Most bankable actors of 2018
In the current cinematic climate where franchises indisputably dominate at the box office, the . Whereas decades ago, audiences flocked to the latest Harrison Ford or Jim Carrey movie, a wide number of moviegoers are now more invested in the characters and spectacles than they are the actors. That said, a certain amount of name recognition and talent is still generally required when casting for a role like "Iron Man" or "Black Panther." Furthermore, the actors who land these roles are still very much "movie stars" in the classic sense of the term. In other words: the concept has changed, but it hasn't necessarily gone away.
Where things get tricky, however, is when these same actors are cast in average, non-franchise films. For example, does Robert Downey Jr. deliver the same amount of value to a mid-size film as he does when playing Iron Man? If the answer is no, then how does a studio determine how much to pay him for the role, or whether or not to cast him in the first place? What if there are a number of A-list actors being cast for the same movie? How does a studio figure out which names bring the most value to the project?
Enter , a popular resource among Hollywood studios. Put simply, the index determines how much value any given actor brings to the average non-franchise film, regardless of whether he's playing the lead role, a supporting role or even appearing on-screen. To derive said value, the index looks at the worldwide box office earnings for every film the actor has worked on in any capacity over the course of his career, making adjustments based on his output over the last decade.
Consequently, studios are able to get an idea of an actor's total value, and likewise his value per movie. Additionally, by , studios can even predict what the movie itself can expect to make at the box office. Will this "Moneyball"-style approach always deliver as promised? Definitely not. But when millions of dollars are on the line, executives and producers will do whatever it takes to hedge their bets.
The studios aren't the only ones with access to this data鈥攊t's public. 麻豆原创 is listing out the most bankable actors in Hollywood, as per as of February 2018. Please note a few adjustments: 麻豆原创 eliminated actors that are more or less retired, primarily voice actors or almost exclusively known as a producer or director.
#49. Luke Evans
Value per movie: $5,451,359
Total value: $11,508,364
Movies per year: 2.1
While Chris Evans might seem like the bigger name in Hollywood, Luke Evans (unrelated) delivers slightly more value to the average film鈥攁ccording to , at least. That鈥檚 in no small part due to his performance as Gaston in Disney鈥檚 recent live-action remake of 鈥淏eauty and the Beast,鈥 along with appearances in the respective 鈥淔ast and the Furious鈥 and 鈥淗obbit鈥 franchises. Given Evans鈥 respectable value per movie, it鈥檚 no surprise that he has .
#48. Jude Law
Value per movie: $5,476,414
Total value: $10,405,186
Movies per year: 1.9
Actor Jude Law鈥檚 career began in the late 1980s, but it wasn鈥檛 until movies like 1997鈥檚 鈥淕attaca鈥 and 1999鈥檚 鈥淭he Talented Mr. Ripley鈥 that he truly became a star. In the time since, Law has starred in a massive number of flops interspersed with the occasional box office smash, like 鈥淪herlock Holmes.鈥 For the past few years, Law has been in , and will even play an important role in the upcoming superhero film, 鈥淐aptain Marvel.鈥
#47. Jeremy Renner
Value per movie: $5,496,263
Total value: $11,542,152
Movies per year: 2.1
Not only was Jeremy Renner a struggling Hollywood actor for a number of years, his tireless pursuit of success was documented in a 2003 reality show called He starred in the that same year. It wasn鈥檛 until his Oscar-nominated performance in 2008鈥檚 鈥淭he Hurt Locker,鈥 that Jeremy Renner became an A-lister, but he鈥檚 been a big screen icon ever since, with an impressive value per movie to show for it.
#46. Kevin James
Value per movie: $5,504,450
Total value: $8,256,675
Movies per year: 1.5
Before he became the 鈥淜ing of Queens,鈥 Kevin James was making regular appearances on TV shows like 鈥淓verybody Loves Raymond鈥 while performing stand-up on a number of late-night talk shows. Of course, his star didn鈥檛 truly soar into the stratosphere until he played the title role in 2009鈥檚 鈥淧aul Blart: Mall Cop,鈥 an unexpected smash hit. In the time since, he鈥檚 become a fixture in Adam Sandler鈥檚 Happy Madison universe, most recently providing the voice for Frank in 鈥淗otel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.鈥 It鈥檚 not all good news for James, however, as his latest sitcom, 鈥淜evin Can Wait,鈥 was .
