We wondering who were the most successful thespians of the last 25 years? One of the benefits of our database is that we can sometimes answer our questions with some query searches. The following table shows the most successful actors and actresses that made movies form 1995 to 2020. To make our list they had to make a minimum of 25 movies. Movies were ranked using three main areas: Box office results, reviews, and awards. We think this might make a good subject for our 2nd book.
Top Movie Stars 1995-2020 Main Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort by ACTOR or ACTRESS
- Sort by MOVIES MADE between 1995 and 2020
- Sort by TOTAL adjusted DOMESTIC box office
- Sort by TOTAL adjusted WORLDWIDE box office
- Sort by AVERAGE REVIEW % per movie (Critics & Audiences)
- Sort by how many OSCAR® NOMINATIONS and how many OSCAR® WINS each performers’ movies earned
| Rank | UMR Link | Movies | Adjusted USA Box Office (mil) | Adjusted Wolrd Box Office (mil) | Review % Average | Oscar Noms / Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Hanks | 31 | $5,598.40 | $12,503.00 | 73.0 % | 067 / 12 | |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | 26 | $3,841.80 | $10,821.50 | 71.1% | 095 / 31 | |
| Tom Cruise | 25 | $3,967.70 | $11,080.70 | 69.7 % | 020 / 01 | |
| Brad Pitt | 35 | $3,666.90 | $10,103.50 | 70.3 % | 062 / 10 | |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | 28 | $4,020.30 | $11,708.00 | 74.0 % | 051 / 07 | |
| Will Smith | 29 | $5,460.20 | $13,110.80 | 58.0 % | 011 / 03 | |
| Vin Diesel | 26 | $5,085.10 | $14,711.30 | 63.6 % | 016 / 05 | |
| George Clooney | 35 | $3,390.30 | $7,405.80 | 69.6 % | 054 / 10 | |
| Denzel Washington | 32 | $3,045.90 | $5,168.70 | 68.2 % | 017 / 02 | |
| Matt Damon | 48 | $4,829.70 | $10,826.20 | 69.4 % | 067 / 19 | |
| Seth Rogen | 30 | $3,585.00 | $8,103.20 | 69.6 % | 006 / 00 | |
| Chris Pratt | 25 | $4,693.70 | $12,162.30 | 66.1 % | 026 / 02 | |
| Amy Adams | 30 | $2,842.60 | $5,841.20 | 67.0 % | 056 / 06 | |
| Jeremy Renner | 29 | $4,137.10 | $11,255.00 | 70.4 % | 034 / 07 | |
| Hugh Jackman | 33 | $3,797.50 | $9,005.80 | 63.2 % | 019 / 04 | |
| Cate Blanchett | 47 | $4,575.90 | $12,638.00 | 69.9 % | 094 / 29 | |
| Meryl Streep | 38 | $2,484.40 | $5,516.90 | 69.1 % | 056 / 06 | |
| Chris Evans | 32 | $5,402.50 | $14,698.30 | 64.1 % | 005 / 00 | |
| Bradley Cooper | 34 | $5,341.40 | $12,189.00 | 58.8 % | 036 / 03 | |
| Edward Norton | 29 | $1705.00 | $3,851.40 | 71.9 % | 026 / 08 | |
| Dwayne Johnson | 34 | $4,702.60 | $13,162.60 | 57.7 % | 002 / 00 | |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | 39 | $5,584.50 | $13,644.20 | 66.7 % | 030 / 08 | |
