A few weeks back, Forbes dropped their list of the most overpaid actors in Hollywood, using a curious formula that only included movies released through June. It meant that the list was heavy with A-list stars, and someone like Will Smith made the list, even though he starred in “Suicide Squad” which made some impressive money at the box office. It seemed engineered to ensure big names would make the list, and so it goes for the site’s ranking of the Top-Grossing Actors Of 2016.
Encompassing the full year of movies, Scarlett Johansson tops the list thanks to “Captain America: Civil War,” with her co-stars Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. falling closely behind. But the title of “top grossing” is slightly misleading. Sure, Amy Adams was in “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice,” but that movie (and ‘Civil War’) are arguably brand first movies, not star driven — it’s “Arrival” that the actress will be remembered for most in 2016. And that goes for Felicity Jones too, who is certainly the lead of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” but that film’s ticket sales are largely driven by the love for the franchise.
So check out the full list below, where Will Smith is now 2016’s most overpaid and top grossing actor simultaneously. Figure that one out.
1. Scarlett Johansson
2. Chris Evans
3. Robert Downey Jr.
4. Margot Robbie
5. Amy Adams
6. Ben Affleck
7. Henry Cavill
8. Ryan Reynolds
9. Felicity Jones
10. Will Smith