#45. Chris Hemsworth
Value per movie: $5,519,955
Total value: $12,143,901
Movies per year: 2.2
Actor Chris Hemsworth is certainly all-powerful when playing the mighty Thor, but relatively speaking, his value per movie isn't as high as one might expect. That's likely due to the fact that many of his films outside the Marvel universe are relative disappointments. For example, recent films like the "Ghostbusters" reboot, "Blackhat," "In the Heart of the Sea" and "12 Strong" all delivered underwhelming results at the box office.
#44. Mark Ruffalo
Value per movie: $5,542,715
Total value: $12,193,974
Movies per year: 2.2
Since the late 1990s, Mark Ruffalo has demonstrated a knack for starring in acclaimed non-franchise films, many of which perform well at the box office. A few choice examples are 鈥淓ternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,鈥 鈥淪hutter Island,鈥 鈥淪potlight,鈥 and 鈥淭he Kids Are All Right.鈥 Adding substantially to Ruffalo鈥檚 bottom line are his roles in the respective 鈥淎vengers鈥 and 鈥淣ow You See Me鈥 franchises. Suffice it to say, the actor makes for a sound investment when it comes to movies of all sizes.
#43. Mads Mikkelsen
Value per movie: $5,554,958
Total value: $7,776,941
Movies per year: 1.4
Before he enraptured American audiences with his portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the cult hit TV show, 鈥淗annibal,鈥 Mads Mikkelsen was a huge star in his native country of Denmark, where he鈥檇 . At the same time, he was playing important roles in blockbuster films like 鈥淐asino Royale鈥 and 鈥淐lash of the Titans.鈥 Nowadays, he鈥檚 appearing in franchise films and alike.
#42. Tyrese Gibson
Value per movie: $5,645,445
Total value: $6,774,534
Movies per year: 1.2
A quintessential multi-talented artist, Tyrese Gibson simultaneously launched a music and acting career in the late 1990s. While his earliest , it would take just a few years for him to carve out a presence on the big screen, starting with 2001鈥檚 鈥淏aby Boy.鈥 Nowadays, he鈥檚 best-known for playing Roman in the 鈥淔ast and Furious鈥 franchise, though that doesn鈥檛 mean he won鈥檛 still drop the .
#41. Jamie Foxx
Value per movie: $5,707,669
Total value: $11,986,105
Movies per year: 2.1
Another supremely versatile talent, Jamie Foxx first made a name for himself on the hit sketch comedy show, 鈥淚n Living Color.鈥 In 2004, Foxx delivered a breakout performance as Ray Charles in the hit biopic, 鈥淩ay,鈥 winning an Academy Award for his effort. A certifiable A-list career soon followed, with appearances in a number of hit films. As if all that wasn鈥檛 enough, he鈥檚 also forged a career as a .
#40. James Cromwell
Value per movie: $5,778,310
Total value: $6,356,141
Movies per year: 1.1
At first glance, actor James Cromwell might not seem very "bankable" in 2018, but remember that evaluates actors according to how much value they bring to average non-franchise films, even if they take franchise films into consideration when doing the math. To that end, Cromwell has starred in a wide number of successful movies and TV shows over the course of his decades-long career, including "L.A. Confidential," "The Artist," "Babe," and "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom." He also lent his voice to the character of Robert Callaghan in Disney's "Big Hero 6."