| Harrison Ford | 25 | $3,971.70 | $8,467.00 | 59.2 % | 017 / 02 | |
| Steve Carell | 35 | $3,422.00 | $6,998.90 | 65.2 % | 024 / 04 | |
| Russell Crowe | 31 | $2,453.00 | $5,862.80 | 65.6 % | 061 / 16 | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | 44 | $6,462.30 | $16,604.60 | 66.2 % | 024 / 03 | |
| Christian Bale | 38 | $3,191.10 | $7,034.40 | 68.3 % | 055 / 10 | |
| Julia Roberts | 34 | $3,303.60 | $7,374.10 | 59.9 % | 014 / 01 | |
| Chiwetel Ejiofor | 29 | $2,326.50 | $6,620.10 | 68.0 % | 029 / 03 | |
| Viggo Mortensen | 26 | $2,491.80 | $6,593.50 | 68.2 % | 045 / 20 | |
| Scarlett Johansson | 49 | $6,044.40 | $16,264.60 | 68.2 % | 042 / 05 | |
| Johnny Depp | 44 | $4,867.10 | $13,268.50 | 60.5 % | 044 / 07 | |
| Jack Black | 43 | $4,344.00 | $10,142.00 | 62.1 % | 015 / 05 | |
| Eddie Murphy | 27 | $4,122.60 | $8,365.80 | 53.0 % | 016 / 04 | |
| Jamie Foxx | 33 | $2,808.70 | $6,133.80 | 59.8 % | 027 / 06 | |
| Sandra Bullock | 31 | $3,572.70 | $7,259.80 | 53.3 % | 022 / 12 | |
| Anne Hathaway | 32 | $3,140.60 | $8,146.70 | 60.0 % | 028 / 09 | |
| Morgan Freeman | 53 | $5,631.30 | $12,418.20 | 61.0 % | 028 / 07 | |
| Mark Wahlberg | 43 | $3,778.20 | $7,803.50 | 61.4 % | 024 / 06 | |
| Ralph Fiennes | 43 | $3,577.00 | $10,356.50 | 69.5 % | 059 / 26 | |
| Laurence Fishburne | 39 | $3,739.70 | $8,231.50 | 62.2 % | 012 / 06 | |
| Josh Brolin | 39 | $4,149.80 | $10,909.50 | 66.5 % | 040 / 06 | |
| Mark Ruffalo | 41 | $4,683.00 | $13,019.10 | 67.9 % | 026 / 03 | |
| Shia LaBeouf | 25 | $2,721.90 | $6,345.40 | 63.4 % | 009 / 00 | |
| James McAvoy | 30 | $2,159.00 | $5,599.50 | 67.8 % | 016 / 03 | |
| Dustin Hoffman | 31 | $2,337.10 | $5,597.00 | 65.0 % | 015 / 02 | |
| Ryan Gosling | 25 | $1,117.90 | $2,210.30 | 69.7 % | 032 / 10 | |
| Cameron Diaz | 33 | $4,226.40 | $9,580.50 | 56.3 % | 019 / 01 | |
| Kevin Spacey | 33 | $2,307.10 | $4,862.70 | 64.1 % | 026 / 07 | |
| Emma Thompson | 38 | $3,136.30 | $9,074.40 | 68.7 % | 020 / 02 | |
| Michael Caine | 39 | $3,954.00 | $9,265.80 | 64.0 % | 040 / 09 | |
| Ben Stiller | 43 | $4,305.80 | $9,400.70 | 60.1 % | 003 / 00 | |
| Emily Blunt | 29 | $1,656.00 | $3,944.90 | 67.3 % | 019 / 02 | |
| Jude Law | 44 | $2,824.90 | $7,002.40 | 66.1 % | 055 / 13 | |
| Michael Fassbender | 27 | $1,410.90 | $4,221.40 | 69.1 % | 014 / 03 | |
| Jake Gyllenhaal | 30 | $1,592.30 | $4,049.80 | 71.0 % | 011 / 03 | |
| Michelle Pfeiffer | 28 | $2,828.80 | $7,552.90 | 61.3 % | 007 / 01 | |
| Daniel Craig | 30 | $2,259.60 | $6,891.80 | 66.0 % | 034 / 07 | |
| Adam Sandler | 33 | $3,938.00 | $6,789.10 | 48.5 % | 001 / 00 | |
