How Jonathan Bailey Unexpectedly Ruled 2025’s Box Office, and Who’s Gunning for His Throne in 2026

Jonathan Bailey has pulled off one of the year’s wildest industry feats. As of now, he’s 2025’s highest-grossing actor at the global box office. No one saw it coming, but the numbers don’t lie: his films have raked in a combined $1.2 billion (and counting). That’s thanks to starring roles in Jurassic World Rebirth and Wicked: For Good, two monster Universal releases.

Jurassic World Rebirth is reviving the dino franchise in style, sitting as the year’s fourth biggest movie and pulling in a staggering $868.9 million so far. Wicked: For Good is holding its own, too, with a worldwide haul of $393.3 million, still climbing as it continues in theatres. Add those up, and you can see exactly how Bailey left better-known movie stars in the dust this year.

What sets him apart? Simple: Bailey stacked his schedule with lead roles in bona fide blockbusters, something almost nobody else pulled off in 2025. But the crown is far from safe. The 2026 race is shaping up to be ruthless, with Tom Holland, Pedro Pascal, and Zendaya each in position to out-gross everyone.

Tom Holland’s $2 Billion Summer Is All But Locked

This is shaping up to be Holland’s year. He’s got two colossal projects dropping back to back: The Odyssey (July 17) and the MCU returner Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31). Both have billion-dollar potential; maybe even more.

The real juggernaut? Brand New Day. Spider-Man remains the world’s most bankable superhero, and the last two Spidey films each passed $1 billion. No Way Home nearly hit $2 billion. Yes, comic book movies are showing signs of fatigue industry-wide, but Spider-Man’s box office muscle isn’t flagging. Chalk up another billion, minimum.

The Odyssey is less of a sure thing, but it’s got director Christopher Nolan at the helm, and that’s enough for sold-out 70mm IMAX shows, a year ahead of release. If Oppenheimer’s performance taught Hollywood anything, it’s that Nolan can fill theatres for just about anything, no matter how niche or long.

Holland’s edge might get even sharper. If Marvel brings its Spider-Man into Avengers: Doomsday (which remains a real possibility since cast announcements are incomplete), Holland could rack up another billion, leapfrogging anyone else gunning for the crown.

Pedro Pascal Bets on Big-Name Franchises

Pedro Pascal stayed busy in 2025, headlining Materialists, Eddington, and Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps. But he’s betting even bigger in 2026 on just two movies, both in franchise universes with proven ticket-selling power.

For Marvel, he’s reprising his Reed Richards in Avengers: Doomsday. This won’t match Infinity War or Endgame numbers, but the next Avengers movie is all but guaranteed to cross the $1 billion mark. Interest is already high thanks to Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and the return of Fox’s X-Men cast.

Then there’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars movie to hit cinemas since 2019’s Rise of Skywalker. The Mandalorian has a massive fan base on Disney+, but translating that into ticket sales isn’t automatic. History says Star Wars spinoffs can swing wildly—just look at Solo. Pascal’s box office fate will hinge on whether fans flock to Grogu at the movies like they did on TV.

If both movies deliver, Pascal could be breathing down Holland’s neck for box office supremacy.

Zendaya’s 2026: Quality, Quantity, or Both?

Zendaya makes her own case for 2026 box office gold thanks to a killer lineup. She’s got sizable roles in Brand New Day and The Odyssey (playing Athena), but also headlines the next chapter in an acclaimed, cash-minting sci-fi saga: Dune: Part 3.

Dune has been a rare critical/commercial double threat; the second instalment grossed $714.8 million, up from the first. Even if Part 3 falls short of the billion-dollar club, its presence gives Zendaya a third major tentpole, something neither Holland nor Pascal can claim for 2026. Sure, her role in Brand New Day might be smaller, but the triple-header means she’s got the volume play.

And if Holland’s Spider-Man skips Avengers: Doomsday, Zendaya could well be at the top of the box office leaderboard by year’s end. If not, and Holland swings into Doomsday as a surprise, his lead would be almost impossible to catch.

One thing’s clear: the 2026 box office race is wide open, and it’s never been more star-studded.