#39. Vince Vaughn
Value per movie: $5,811,162
Total value: $8,135,627
Movies per year: 1.4
After appearing in bit roles in a number of TV shows and movies, actor Vince Vaughn burst onto the mainstream in 1996鈥檚 鈥淪wingers,鈥 which additionally helped launch the career of Jon Favreau (who both wrote and starred in the film). In the years that followed, Vaughn delivered iconic performances in bona fide comedy hits like 鈥淲edding Crashers,鈥 鈥淒odgeball,鈥 and 鈥淭he Break-Up.鈥 Vaughn鈥檚 career has experienced plenty of ups and downs since the mid-1990s, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped him from tackling a variety of challenging roles. Meanwhile, his big screen value remains intact.
#38. Josh Gad
Value per movie: $5,846,687
Total value: $12,278,043
Movies per year: 2.1
Between his impressive resume as a voice actor, his headlining role in Broadway鈥檚 鈥淭he Book of Mormon,鈥 and his live-action performances on the big screen, Josh Gad has generated substantial value over the last decade. Proving that he鈥檚 far more than just a catchy voice or a comedic crutch, he鈥檒l be playing author Truman Capote in an upcoming film,
#37. Kevin Kline
Value per movie: $5,879,745
Total value: $7,643,669
Movies per year: 1.3
Kevin Kline has more than $7.5 million in total value to his name. That might have something to do with his recent role as Maurice in Disney鈥檚 鈥淏eauty and the Beast,鈥 which earned a . Furthermore, Kline was a genuinely bankable talent in the 1980s and 1990s, playing the lead in hit films like 鈥淒ave,鈥 鈥淎 Fish Called Wanda,鈥 and 鈥淚n & Out.鈥
#36. Chris Pratt
Value per movie: $5,928,207
Total value: $13,042,056
Movies per year: 2.2
With his recent headlining roles in the respective 鈥淕uardians of the Galaxy鈥 and 鈥淛urassic World鈥 franchises, not to mention his performance in the Chris Pratt seems like an actor who could be higher on this list. However, his A-list status is still relatively fresh, as it was just a few years ago that he was best-known for playing loveable goofball Andy Dwyer on NBC鈥檚 鈥淧arks and Recreation.鈥 Even when taking algorithms out the equation, Pratt arguably has yet to prove himself as a truly versatile actor who can consistently tackle smaller dramatic roles. In other words, there may be more to Pratt鈥檚 relatively low ranking than first meets the eye, despite his undeniable success.
#35. Sam Worthington
Value per movie: $5,996,317
Total value: $12,592,266
Movies per year: 2.1
Sam Worthington might not carry the same tier of clout as some other A-listers, but he's integral to a number of wildly successful films. Not only did he play a lead role in James Cameron's "Avatar," but he also starred in 2016's "Hacksaw Ridge", which . With four more "Avatar" movies in current states of production, Worthington's total value shouldn't be going down any time soon.
#34. Ben Stiller
Value per movie: $6,034,636
Total value: $13,879,662
Movies per year: 2.3
While arguably not the comedy legend he once was, Ben Stiller remains a perennial workhorse in front of the camera and behind the scenes. That said, the actor/director/producer does appear to be in a rut of sorts, and . Currently, Stiller has a number of projects in development through his production company, Red Hour Productions.
#33. Kevin Costner
Value per movie: $6,052,947
Total value: $9,079,420
Movies per year: 1.5
Kevin Costner's long-spanning career is what puts him high up on this list. Plus, he did recently star in the 2017 smash hit 鈥淗idden Figures,鈥 as well as films like 鈥淢olly鈥檚 Game,鈥 鈥淐riminal,鈥 and 鈥淏atman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.鈥 Perhaps Costner is still fairly bankable after all.
#32. Ryan Reynolds
Value per movie: $6,199,133
Total value: $16,737,660
Movies per year: 2.7
As the star of the 鈥淒eadpool鈥 franchise and hit films like 鈥淭he Hitman鈥檚 Bodyguard,鈥 actor Ryan Reynolds appears to be on a veritable hot streak. However, closer inspection will reveal that for every bona fide hit, there鈥檚 a box office failure like 鈥淪elf/less鈥 or 鈥淢ississippi Grind,鈥 the latter of which made a paltry $130,541 during its limited theatrical run. Additionally, Reynolds鈥 career was arguably floundering before he tackled the iconic superhero role.