| Angelina Jolie | 34 | $3,174.50 | $8,527.40 | 56.5 % | 016 / 01 | |
| Drew Barrymore | 29 | $2,346.70 | $4,194.10 | 61.4 % | 003 / 00 | |
| Colin Firth | 41 | $2153.40 | $6,642.60 | 65.7 % | 059 / 22 | |
| Joaquin Phoenix | 31 | $1,903.50 | $4,264.00 | 65.7 % | 043 / 09 | |
| Paul Rudd | 41 | $3,632.10 | $8,149.50 | 63.8 % | 009 / 02 | |
| Michael Douglas | 25 | $2,484.90 | $6,275.10 | 59.6 % | 011 / 06 | |
| Ben Affleck | 46 | $3,972.00 | $8,339.60 | 59.1 % | 041 / 14 | |
| Zoe Saldana | 35 | $5,231.30 | $13,703.30 | 61.7 % | 026 / 04 | |
| Liam Neeson | 54 | $4,988.10 | $12,588.20 | 62.3 % | 024 / 01 | |
| Jason Bateman | 30 | $2,482.30 | $5,064.20 | 59.0 % | 011 / 02 | |
| Renée Zellweger | 32 | $2,143.50 | $4,556.30 | 63.6 % | 033 / 09 | |
| Owen Wilson | 45 | $4,596.10 | $9,577.20 | 57.3 % | 024 / 05 | |
| Joseph Gordon-Levitt | 32 | $2,509.40 | $5,439.90 | 67.8 % | 026 / 06 | |
| Channing Tatum | 33 | $2,275.30 | $4,608.50 | 61.2 % | 009 / 01 | |
| Keira Knightley | 31 | $3,015.50 | $7,958.80 | 65.5 % | 040 / 05 | |
| Kevin Hart | 35 | $3,555.70 | $7,093.20 | 53.6 % | 000 / 00 | |
| Elizabeth Banks | 49 | $5,271.30 | $10,278.40 | 61.1 % | 013 / 01 | |
| Reese Witherspoon | 32 | $2,220.10 | $3,760.90 | 60.7 % | 013 / 01 | |
| Woody Harrelson | 57 | $4,002.70 | $9,359.10 | 64.0 % | 028 / 06 | |
| Kate Winslet | 35 | $2,347.40 | $6,748.90 | 65.7 % | 053 / 16 | |
| Anna Kendrick | 28 | $1,473.50 | $2,680.10 | 65.0 % | 011 / 01 | |
| Matthew McConaughey | 45 | $2,872.50 | $5,363.40 | 61.7 % | 027 / 05 | |
| Halle Berry | 29 | $2,695.30 | $5,966.00 | 56.2 % | 004 / 01 | |
| Alec Baldwin | 52 | $3,548.50 | $8,289.90 | 60.0 % | 035 / 13 | |
| Natalie Portman | 35 | $3,851.80 | $9,588.70 | 63.2 % | 016 / 01 | |
| Melissa McCarthy | 26 | $1,833.80 | $3,179.00 | 57.9 % | 005 / 00 | |
| Brie Larson | 26 | $2,030.90 | $5,314.70 | 67.8 % | 006 / 01 | |
| Kevin Costner | 27 | $2,055.30 | $4,121.90 | 58.5 % | 005 / 00 | |
| Bruce Willis | 59 | $4,791.70 | $11,991.30 | 58.0 % | 014 / 00 | |
| Nicole Kidman | 48 | $2,749.60 | $6,791.50 | 61.3 % | 046 / 07 | |
| Willem Dafoe | 60 | $4,356.50 | $10,966.60 | 66.5 % | 048 / 21 | |
| Robert Duvall | 31 | $1,925.90 | $3,140.20 | 60.3 % | 009 / 03 | |
| Ed Harris | 41 | $2,493.70 | $5,299.10 | 64.3 % | 050 / 15 | |
| Angela Bassett | 28 | $2,290.70 | $4,304.10 | 58.0 % | 010 / 03 | |
| John Travolta | 32 | $2,686.30 | $4,365.90 | 51.9 % | 010 / 00 | |
| Will Ferrell | 38 | $3,029.90 | $4,368.10 | 55.7 % | 001 / 00 | |
| Sean Penn | 31 | $1,008.60 | $2,322.90 | 66.2 % | 036 / 05 | |
