Who’s the highest-grossing actor of all time? Is it a confirmed A-lister like Tom Cruise? A dependable motion star like Dwayne Johnson? Or perhaps a Marvel main man like Robert Downey Jr.? Primarily based solely on the variety of appearances in high-grossing titles, essentially the most bankable title of all time is Stan Lee. Wait, that Stan Lee? He isn’t an actor. Right, he isn’t. However his quite a few MCU cameos in among the most financially profitable movies of all time put him on the prime of the record.
Opinions on whether or not Lee ought to truly depend because the top-earner will range, as his cameos not often influence the movies’ plots in any significant methods. However the truth that he is there within the first place factors to the intense success of the MCU franchise as an entire (minus a number of duds). As the unique visionary behind so many iconic characters, Lee was primarily the face of Marvel all through his life. His place atop the record represents the numerous cultural influence of Marvel, and he is cemented his place in popular culture historical past. However is Lee’s prime spot protected? And simply how a lot cash has he raked in? Let’s have a look.
How A lot Have Stan Lee’s Cameos Made?
Earlier than we go any additional, it must be clarified that there isn’t any one agreed-upon rating for the top-earning stars. Some lists solely depend main or main supporting roles. Others do not take voice performing performances into consideration. However let us take a look at the rating that features all cameos, as that is the one which Stan Lee tops. Lee’s lifetime field workplace earnings complete a formidable $30.6 billion. He appeared in each MCU movie from Iron Man by Avengers: Endgame. Lee’s Avengers: Endgame cameo, filmed previous to however launched after his passing, was essentially the most worthwhile at $2.8 billion. He additionally cameoed in a number of non-MCU Marvel properties, resembling X-Males and Unbelievable 4, and three Spider-Man franchises (the Sam Raimi movies, Wonderful outings with Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland’s movies).
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That $30.6 billion lifetime file may appear protected, however Samuel L. Jackson is not that far behind. He ranks second at roughly $28.3 billion. When counting solely main movie roles, Jackson truly tops that record at $14.6 billion. Like Lee, most of Jackson’s largest earners are MCU initiatives. Nevertheless, Lee reached his complete with far fewer movies (50) than Jackson (144). That additionally signifies that Lee’s common gross of $611.2 million per title far outpaces Jackson’s $196.7 million. However Jackson’s catching up, and with solely $2.3 billion to go, it is solely doable that he’ll move Lee within the very close to future. Put Nick Fury in a pair extra roles, and we may have a brand new chief within the clubhouse.
Apparently, John Ratzenberger ($18.5B) and Frank Welker ($17.5B) rank third and fourth. Their success is due primarily to their iconic voice performing performances (Pixar for Ratzenberger and Scooby-Doo! and Transformers for Welker). Like Lee, these two do not seem to be the obvious contenders for the highest of the record. However that simply reveals the ability of animation as a medium and the way it does not all the time get the popularity it deserves.
Marvel as a Cultural Establishment
When you consider it, Lee is probably the most effective individual to carry that coveted prime spot. Marvel Comics has been a staple of our fashionable tradition for over 70 years, and Lee was the imaginative and prescient behind them. In 2008, the primary Iron Man launched the MCU and kickstarted a brand-new period of Marvel domination. The MCU is definitely essentially the most iconic movie franchise of the final 20 years, and 7 of its titles fall within the prime 20 highest-grossing movies of all time. Avengers: Endgame initially surpassed Avatar for the highest spot upon its launch, however Avatar took the crown again, because of re-releases.
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When counting solely main stars, MCU faces maintain the highest six names on the record. As talked about above, Samuel L. Jackson ranks primary with $14.6 billion. He is adopted by Scarlett Johansson ($14.5B), Robert Downey Jr. ($14.4B), Zoe Saldaña ($14.3B), Chris Pratt ($14.2B), and Chris Hemsworth ($12.2B). Every considered one of these stars has performed a number one position in a number of MCU movies. Saldaña even holds the excellence of being the one star to seem in all three of the top-earning movies of all time (Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, and Avatar: The Approach of Water).
None of this might have been doable with out Stan Lee’s creation. He is the face of Marvel, and Marvel is the face of our fashionable popular culture. Who higher to take a seat on the prime of the highest-grossing actors record than the Marvel visionary himself? Even when his time up there’s working out, Samuel L. Jackson is a worthy successor. With big-budget blockbusters lowering in frequency, we’ll possible by no means see a brand new face attain that degree of field workplace heights. There is no denying that Stan Lee formed the worlds of comedian books and superheroes, and now we have the info to again that up.