Chris Pratt Can Break 1 Massive Record in 2026 (but Robert Downey Jr. Could Stop Him)

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The Avatar movies have once again broken box office records, and Zoe Saldaña is now the highest-grossing actor ever, with her films earning a total of $15.4 billion worldwide. She’s starred in massive hits like all three Avatar movies, several Marvel films, and the Star Trek trilogy. Given her impressive film history, it’s no surprise she’s reached this milestone. However, Saldaña’s reign at the top might be short-lived, as another actor could surpass her record by the end of 2026.

Chris Pratt, who previously worked with Saldaña at Marvel, is also known for starring in blockbuster films. Beyond his Marvel roles, he led the Jurassic World trilogy – each movie earning over $1 billion – and voiced characters in hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Lego Movie. Pratt might surpass Saldaña in total box office earnings this year, but another Marvel actor could ultimately take the lead.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Should Be Another Major Hit for Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt will lead what’s expected to be a major blockbuster in 2026. The new Super Mario Galaxy Movie is coming out in April, following the massive success of the first Super Mario Bros. Movie from 2023. That original film earned an incredible $1.362 billion, making it the highest-grossing video game movie ever. The sequel is likely to be just as popular, and Universal has scheduled its release for the first weekend in April – a time that proved very successful for A Minecraft Movie as well. Fans are excited about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie because of its engaging story and the addition of more characters from the Mario universe.

Currently, Chris Pratt’s films featuring him in leading roles have grossed $14.1 billion worldwide. While the thriller Mercy will add to that total, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is expected to significantly increase his earnings. Depending on how well the new animated film performs, Pratt could end up very close to Zoe Saldaña in terms of total box office revenue. If The Super Mario Galaxy Movie earns around $1.3 billion – the same as the first film – Pratt’s career earnings would reach approximately $15.4 billion, matching Saldaña’s total. Even if the film earns slightly less, Pratt will be close behind his former co-star.

Besides the upcoming Thor film, Chris Pratt could also appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which kicks off the final chapter of Marvel’s Multiverse Saga this December. The movie will feature a huge number of Marvel characters, and it’s still unclear if Star-Lord will be among them. While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hinted at Star-Lord’s return, the timing wasn’t specified. Although scheduling issues initially kept Pratt from filming Doomsday, there’s still a possibility he could make a surprise appearance before the movie is released.

It’s unclear if Pratt’s role in Doomsday will count towards his leading role total. Zoe Saldaña’s record only counts films where she’s a main star or a significant part of the main cast. If Pratt has limited screen time in Doomsday, it might not qualify. However, what exactly defines a “lead ensemble role” seems inconsistent. For example, the website The Numbers lists Pratt’s role in Thor: Love and Thunder as “supporting,” but Avengers: Endgame as a “leading” role – even though his character, Star-Lord, is only briefly shown on screen in Endgame. Therefore, whether Doomsday counts depends on how it’s categorized, assuming Pratt appears in it at all.

Robert Downey Jr. Could Be the New Box Office Champion in 2026

If Pratt doesn’t surpass Saldaña’s box office record this year, Robert Downey Jr. could be a strong contender. He’s confirmed to be in Avengers: Doomsday as the main villain, which likely means the film will significantly contribute to his career earnings. This means Doomsday‘s box office numbers will definitely be added to Downey Jr.’s total when calculating the all-time record.

Currently, Robert Downey Jr.’s films have collectively earned $14.315 billion worldwide as leading roles. Zoe Saldaña is ahead of him by about $1.155 billion, and that difference is expected to grow when Downey’s new film, Doomsday, is released. While Avatar: Fire and Ash is still in theaters and unlikely to reach $2 billion, it will continue to add to Saldaña’s total for a few more weeks. However, Downey has a good chance of catching up, especially with Doomsday coming out. It appears Saldaña’s time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finished, and she doesn’t have any other upcoming projects that could significantly increase her earnings. She might return as Neytiri in Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, but those films are not confirmed, and it’s unclear how large her role will be in them.

As a big fan, I’m really hoping Robert Downey Jr. can beat Zoe Saldaña this year, but it’s going to take a massive hit for Doomsday. We’re probably looking at over $1.2 billion in box office revenue, which honestly, every Avengers movie has easily achieved so far. Even the lowest-grossing one, Age of Ultron, made $1.4 billion over ten years ago! Now, things are definitely different for the MCU. It’s true the franchise hasn’t been as dominant in pop culture lately, but Marvel still knows how to get people into theaters. Despite all the talk about recent disappointments, the Multiverse Saga has given us some of their biggest successes, so I’m still optimistic!

So far, only two movies in the Multiverse Saga have earned over $1 billion at the box office, and both are significant successes, particularly when considering the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Spider-Man: No Way Home was the first huge blockbuster after the pandemic, grossing $1.928 billion worldwide. This year, Deadpool & Wolverine also broke records, earning $1.338 billion. A key to their success was nostalgia – bringing back beloved actors like Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Hugh Jackman created must-see cinematic experiences. People didn’t want to miss these films, which drove huge ticket sales. Doomsday is following a similar strategy, featuring returning MCU favorites like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, as well as actors from the X-Men films. If Doomsday is well-received, it’s likely to exceed $1.2 billion, especially with little competition in late December 2027 and early January. And if Zoe Saldaña currently holds the record for highest-grossing actor, Robert Downey Jr. is poised to surpass her with the release of Avengers: Secret Wars.

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2026-01-15 22:44