Hollywood continually seeks performers who can draw large audiences to theaters and, increasingly, to video-on-demand rentals. Classic stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis once guaranteed ticket sales simply by appearing on screen. Today’s studios still look for that box-office reliability.
SavingSpot analyzed box-office returns to identify which actresses deliver the highest return on investment (ROI) for every dollar spent on their paychecks. Below are the results, ranked from 17 to 1, showing each actress’s age, estimated net worth, average salary per film, average ROI per dollar paid in salary and average Metacritic score across their careers. All ROI and movie figures are from SavingSpot.
17. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron arrives at the Oscars in 2020. Richard Shotwell/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 47
Net worth: $160 million
Average salary per movie: $11,151,432
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $5.96
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 51.5
Bottom Line: Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2020. Evan Agostini/Invision / AP Photo
Theron earned early attention in films like The Devil’s Advocate (1997) and won an Academy Award for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster. While many of her recent projects attract positive critical attention, their box-office returns can be uneven.
16. Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2020. Jordan Strauss/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 55
Net worth: $250 million
Average salary per movie: $11,125,037
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $12.97
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 57.2
Bottom Line: Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman at the 2020 Producers Guild Awards in Los Angeles. Chris Pizzello / Invision/AP Photo
With a long, award-winning career that includes breakout work in Days of Thunder and acclaimed roles in Moulin Rouge! and The Others, Kidman now often appears in supporting parts while also maintaining steady industry presence.
15. Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson at the Oscars in 2020. John Locher / AP Photo
Age: 38
Net worth: $165 million
Average salary per movie: $10,530,148
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $16.79
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 52
Bottom Line: Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2020. Chris Pizzello / AP Photo
Johansson became one of the highest-grossing actresses through Marvel’s films, but she balances blockbusters with lower-budget, critically focused projects like Marriage Story. Her ROI may shift as additional box-office results, such as for Black Widow, are finalized.
14. Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2020. Evan Agostini/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 46
Net worth: $200 million
Average salary per movie: $15,704,154
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $17.40
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 46
Bottom Line: Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon at the Golden Globe Awards in 2020. Jordan Strauss/Invision / AP Photo
Witherspoon has shifted from starring in films to building her media company, Hello Sunshine, and producing high-profile television projects like The Morning Show. Though she hasn’t led many big-budget films in recent years, her production work has proven lucrative.
13. Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts listens to a student at a high school in Vietnam in 2019. Hau Dinh / AP Photo
Age: 55
Net worth: $250 million
Average salary per movie: $16,819,654
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $19.60
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 49.6
Bottom Line: Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts at the British Fashion Awards in London in 2019. Joel C Ryan/Invision / AP Photo
Roberts rose to global fame with Pretty Woman (1990) and later won an Oscar for Erin Brockovich. A proven box-office draw across romantic comedies and dramas, her recent films have had mixed commercial results.
12. Margot Robbie
Margot Robie was born in Dalby, Australia, in 1990. Patrick L. / Wikimedia
Age: 32
Net worth: $26 million
Average salary per movie: $9,500,000
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $20.86
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 60.0
Bottom Line: Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie in London in 2019. Joel C. Ryan/Invision / AP Photo
Robbie gained prominence in The Wolf of Wall Street and has delivered acclaimed performances in films like Bombshell and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. However, Birds of Prey underperformed relative to its budget despite her leading role.
11. Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie at the European premiere of “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” in London in 2019. Grant Pollard/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 47
Net worth: $120 million
Average salary per movie: $15,004,458
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $26.35
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 55.8
Bottom Line: Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie in 2019. Willy Sanjuan/AP Photo / AP Photo
Jolie’s recent commercial highlights include the Maleficent films. She has also moved into directing and producing, focusing on stories with political and humanitarian themes, while still appearing occasionally as an actress.
10. Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2020. Chris Pizzello/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 50
Net worth: $80 million
Average salary per movie: $4,099,232
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $32.55
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 57
Bottom Line: Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner at an event in Culver City, California, in 2019. Jordan Strauss/Invision / AP Photo
After early setbacks, Garner rebuilt her career with roles in films such as Dallas Buyers Club and family comedies. She’s well-regarded by audiences and critics when cast in projects that suit her strengths.
9. Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep in New York in 2019. Evan Agostini/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 73
Net worth: $160 million
Average salary per movie: $5,403,521
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $37.60
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 61.6
Bottom Line: Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019. Chris Pizzello/Invision / AP Photo
Streep’s extensive, award-filled filmography gives any project credibility. While her presence can attract critical attention and award buzz, not every film she appears in becomes a blockbuster.
8. Renée Zellweger
Renee Zellweger at an event in Beverly Hills, California, in 2020. Jordan Strauss/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 53
Net worth: $90 million
Average salary per movie: $11,614,554
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $43.25
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 64
Bottom Line: Renée Zellweger
Renee Zellweger won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2020 for her role in “Judy.” Evan Agostini/Invision / AP Photo
Zellweger enjoyed a run of hits in the 2000s including Bridget Jones and Chicago. After a hiatus, she returned with acclaimed work like Judy, which paired modest budgets with strong box-office and awards returns.
7. Rachel McAdams
Rachel McAdams at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Charles Sykes/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 44
Net worth: $16 million
Average salary per movie: $1,844,526
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $63.28
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 64
Bottom Line: Rachel McAdams
Rachel McAdams at the Los Angeles premiere of “Doctor Strange” in 2016. Jordan Strauss/Invision / AP Photo
McAdams gained fame in Mean Girls and The Notebook and has demonstrated range across comedy and drama, earning accolades for work such as Spotlight. Her relatively modest average salary yields strong ROI for studios.
6. Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock at a screening of “Bird Box” in New York in 2018. Charles Sykes/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 58
Net worth: $200 million
Average salary per movie: $14,601,535
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $73.48
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 53.9
Bottom Line: Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock at the Golden Globe Awards in 2020. Chris Pizzello/Invision / AP Photo
Bullock broke out in Speed and built a reputation as a reliable lead in both comedies and dramas. Her films, from While You Were Sleeping to Gravity and Bird Box, have delivered strong box-office results across decades.
5. Emma Watson
Emma Watson at the premiere of “Little Women” in New York in 2019. Evan Agostini/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 32
Net worth: $80 million
Average salary per movie: $15,795,223
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $84.23
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 65
Bottom Line: Emma Watson
Emma Watson at a party in Beverly Hills in 2018. Chris Pizzello/Invision / AP Photo
Watson rose to global prominence as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series and continued with roles in films such as Noah, Beauty and the Beast and Little Women. Her franchise roots and selective choices maintain her strong appeal.
4. Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman at the Oscars in 2020. Jordan Strauss/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 41
Net worth: $90 million
Average salary per movie: $1,366,411
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $116.18
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 65.0
Bottom Line: Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman at an event in Los Angeles in 2019. Richard Shotwell/Invision / AP Photo
Portman began with acclaimed early roles and later earned an Oscar for Black Swan. While she has appeared in large franchises such as Thor, she generally gravitates toward serious, critically focused films that tend to perform well relative to their budgets.
3. Chloë Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Addams Family” in 2019. Jordan Strauss/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 25
Net worth: $12 million
Average salary per movie: $545,154
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $156.71
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 46
Bottom Line: Chloë Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2019. Evan Agostini/Invision / AP Photo
Moretz began as a child actress and has appeared in a variety of genre films. Her relatively low average salary combined with appearances in commercially successful projects yields a strong ROI.
2. Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart in Los Angeles in 2020. Mark Von Holden/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 32
Net worth: $70 million
Average salary per movie: $9,465,350
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $201.14
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 51.3
Bottom Line: Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart at the Los Angeles premiere of “Charlie’s Angels” in 2019. Jordan Strauss/Invision / AP Photo
Stewart found global fame through The Twilight Saga, which grossed billions worldwide. Since that franchise, she has balanced larger studio pictures with independent films, building a reputation as a versatile performer.
1. Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence at the “Red Sparrow” premiere in London in 2018. Joel C Ryan/Invision / AP Photo
Age: 32
Net worth: $130 million
Average salary per movie: $9,964,160
Average ROI per dollar spent on her salary: $782.80
Average Metacritic rating for her career: 65.3
Bottom Line: Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence in London in 2019. Joel C Ryan/Invision / AP Photo
Lawrence broke out with Winter’s Bone and solidified her star power through franchises such as X-Men and The Hunger Games, which together generated enormous revenue. Despite a handful of commercial missteps, her films consistently attract audiences, giving her the highest ROI per salary dollar on this list.
All ROI and movie numbers referenced are attributed to SavingSpot.