#31. Giovanni Ribisi
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Value per movie: $6,248,264
Total value: $9,997,223
Movies per year: 1.6
Actor Giovanni Ribisi doesn鈥檛 exactly scream 鈥渂ox office gold鈥 to the average moviegoer, but he has starred in a number of successful films since the mid-1990s, albeit largely in a supporting capacity. To that end, just a cursory glance beneath the surface shows a highly fruitful career, which includes roles in movies like 鈥淪aving Private Ryan,鈥 鈥淐old Mountain,鈥 and 鈥淎vatar.鈥 And who can forget his turn as a perverse, hip-swinging weirdo named Donny in 鈥淭ed鈥 and 鈥淭ed 2鈥?
#30. Samuel L. Jackson
Value per movie: $6,253,533
Total value: $30,642,312
Movies per year: 4.9
As one of the hardest working men in show business, Samuel L. Jackson continues to earn his keep by starring in an average of 4.9 movies per year, including a host of franchise films. Consequently, his total value is sky-high, while his value per movie is more grounded. True to his established trajectory, Jackson will appear in a number of original movies, adaptations and franchise films within the next year.
#29. Eddie Redmayne
Value per movie: $6,411,673
Total value: $7,694,007
Movies per year: 1.2
Eddie Redmayne鈥檚 career may be two decades in the making, but didn鈥檛 really take off until he played physicist Stephen Hawking in 2014鈥檚 鈥淭he Theory of Everything.鈥 On the heels of that Oscar-winning performance, he starred as Lili in 2015鈥檚 鈥淭he Danish Girl鈥 to rapturous acclaim (and yet another Oscar nomination). From there, he segued into the Harry Potter world, playing the role of Newt Scamander in the 鈥淔antastic Beasts鈥 franchise. Suffice to say, the British actor is a true double threat, in that he can deliver tangible value to both expensive blockbusters and mid-range films alike.
#28. Steve Carell
Value per movie: $6,419,520
Total value: $16,048,801
Movies per year: 2.5
The final seasons of 鈥淭he Office鈥 may have suffered without the presence of Steve Carell, but TV鈥檚 loss was cinema鈥檚 gain. Of course, Carell鈥檚 big screen career was well underway by the time he left his hit comedy show behind, with his portrayal of Andy in 鈥淭he 40-Year-Old Virgin鈥 being the stuff that legacies are made of. Meanwhile, his serious performance as John Du Pont in 2014鈥檚 鈥淔oxcatcher鈥 proves that the actor is good for far more than just laughs. Expect those hard-earned acting chops to be on full display in the upcoming biopic, 鈥淲elcome to Marwen.鈥
#27. Daniel Craig
Value per movie: $6,503,010
Total value: $7,153,311
Movies per year: 1.1
British actor Daniel Craig was already a recognizable name by the time he tackled the role of James Bond in 2006, yet his current value would assuredly be much lower had he never taken the part. Perhaps that鈥檚 why Craig announced last year that he would , despite . Look for the to arrive in theaters in 2019.
#26. Mark Wahlberg
Value per movie: $6,565,651
Total value: $19,696,954
Movies per year: 3.0
In addition to starring in a number of hit films, Mark Wahlberg is also a highly successful producer鈥攈e knows how to pick a winner when he sees one. Pair that with his admirable work ethic and it鈥檚 no wonder he鈥檚 able to retain such high value. Put simply, Wahlberg continues to be a veritable Hollywood player, and one that doesn鈥檛 plan on slowing down any time soon.
#25. Geoffrey Rush
Value per movie: $6,737,689
Total value: $10,780,302
Movies per year: 1.6
Even in the age of omnipresent spectacle, genuine talent can still pay off. For proof, look no further than Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush, who earns his keep by way of solid acting chops, in lieu of big-name recognition. That said, his role as Barbossa in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise is probably why he's so high on the list.
