The Big Short (2015)$133.4 million29Seven Years in Tibet (1997)$131.5 million30Allied (2016)$119.5 million31Moneyball (2011)$110.2 million32Fight Club (1999)$101 million
Pitt has 32 movies in his filmography that crossed the $100 million mark. He is returning to his role as Cliff Booth in a spinoff movie to Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Rumors say that he will probably return to a sequel to his last year’s hit, F1.
1 Tom Cruise – 34 Movies
Few actors have turned movie stardom into a sustained box office machine like Tom Cruise, whose career is marked by several blockbuster action movies. From the cultural phenomenon of the Top Gun movies, including his highest-grossing movie Top Gun: Maverick, to the globe-trotting thrills of his Mission: Impossible movies.
Cruise’s success lies in delivering spectacle audiences can’t replicate at home. He does his own action in his movies, a strategy that has helped him to achieve big numbers at the box office.
No.Cruise’s MoviesBox Office1Top Gun: Maverick (2022)$1.496 billion2Mission: Impossible — Fallout (2018)$791.1 million3Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation (2015)$710.9 million4Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)$694.7 million5War of The Worlds (2005)$603.9 million6Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)$598.8 million7Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) $571.1 million8Mission: Impossible II (2000)$546.4 million9Mission: Impossible (1996)$457.7 million10The Last Samurai (2003)$456.8 million11Rain Man (1988)429.4 million12The Mummy (2017)$410 million13Mission: Impossible III (2006)$398.5 million14Edge of Tomorrow (2014)$381 million15Minority Report (2002)$358.4 million16Top Gun (1986)$357.4 million17Oblivion (2013)$287.9 million18Jerry Maguire (1996)$273.6 million19The Firm (1993)$270.2 million20Knight and Day (2010)$262 million21A Few Good Men (1992)$243.2 million22Interview with the Vampire (1994)$223.7 million23Collateral (2004)$220.2 million24Jack Reacher (2012)$218.3 million25Vanilla Sky (2001)$203.4 million26Valkyrie (2008)$201.5 million27Tropic Thunder (2008)$195.7 million28Cocktail (1988)$171.5 million29Eyes Wide Shut (1999)$162.1 million30Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)$162 million31Born on the Fourth of July (1989)$162 million32Days of Thunder (1990)$157.9 million33Far and Away (1992)$137.8 million34American Made (2017)$134.9 million
Cruise has a whopping 34 $100 million+ movies in his filmography. It has made him one of the most bankable stars in the industry and one of the highest-paid actors. He is set to change tracks with his upcoming movie, Digger.
What do you think of these stars and their box office achievements? Let us know in the comments below!