| William Hurt | 37 | $2,704.50 | $6,229.80 | 63.9 % | 012 / 01 | |
| Colin Farrell | 42 | $1,954.60 | $4,860.70 | 64.3 % | 012 / 03 | |
| Helen Mirren | 42 | $2,155.30 | $5,968.60 | 63.5 % | 020 / 03 | |
| Jeff Bridges | 33 | $1,793.30 | $3,435.40 | 61.4 % | 032 / 02 | |
| Annette Bening | 27 | $1,178.20 | $2,749.80 | 65.4 % | 016 / 05 | |
| Sigourney Weaver | 38 | $2,909.10 | $7,677.70 | 62.8 % | 016 / 04 | |
| Keanu Reeves | 35 | $2,819.50 | $6,801.70 | 57.8 % | 007 / 05 | |
| Charlize Theron | 44 | $2,456.00 | $6,003.30 | 59.8 % | 029 / 10 | |
| Jennifer Connelly | 32 | $1,686.10 | $3,851.20 | 62.4 % | 021 / 05 | |
| Oscar Isaac | 35 | $3,192.80 | $7,152.00 | 63.2 % | 020 / 02 | |
| Ewan McGregor | 54 | $3,868.90 | $9,102.70 | 64.0 % | 030 / 06 | |
| Laura Dern | 30 | $1,670.90 | $3,376.40 | 64.6 % | 022 / 02 | |
| Robert DeNiro | 55 | $3,882.00 | $8,452.20 | 56.4 % | 037 / 03 | |
| Marisa Tomei | 47 | $2,812.60 | $5,864.60 | 63.3 % | 014 / 01 | |
| Ice Cube | 33 | $2,252.60 | $3,251.50 | 55.7 % | 001 / 00 | |
| Julianne Moore | 56 | $2,746.70 | $6,394.60 | 63.7 % | 033 / 02 | |
| Taraji P. Henson | 29 | $1,716.50 | $2,583.30 | 57.0 % | 019 / 04 | |
| Kevin Kline | 29 | $1,809.70 | $3,594.40 | 60.5 % | 004 / 00 | |
| Bill Murray | 37 | $1,986.10 | $4,344.10 | 63.7 % | 020 / 05 | |
| Joel Edgerton | 35 | $1,865.00 | $4,130.40 | 65.8 % | 011 / 01 | |
| Al Pacino | 26 | $1,291.30 | $2,791.50 | 59.2 % | 028 / 02 | |
| Diane Lane | 30 | $2,533.60 | $5,332.30 | 56.6 % | 006 / 01 | |
| Sam Rockwell | 49 | $1,805.40 | $3,367.50 | 65.5 % | 034 / 04 | |
| Anthony Hopkins | 40 | $2,461.10 | $6,553.20 | 57.6 % | 016 / 01 | |
| Bill Nighy | 53 | $3,030.70 | $8,237.00 | 62.1 % | 016 / 03 | |
| Pierce Brosnan | 35 | $2,112.50 | $5,747.10 | 58.6 % | 003 / 00 | |
| John Cusack | 38 | $1,662.50 | $3,313.00 | 62.2 % | 014 / 00 | |
| Matthew Broderick | 27 | $1,445.80 | $2,676.40 | 60.0 % | 009 / 02 | |
| Kevin Bacon | 34 | $1,542.00 | $2,826.50 | 62.5 % | 022 / 04 | |
| Kathy Bates | 48 | $3,798.60 | $8,531.30 | 57.0 % | 031 / 14 | |
| Jeff Daniels | 35 | $1,501.60 | $2,968.10 | 63.9 % | 029 / 01 | |
| Alan Arkin | 35 | $1,524.20 | $2,587.10 | 60.0 % | 013 / 06 | |
| Jennifer Lopez | 31 | $2,143.10 | $4,855.20 | 51.5 % | 004 / 00 | |
| Forest Whitaker | 47 | $2,966.80 | $5,199.40 | 59.7 % | 019 / 05 | |
| Anton Yelchin | 30 | $1,393.10 | $3,336.20 | 62.0 % | 006 / 01 | |
| Jason Statham | 37 | $2,231.10 | $7,366.80 | 56.6 % | 000 / 00 | |
| Danny Glover | 41 | $2,161.40 | $4,516.40 | 58.6 % | 013 / 03 | |
| Jeremy Irons | 27 | $1,479.00 | $4,144.60 | 58.9 % | 001 / 00 | |
| Ryan Reynolds | 39 | $2,707.30 | $6,411.40 | 55.9 % | 001 / 00 | |