#24. Morgan Freeman
Value per movie: $6,789,621
Total value: $20,368,863
Movies per year: 3.0
The man with the golden voice, Morgan Freeman, is yet another example of how starring in multiple films a year can play a significant role in determining overall value. Of course, it doesn鈥檛 hurt that he鈥檚 also profoundly talented, and preceded by a long, well-established career. Even at 81 years old, Freeman is still churning out movies at an impressive speed. Not even a recent scandal can slow this workhorse down.
#23. Mel Gibson
Value per movie: $6,832,151
Total value: $7,515,366
Movies per year: 1.1
There was once a time when Mel Gibson was among the most coveted and valuable actors in the world. While those days have since waned due to , he still manages to deliver high value, in part due to his work behind the camera. Specifically, movies like 2004鈥檚 鈥淭he Passion of the Christ,鈥 and 2016鈥檚 鈥淗acksaw Ridge鈥 both performed exceptionally well at the box office. Reportedly, a is currently in pre-production.
#22. Bradley Cooper
Value per movie: $6,969,284
Total value: $19,513,994
Movies per year: 2.8
Since his breakout performance in 鈥淭he Hangover,鈥 actor Bradley Cooper has become the stuff that Hollywood dreams are made of. Accordingly, he鈥檚 been involved in a number of wildly successful films in the time since, including numerous non-franchise hits like 鈥淪ilver Linings Playbook鈥 and 鈥淎merican Hustle.鈥 Look for him next in 鈥淎 Star is Born,鈥 a remake which he wrote, directed and stars in.
#21. Harrison Ford
Value per movie: $7,116,276
Total value: $10,674,414
Movies per year: 1.5
With regards to non-franchise films, Harrison Ford probably doesn鈥檛 represent the same tier of value that he once did, but given how much bankability he used to bring to the table, there was nowhere to go but down. Nowadays, it鈥檚 likely his involvement in the 鈥淪tar Wars鈥 and 鈥淚ndiana Jones鈥 franchises accounts for his high total value. Speaking of high value, both the original Han Solo jacket and original Indiana Jones fedora are .
#20. Russell Crowe
Value per movie: $7,125,663
Total value: $14,251,325
Movies per year: 2.0
鈥淎re you not entertained?鈥 Russell Crowe famously asked as Maximus in 2000鈥檚 鈥淕ladiator.鈥 Given his legendary career and current value, it鈥檚 safe to say that audiences are most definitely entertained. On the other hand, the Australian actor isn鈥檛 soaring to the same heights he used to. It鈥檚 never too late for a comeback.
#19. Jim Carrey
Value per movie: $7,128,429
Total value: $11,405,487
Movies per year: 1.6
Soon after starring in 1994鈥檚 鈥淎ce Ventura: Pet Detective,鈥 Jim Carrey became the . His undeniable hot streak began to lose steam about ten years later, though he was still good for the occasional box office smash. In addition to acting, Carrey has also established himself as an and occasional producer. In the upcoming Showtime series 鈥淜idding,鈥 he plays the star of a children鈥檚 TV show whose life is falling apart due to both internal and external forces.
#18. Chiwetel Ejiofor
Value per movie: $7,183,188
Total value: $10,774,782
Movies per year: 1.5
Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor might have a name that corners him into , but that hasn鈥檛 seemed to hurt his career in the slightest. He鈥檚 been steadily acting since the mid-1990s, appearing in films of all genres, budgets, and scales. Audiences probably know him best for his Oscar-nominated performance as Solomon Northup in 2013鈥檚 鈥12 Years a Slave.鈥
#17. Johnny Depp
Value per movie: $7,484,912
Total value: $23,203,227
Movies per year: 3.1
Johnny Depp may , but that doesn鈥檛 mean he鈥檚 not keeping busy as an actor. Not only is Depp still an essential component to the 鈥淔antastic Beasts鈥 franchise, he has no fewer than six movies on the horizon. That said, he鈥檚 definitely not the sound investment he once was.
