Scarlett Johansson has long been a box office draw, but with the explosive success of Jurassic World: Rebirth, she’s officially in a league of her own. The film’s $318 million global debut pushed her career total to a staggering $14.8 billion at the box office, making her the highest-grossing lead actor in movie history. It’s a milestone that cements her status not just as a bankable star, but as a defining figure of 21st-century cinema.

While much of Johansson’s success stems from her iconic role as Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s her range and adaptability that have kept her career on an upward trajectory. Across eight MCU films, including Avengers: Endgame, Infinity War, and Black Widow, Johansson’s performances brought both emotional gravity and action hero prowess to the screen. Her contributions helped Marvel dominate global box offices for over a decade, with Endgame alone pulling in $2.7 billion.

But her success isn’t limited to spandex and superpowers. Johansson has quietly built an impressive portfolio across multiple genres. She began her career as a child actor in the mid-1990s, making her film debut in North (1994) at just 9 years old. Her breakthrough came a few years later with The Horse Whisperer (1998), where she impressed audiences and critics alike with a maturity beyond her years. Roles in indie favorites like Ghost World (2001) and her star-making turn in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation (2003) established Johansson as a serious dramatic talent — and laid the groundwork for her eventual leap into global stardom. Johansson earned critical acclaim early in her career for showcasing her versatility beyond blockbuster fare.

Now, she’s adding another major franchise to her resume with Jurassic World: Rebirth. Taking over leading duties from Chris Pratt, Johansson’s portrayal of Dr. Zora Bennett marks the first time a woman has headlined a film in the Jurassic universe. And it’s working. Rebirth is tracking to be one of the highest-grossing entries in the franchise.

Her rise to the top wasn’t a fluke — it’s the result of long-term franchise investments and undeniable talent. With her Jurassic era just beginning, Johansson’s reign at the box office shows no signs of slowing down.