| Gerard Butler | 36 | $2,097.70 | $5,243.30 | 55.7 % | 009 / 00 | |
| Jennifer Aniston | 34 | $2,155.80 | $3,915.00 | 54.5 % | 000 / 00 | |
| Rachel Weisz | 42 | $1,894.10 | $4,388.00 | 61.8 % | 018 / 02 | |
| Billy Bob Thornton | 33 | $1429.00 | $2,891.50 | 60.8 % | 014 / 02 | |
| Richard Gere | 27 | $1,382.30 | $2,980.10 | 58.9 % | 016 / 06 | |
| James Franco | 53 | $3,419.10 | $6,865.40 | 59.9 % | 024 / 03 | |
| Peter Dinklage | 37 | $2,076.20 | $6,027.90 | 60.5 % | 009 / 02 | |
| Dennis Quaid | 41 | $2,289.30 | $4,072.40 | 55.5 % | 010 / 04 | |
| Glenn Close | 29 | $1775.00 | $3,748.00 | 58.1 % | 009 / 01 | |
| Toni Collette | 52 | $1,642.70 | $3,490.40 | 65.5 % | 026 / 04 | |
| Nick Nolte | 37 | $1,324.80 | $2,801.00 | 60.6 % | 012 / 01 | |
| Ben Kingsley | 47 | $2,295.90 | $5,830.60 | 59.2 % | 021 / 05 | |
| Mary Steenburgen | 37 | $1412.00 | $2,032.90 | 59.9 % | 011 / 01 | |
| Regina Hall | 30 | $1,751.90 | $2,596.60 | 53.5 % | 000 / 00 | |
| John Malkovich | 40 | $1,512.80 | $3,478.80 | 60.2 % | 012 / 00 | |
| Vince Vaughn | 38 | $2,623.40 | $4,918.60 | 52.5 % | 010 / 02 | |
| Antonio Banderas | 47 | $2,581.80 | $5,992.40 | 56.7 % | 016 / 03 | |
| Frank Langella | 29 | $993.80 | $1,954.70 | 62.0 % | 014 / 00 | |
| Nicolas Cage | 63 | $3,584.30 | $8,080.30 | 54.2 % | 013 / 03 | |
| Kate Beckinsale | 32 | $1,489.80 | $3,097.50 | 56.7 % | 016 / 06 | |
| Dan Aykroyd | 29 | $1,966.00 | $3,390.60 | 51.1 % | 004 / 01 | |
| Christopher Walken | 51 | $2,817.80 | $4,914.70 | 55.2 % | 008 / 01 | |
| Whoopi Goldberg | 35 | $2,223.80 | $3888.60 | 54.4 % | 011 / 04 | |
| Susan Sarandon | 48 | $1,613.10 | $2,999.30 | 59.8 % | 010 / 01 | |
| Bill Pullman | 36 | $1,852.10 | $4,325.80 | 58.8 % | 002 / 01 | |
| Andy Garcia | 39 | $1,842.30 | $4,336.10 | 55.6 % | 002 / 00 | |
| Ethan Hawke | 50 | $806.10 | $1,449.00 | 64.1 % | 012 / 04 | |
| Matt Dillon | 30 | $1,099.10 | $1,979.30 | 57.3 % | 007 / 03 | |
| James Caan | 29 | $1,092.40 | $2,032.80 | 57.7 % | 002 / 00 | |
| Penélope Cruz | 41 | $1,337.40 | $3,736.70 | 56.1 % | 010 / 02 | |
| Luke Wilson | 40 | $1,319.20 | $1,997.70 | 59.1 % | 003 / 00 | |
| Ellen Burstyn | 34 | $767.00 | $1,558.00 | 62.0 % | 007 / 01 | |
| Rosario Dawson | 46 | $1,648.30 | $3,320.20 | 58.3 % | 000 / 00 | |
| John Leguizamo | 71 | $3,040.20 | $7,744.20 | 56.1 % | 010 / 02 | |
| Anjelica Huston | 30 | $812.50 | $1,312.30 | 62.3 % | 004 / 00 | |
| Val Kilmer | 37 | $1428.40 | $2,899.90 | 56.5 % | 008 / 03 | |
| Tyler Perry | 27 | $1648.20 | $2,111.20 | 45.6 % | 009 / 01 | |
| Vincent D'Onofrio | 43 | $1897.90 | $4,247.30 | 56.3 % | 005 / 01 | |