#16. Sacha Baron Cohen
Value per movie: $7,545,390
Total value: $7,545,390
Movies per year: 1.0
When 鈥淏orat鈥 landed in 2006, it felt like the second coming of comedy. However, Sacha Baron Cohen has arguably struggled to mine gold out of his numerous alter-egos in the time since. To that end, his high ranking on the list might be confusing to some, since many of his big-screen comedies . Cohen鈥檚 new Showtime series 鈥淲ho is America?鈥 showcases a handful of his latest characters.
#15. Hugh Jackman
Value per movie: $7,872,670
Total value: $16,532,606
Movies per year: 2.1
Even when not donning claws as Wolverine, actor Hugh Jackman knows how to make a certifiable smash hit. For example, 2017鈥檚 鈥淭he Greatest Showman,鈥 in which he played P.T. Barnum, earned more than . Jackman may be retiring from the 鈥淴-Men鈥 franchise (or ), but that doesn鈥檛 mean his impressive value is going down anytime soon.
#14. George Clooney
Value per movie: $7,873,689
Total value: $17,322,116
Movies per year: 2.2
First things first: George Clooney is . Actually, he鈥檚 doing more than fine, in that he鈥檚 still one of the most bankable talents in Hollywood, even as he avoids standard superhero fare (for ). Of course, Clooney is not just a seasoned actor, but a busy producer and director as well. He鈥檒l be appearing next in a mini-series adaptation of the classic novel, 鈥淐atch-22.鈥
#13. Matt Damon
Value per movie: $7,996,652
Total value: $23,989,955
Movies per year: 3.0
鈥淕ood Will Hunting鈥 wasn鈥檛 Matt Damon鈥檚 first major film, but it might as well have been. He鈥檚 been an A-lister ever since, tackling a variety of roles with passion and precision. And while it鈥檚 the Jason Bourne and 鈥淥cean鈥檚 11鈥 franchises that probably put the most green in his pocket, he鈥檚 also no stranger to standalone success stories like 鈥淭rue Grit,鈥 鈥淭he Departed鈥 and 鈥淭he Martian.鈥 Also helping is the fact that Damon stars in a number of films per year, and has found success as a producer as well.
#12. Tommy Lee Jones
Value per movie: $7,997,976
Total value: $10,397,369
Movies per year: 1.3
Tommy Lee Jones is another actor who鈥檚 probably not as bankable as he once was, but nevertheless more valuable to the average non-franchise film than one might initially suspect. Throughout the course of his long career, he鈥檚 been involved in numerous hit productions, including the 鈥淢en in Black鈥 franchise, the most recent Jason Bourne movie and acclaimed films like 鈥淣o Country for Old Men.鈥 He also occasionally directs and produces, though not to the point of impacting his bankability factor.
#11. Brad Pitt
Value per movie: $8,249,108
Total value: $23,097,501
Movies per year: 2.8
More than one of the most successful actors of all time, Brad Pitt is also a highly accomplished producer (not to mention one of the most famous people in the world). Between that and his seemingly endless workload, Pitt鈥檚 value remains sky-high, even if he鈥檚 prone to the occasional flop. 鈥淲orld War Z鈥 is basically as close as he gets to franchise fare, with a sequel having been recently announced.
#10. Adam Sandler
Value per movie: $8,779,673
Total value: $21,949,182
Movies per year: 2.5
As both a producer and an actor, Adam Sandler continues to defy expectation when it comes to bankability. After all, who didn鈥檛 think that audiences would tire of his schtick ages ago? Instead, he鈥檚 and still churning out the occasional hit movie. It just goes to show that sometimes quantity does indeed work better than quality.
#9. Michael Keaton
Value per movie: $9,268,848
Total value: $12,976,387
Movies per year: 1.4
After headlining a fairly consecutive string of hit films in the 1980s and 1990s, actor Michael Keaton to focus on his personal life. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he was in full comeback mode, starting with his unforgettable performance in 2014鈥檚 鈥淏irdman.鈥 In the time since, he鈥檚 played major roles in a range of quality films. And while he might not seem like an obvious top 10 contender from a bankability perspective, he does bring significant value to the average non-franchise film.
