Comedian Colin Jost has delivered a characteristically witty and self-deprecating response to the news that his wife, Scarlett Johansson, has been overtaken as Hollywood's highest-grossing actress of all time.
The Weekend Update Gag That Said It All
During the 'Weekend Update' segment on Saturday Night Live on Saturday, the 43-year-old co-anchor read the news from his cue cards. "Zoe Saldana, who stars in the new Avatar movie, has surpassed Scarlett Johansson to become the highest-grossing actress of all time," he announced. The screen then displayed the two stars' respective earnings.
In a classic Jost move, he quipped, "OK, well let's see what happens if you include the box office from Scarlett's husband's movies." The graphic then updated, showing Johansson's total falling from $15.4 billion to $15.1 billion. The comedian's reaction was priceless: he burst out laughing, looked around the studio in mock shock, and exclaimed, "It went down?!"
The Numbers Behind the New Box Office Queen
The shift in the rankings came following the success of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which propelled Saldana's cumulative global box office to approximately $15.46 billion. This monumental figure is built on her pivotal roles in some of cinema's biggest franchises:
- Avatar
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Star Trek
- Pirates of the Caribbean
Scarlett Johansson, 41, whose earnings are anchored by her long-running role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, now sits just behind. She famously earned around $35 million for her work in Avengers: Endgame alone.
Gratitude and A Look to the Future
Last week, Zoe Saldana, 47, took to Instagram to share her profound gratitude for the milestone. She dedicated the achievement to the filmmakers and franchises that believed in her, specifically thanking directors like J.J. Abrams, the Russo brothers, James Gunn, and James Cameron.
"[Thank you] for believing my potential for seeing something in me that I have not always seen in myself," she wrote. She also praised her fans, stating, "Your unwavering support, passion and loyalty are the true foundation of this milestone." In a forward-looking note, she concluded, "And may the next record breaker be another woman!"
Meanwhile, Colin Jost, a former head writer for SNL, has never publicly disclosed his salary for co-hosting Weekend Update, though industry observers speculate he commands a top-tier fee. His on-air jest, however, proved that in the Johansson-Jost household, humour clearly remains the highest currency.