| Deepika Padukone | 28 | $94.30 | $879.40 | 60.2 % | 000 / 00 | |
| Milla Jovovich | 25 | $772.70 | $2,659.60 | 49.1 % | 001 / 00 | |
| Malcolm McDowell | 49 | $847.60 | $1,521.90 | 53.2 % | 014 / 06 | |
| Dennis Hopper | 27 | $360.00 | $838.10 | 52.0 % | 001 / 00 | |
| Christopher Lloyd | 43 | $541.50 | $770.70 | 49.5 % | 002 / 00 |
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Hey Steve…I admit it….I deleted Samuel L. Jackson. He had a spot in the Top 10…..but he has so few leading man hits that it seemed unfair to have him so high in the rankings…..I did that a few times at the beginning..then rarely at the end….so I did not treat supporting actors the same. Overall I dumped 35 people off the list. The last time I did a list like this…people had an issue with me adding in supporting actors. One day I will get a formula done that uses leading versus supporting roles. It is just so subjective. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Very interesting breakdown. I did a reverse search on the Oscar column. I few do not have any nominations for any of their movies. Kevin Hart, Jason Stratham and Jennifer Aniston. I have no problem with Tom Hanks being first. Glad he made it back home from Australia.
Hey Taylor. Thanks for checking out this list. I like list like this one….not a perfect list….but a fun list for sure. Interesting about the stars without an Oscar nomination in their entire movie resume. Good stuff as always.
Interesting list. It complements well the lists of older movie stars you have made, even though personally, I’m more interested in the oldies 🙂 A few surprise placements, for instance, Benedict Cumberbatch coming at #5, though he’s not as big of a star as Ryan Gosling who trails at #47, but as you say this is “statistically-speaking”.
Hey PhilHoF17. You pointing out that Benedict Cumberbatch is #5 while Ryan Gosling is #47…points out some of the issues with our rankings. An actor gets full credit regardless to if he as the lead actor or a supporting actor. Benedict has appeared in way more supporting roles than Gosling. Not sure how many times Gosling has not been a lead actor….but it is not nearly as many as Benedict. Those damn stats….lol. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
A fascinating list Bruce. I assume the criteria for inclusion is that you have to be one of the lead actors in a bunch of high grossing films?
Samuel L. Jackson fans won’t be happy he’s missing from the list, but you did include Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow and some far lesser names like Regina Hall and Deepika.