The overall box office numbers are very pale in comparison to the actor’s star power. Over the past 15 years, franchises and IP have become increasingly heavy lifting, often overshadowing individual players. An actor may also be the second or third lead, making it difficult to give them every dollar the film earns. Many moviegoers are coming out The Avengersnot necessarily to any one cast member. As a result, it is difficult to identify what exactly drives the audience.
To get a better sense of value in this annoying industry, Greenlight Analytics’ Talent DNA tracker asks audiences a simple question: Would you see a movie in theaters if this person were in it? In all follow-up waves including hundreds of actors and hundreds of thousands of responses, four different types star power they start to shine.
Type contractors
This category includes actors who are very famous but struggle within certain genres of films. Among the names listed at the top of the Theater Head are long-term foundations such as Denzel Washington (57.9 percent of respondents said they would see him in theaters), Samuel L. Jackson (56.2 percent), Jackie Chan (51.3 percent), and Liam Neeson (48.5 percent). These veterans have built loyal fans over the decades. Although their careers encompass many roles, each has succeeded in a particular direction.
Washington is often the center of mystery crime dramas. Fans love Jackson’s approach to action movies. Chan is arguably the most famous martial arts star in the history of cinema. Neeson started the “adult action” trend.
Washington’s Oeuvre grossed an estimated $5 billion worldwide over the course of his career. But the remarkable consistency of his trio Estimator films—all of which grossed between $190 million and $192 million worldwide—a testament to his consistency in the genre. His main box office hit (not adjusted for inflation), Gladiator IIit is not even his personal right; instead, his supporting performance added weight to the series’ legacy without its original star. Fans love Denzel, and that love takes on different shades that are reflected in ticket sales.
The platform is pulling
The magnetic pull of other characters cuts through the fields. Viewers like to watch them not only in theaters but also at home. Brad Pitt (49.1 percent of theater intent) is a good modern example. F1: Film ($634 million worldwide) was the highest-grossing “real” movie of 2025, but it was based on a popular play with worldwide appeal. Alignment between Pitt’s star power and common sense it helped elevate the film, which came off as an adult tentpole without the support of a traditional franchise.
Adam Sandler (47.7 percent Theatrical Target, 55.9 percent Broadcast Target) is also thriving in this direction. His animated hit Leo (224.1 million views) and Happy Gilmore 2 (135.1 million) are in between Netflix’s most popular original movies three years ago.
Washington fits this category. His Stream Goal (65.9 percent) is eight points higher than his best Theatrical goal. His audience will follow him anywhere, which is probably why Netflix felt comfortable paying him $35 million in the future Here is the Flood.
Emerging category
This category speaks for itself: young, emerging stars who are establishing independent leading roles and debuts or new things on the screen. Michael B. Jordan might be the most enlightening example yet, with Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya also firmly in the conversation.
Jordan’s Theatrical Intent A nearly 49 percent Intent puts him ahead of Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson and many others. His Fandom score of 72.6 percent points to a deeply rooted appeal to a wide audience, built over more than two decades of film and television work. On paper, he already looks like a fully formed star, and the data backs up that idea.
Creed III ($276 million on a $75 million budget) showed they could expand the franchise’s existing audience. But They are sinners ($370 million worldwide) a real proof point: the original film in which he appears in almost every scene, playing two different characters, which became a box office hit and an Oscar winner. The pedigree of director Ryan Coogler and the genre of the film played a role, but the results suggest that the audience will turn out for the project led by Michael B. Jordan.
Elsewhere on the spectrum are Keke Palmer (48.7% Theatrical Intent) and Hailee Steinfeld (42.8%). they represent rising stars of different ilk. Both have worked consistently over the years, but Palmer’s appeal is much more narrow-minded and more like genre-driven performers. The success of his first comedy One Of Those Days ($50 million domestic on a $14 million budget) a big feather in his cap.
Steinfeld’s audience scores are slightly lower but consistent. For roles across the board TransformersMarvel (both live action and animation), and video game–closer Arcanehas developed a strong following among fans of the franchise and the genre. No actor has ever had the chance to fully test his draw with a blockbuster debut. (Give us the Keke Palmer/Hailee Steinfeld two-hander horror movie we deserve.)
Final words
These categories are not competitive. A Type Contractor naturally cannot bank more than a Prestige Draw, and characters are not confined to one category during their career. Denzel Washington was the leading man before Estimatorand Brad Pitt was a famous movie star before F1.
This draft is not about which players made the most box office money. It’s about the relationship each star has cultivated with the audience and how that connection translates into fandom and power.