#8. Leonardo DiCaprio
Value per movie: $9,286,972
Total value: $21,360,035
Movies per year: 2.3
Since the days of 鈥淩omeo + Juliet鈥 and 鈥淭itanic,鈥 Leonardo DiCaprio has been a perennial favorite among directors, producers and fans alike. He鈥檚 also another actor who鈥檚 able to retain high value despite his avoidance of franchise fare. Accordingly, he鈥檒l be starring in hotly anticipated films like Quentin Tarantino鈥檚 鈥淥nce Upon a Time in Hollywood,鈥 and Martin Scorsese鈥檚 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon.鈥
#7. Vin Diesel
Value per movie: $10,066,876
Total value: $17,113,689
Movies per year: 1.7
While might conclude that Vin Diesel brings a high amount of value to the average non-franchise film, he鈥檚 more or less built a career out of starring exclusively in blockbuster franchises. Naturally, 鈥淭he Fast and The Furious鈥 is the most obvious example, but he鈥檚 also part of the 鈥淕uardians of the Galaxy鈥 franchise, the 鈥渪Xx鈥 franchise and the 鈥淐hronicles of Riddick鈥 franchise, all of which have installments in various stages of production.
#6. Tom Hanks
Value per movie: $10,175,442
Total value: $24,421,061
Movies per year: 2.4
Tom Hanks is perhaps the quintessential actor when it comes to successful non-franchise films. He鈥檚 been an absolute screen legend for decades now, and with good reason. Whether he鈥檚 playing Forrest Gump, Walt Disney or Captain Phillips, Hanks remains both compulsively watchable and highly convincing, and the box office frequently thanks him for it.
#5. Ben Affleck
Value per movie: $10,262,313
Total value: $17,445,932
Movies per year: 1.7
For a good decade or so, Ben Affleck seemed down for the count in terms of bankability, and yet he鈥檚 risen from the ashes to become a modern Hollywood player. Before taking on the role of Batman (or The Batman, if you want to be specific), he was producing and directing hit films like 鈥淎rgo.鈥 Meanwhile, his recent effort, 鈥淭he Accountant,鈥 proved to be a surprise hit at the box office.
#4. Robert Downey, Jr.
Value per movie: $10,332,849
Total value: $20,665,698
Movies per year: 2.0
He might be best known today for his deft performance as Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man), but the truth is that Robert Downey Jr. endures as one of the most celebrated actors of all time, period. That said, he does seem to stick primarily to franchise fare these days, though . To think, there was once a point where it seemed the . Iron Man, indeed.
#3. Will Smith
Value per movie: $11,790,864
Total value: $21,223,555
Movies per year: 1.8
Will Smith is such a dominant name in cinema that it鈥檚 almost easy to forget he was also once among the biggest names in both TV and music. And while his career seems to have cooled off a bit in recent years, it鈥檚 still piping-hot compared to most actors. To that end, he would be an essential addition to any average non-franchise film. The problem is that most non-franchise films probably couldn鈥檛 afford his salary.
#2. Denzel Washington
Value per movie: $13,303,162
Total value: $17,294,110
Movies per year: 1.3
Screen icon Denzel Washington is currently proving his worth in 鈥淭he Equalizer 2,鈥 which , and . This goes to show that Washington is still a major force in Hollywood, even after all these years. On the non-franchise front, he doesn鈥檛 shy away from mid-range dramatic work. In fact, one might even say that smaller, topical films are where his passion truly lies.
#1. Tom Cruise
Value per movie: $17,903,417
Total value: $25,064,784
Movies per year: 1.4
There is no movie star on the planet quite like Tom Cruise, with the numbers to prove it. Since the early 1980s, the hard-working actor (and producer) has been a box office sensation, barring the occasional clunker. Bigger, bolder and buffer than ever before, Cruise is currently starring in 鈥淢ission Impossible-Fallout,鈥 which opened to rave reviews and instant box office success. Meanwhile, a 鈥淭op Gun鈥 sequel is slated for release in 2019. Needless to say, is getting in this actor鈥檚 way.