Zendaya is having the biggest year of her career, and the numbers prove it. The actor has officially become the highest-grossing actor of 2026, thanks to a remarkable run of blockbuster releases led by Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. With another major franchise film, Dune: Part Three, still set to arrive later this year, Zendaya’s box office dominance appears far from over.According to a recent Forbes report, the 29-year-old actor has topped this year’s global box office rankings after her films generated nearly $2 billion worldwide in 2026 alone, cementing her status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.
Spider-Man and The Odyssey power Zendaya’s record-breaking year
Much of Zendaya’s success has been driven by two of the year’s biggest theatrical releases.Spider-Man: Brand New Day, in which she reprises her role as MJ opposite husband Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker, debuted to $355 million in North America and $927 million worldwide, becoming the second-biggest global opening weekend in box office history, behind only Avengers: Endgame.Just weeks earlier, Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland and Zendaya, crossed $911 million worldwide within three weeks of release.Combined, the two films generated roughly $430 million during the biggest domestic box office weekend ever recorded.Adding April release The Drama to the tally brings Zendaya’s worldwide box office earnings this year to nearly $2 billion.
Tom Holland and Zendaya named Hollywood’s highest-grossing couple
Forbes also named Zendaya and Tom Holland 2026’s highest-grossing couple, reflecting a year in which both actors have simultaneously headlined some of the world’s biggest films.While Holland has appeared in both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, Zendaya’s consistent presence across critically acclaimed dramas and billion-dollar franchises has further strengthened her reputation as one of Hollywood’s most reliable box office draws.
From Disney star to one of Hollywood’s biggest names
Zendaya’s latest milestone marks another chapter in a career that has steadily evolved since her Disney Channel days on Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover.Over the past decade, she has balanced blockbuster franchises such as Spider-Man and Dune with acclaimed performances in projects including Euphoria, which earned her two Emmy Awards, and Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers.Beyond acting, Zendaya has also become one of fashion’s most influential figures through her long-running collaboration with stylist Law Roach, while increasingly taking on producing responsibilities and playing a greater role in shaping the projects she chooses.
More milestones could still be ahead
Zendaya’s blockbuster run isn’t over yet.She is set to return as Chani in Dune: Part Three, scheduled for release in December. If the film performs in line with its predecessors, Dune ($410 million worldwide) and Dune: Part Two ($714 million worldwide), Zendaya could move even closer to setting one of the biggest single-year worldwide box office records ever achieved by an actress.With multiple franchise hits, critical acclaim and another tentpole release still to come, 2026 is shaping up to be the defining year of Zendaya’s career.
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