Zoe Saldaña is back at it, and adding two more blockbusters to her resume: Avatar: Fire and Ash and Avengers: Doomsday

Zoe Saldaña is back at it, and adding two more blockbusters to her resume: Avatar: Fire and Ash and Avengers: Doomsday. The Oscar-winning actress continues her reign as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, with her latest project Avatar: Fire and Ash (released December 19, 2025) propelling her to the top spot as the highest-grossing actor of all time, surpassing Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson with a career total nearing $15.5 billion worldwide.

Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in James Cameron’s groundbreaking sci-fi epic, sees Saldaña reprising her role as Neytiri, the fierce Na’vi warrior and Jake Sully’s (Sam Worthington) mate. Picking up after the events of Avatar: The Way of Water, the film follows the Sully family as they grapple with grief over their son Neteyam’s death, escalating conflicts with the Resources Development Administration (RDA), and new threats from Pandora’s volcanic regions. Neytiri, ever the protective mother and warrior, faces intensified battles against Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), now inhabiting a Na’vi avatar, and a formidable new adversary, Varang (Oona Chaplin), a fire clan leader who brings fresh ferocity to the Na’vi conflicts.

The movie has been a massive commercial success, grossing over $1.38 billion worldwide in its opening weeks and pushing the Avatar franchise’s lifetime earnings past $6.5 billion. Saldaña’s performance has been praised for its emotional depth—Neytiri’s grief, rage, and unyielding love for her family add layers to the high-stakes action, making her one of the series’ most compelling anchors. Cameron’s signature visual spectacle is on full display: breathtaking underwater sequences evolve into fiery volcanic clashes, with motion-capture technology capturing Saldaña’s physicality and intensity in stunning detail. The cast includes returning favorites like Sigourney Weaver (as Kiri), Kate Winslet (Ronal), and Cliff Curtis (Tonowari), alongside newcomers bringing cultural and emotional weight to the expanding Na’vi world.

Saldaña has described the filming as “heavy” and transformative, noting the emotional toll of portraying a mother fighting to protect her children in a world under constant threat. Behind-the-scenes glimpses show her in performance capture suits, immersed in Pandora’s bioluminescent landscapes, and collaborating closely with Cameron, whom she calls an “actor whisperer” for his ability to draw raw performances from the ensemble.

This triumph comes at a pivotal moment in Saldaña’s career. Her Avatar trilogy has been the cornerstone of her box-office dominance—combined with her Marvel tenure as Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame (where she reprised a younger, alternate-timeline version of the character). Those films alone contributed billions, but Fire and Ash sealed her record-breaking status. The achievement highlights her strategic choices: aligning with visionary directors like Cameron and James Gunn, embracing groundbreaking motion-capture work, and delivering performances that blend physicality, emotion, and star power.

Now, Saldaña is poised to add even more to her legacy with Avengers: Doomsday, the next chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga. Directed by the Russo brothers (Anthony and Joe), the film is set for release on May 1, 2026, and serves as a massive team-up event pitting Earth’s heroes against Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom). While the full cast announcement focused on heavy-hitters like Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), and Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Saldaña’s involvement remains a point of speculation and fan debate.

Her Gamora met a tragic end in Avengers: Infinity War, with a variant from another timeline appearing in Endgame and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. That variant’s arc concluded with her parting ways from the Guardians, leaving her future in the MCU uncertain. Rumors swirl that she may not appear in Doomsday, potentially allowing Robert Downey Jr. (currently fourth on the all-time grossing list at over $14 billion) to overtake her with the film’s expected billion-dollar haul. Some insiders joke that her absence could cost Marvel billions, underscoring her proven draw. Others speculate a surprise cameo or new role could keep her in the fray, especially with the Multiverse Saga’s timeline-jumping possibilities.

Regardless, Saldaña’s trajectory remains unstoppable. From her early breakout in Center Stage and Pirates of the Caribbean, through Star Trek‘s Uhura, Guardians‘ Gamora, and now Neytiri’s evolution into a grieving warrior-mother, she has built a resume of iconic, culturally resonant characters. Her ability to anchor massive franchises while delivering nuanced performances has made her indispensable to both Cameron’s Pandora and Marvel’s cosmic corners.

As Avatar: Fire and Ash continues its box-office dominance and Avengers: Doomsday looms as the next potential record-breaker, Saldaña stands at the pinnacle of Hollywood’s commercial elite. Her journey reflects smart choices, tireless work in performance capture and action, and a willingness to tackle emotionally demanding roles in blockbuster form. Whether she retains her crown or passes the torch, one thing is certain: Zoe Saldaña’s blockbuster era is far from over—and audiences are reaping the rewards.