Is Johnny Depp Officially The Biggest Star In The World?

[Catman]

Only 6 movies have grossed $1 billion worldwide - unadjusted for inflation, of course. Two of them star Johnny Depp. So, does this officially make him the biggest star in the world? Especially since he's a major reason for the success. Avatar's success had nothing to do with Sam Worthington. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King's success was only partially because of the cast. The Dark Knight's success had more to do with Heath Ledger than star Christian Bale. So, really, the only other movie that can credit its success to the star is Titanic. Leonardo DiCaprio was a major teen star at the time. However, since DiCaprio has never been close to that level of success yet, one can argue that it was James Cameron that deserves all the credit. With Depp, it's different Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Alice in Wonderland owe a large amount of credit to him. And the fact that in 4 years he managed to accomplish this says a lot about his star power. It's interesting how in 7 years he went from the weirdo who couldn't be mainstream to the biggest actor in the world.

 

[JP]

I think you underestimate the popularity of Alice in Wonderland. But, I see what you're saying.

Yes, Depp is a huge draw, but only when the film is of certain interest to the general public, like Pirates and Alice. Sweeney Todd came out in 2007, and was a BRILLIANT film and stared Depp, yet didn't do all that well at the box office.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

I think Harrison Ford is still the biggest star of all time. He has two of the biggest franchises of all time on his credit. I'm sure Will Smith is up there too.

 

[dark_b]

Depp bigger then Will Smith?

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

^

Certainly. The Fresh Prince is no match for Tom Hanson.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

My first double post, sorry.

 

[Catman]

I think Harrison Ford is still the biggest star of all time.

I meant at the moment.

Depp bigger then Will Smith?

Will Smith is consistant. I'll give him that. But his most successful movie is Independence Day with $306.1 million domestically and $817.4 million worldwide. That was in 1996 - 14 years ago. Since then he's had no movie reach $300 million domestically and only three that reached $200 million (Men in Black, I Am Legend, and Hancock). His total domestic take is $2.5 billion.

Johnny Depp, by comparison, has had any amazing 7 years. The three Pirates of the Caribbean movies combined grossed $2.6 billion worldwide. Add Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which grossed $474.9 million worldwide and that's $4 billion worldwide with JUST five movies!

Will Smith was the biggest star of the late `90s and early `00s. No one is denying that. But, Johnny Depp has definitely surpassed him these days. Especially since Will Smith has slowed down. His next movie is Men in Black III in...2012! That's four years without a Will Smith movie. Sorry, but Smith is no longer #1.

 

[dark_b]

Depp needs a huge Disney promotion for months so that the movie where he starts makes a lot of money.


i dont even think Alice made so much money because of Depp .

 

[superhero]

i heard that johhny deep is playin the riddle in the next batman moive. i also heard they might make jack sparrow moive i also recomed checking out tv show from 1980s called jump street 21 staring young johnny depp it about cops going under cover as high shcool teangers

 

[dark_b]

the question is what will happen if MIB-3 is good? what would happen if a good summer 3D MIB staring Will Smiith is realesed?

can it make over 1 billion?

 

[Bad Superman]

No doubt that Depp is one of the major stars in Hollywood.

 

[Figs]

Depp bigger then Will Smith?

Depp certainly is 5x the greater actor. Will Smith has had his moments here aaaaaand there but he's only a possible bigger draw because he constantly picks more summer action fare that brings in the people, Independence Day, Wild Wild West(although that sucked balls), you get the idea. Depp has done some big films like the Pirates movies and now Alice in Wonderland but a lot of his other ones have been rated R like Sleepy Hollow and Sweeney Todd.

Smith may be bigger but i'll choose an actual "actor" over a "movie star" any day of the week. Especially since Hollywood is saturated with "movie stars"

Also, the thread title says "Biggest Star" not who's films bring in the most money. So technically I would go for Depp on this one. Smith just has the higher gross but compare his films to Depps and that makes sense why.

 

[dark_b]

is there a reason why you wrotte that you think that Depp is a better actor and that Depp was in R rated movies?


everyone knows that Depp is a better actor and everyone knows that Will Smith was in a lot sumemr movies.

so?

 

[dark_b]

edit

 

[I'm Old Greg]

i think Sweeney Didn't do AMAZING because it was rated R, horror/musical...

People like seeing Depp play funny/whimsical
i think that's his audience right now and he finally found it.

 

[Figs]

is there a reason why you have to writte that you think that Depp is a better actor and that Depp was in R rated movies?

I shouldn't have to explain why, it's rather obvious.

You made a joke basically saying "Depp bigger than Smith? Yeah Right!!!"

I brought up the fact that Depp is a better actor, which tied into what I said after that because being a bigger star doesn't mean **** when compared to someone with actual talent. The reason I brought up that he was in a fair amount of R rated films is because those are never going to make as much as PG-13 summer films, which Smith has done a lot more of.

Basically Smith could be considered the bigger star since his movie's have pulled in more money at the BO but I still give my vote to Depp because he's just as popular if not more than Smith.

 

[Kargo Warrior]

The billion Alice In Wonderland has made is misleading...with 3D prices,The Dark Knight and Pirates would have made over 1,5 billion.

Measuring movies apart 30-40 years with inflation is difficult but with films separated several years it makes a huge difference.

Plus Alice got the boost from Avatar and all the hype 3D received,it's a household name property that spawns several generations and age targets so even though the movie overachieved,it's certainly not due to Johnny Depp.

He is a big star but as a member mentioned in an earlier post,Sweeney Todd which was marketed stricly as a Depp vehicle,made only$50 domestically and $150 worldwide even though it received great reviews.The same thing can be said about Public Enemies and so on...

 

[Ace of Knaves]

You are all ****ing wrong. WRONG WRONG WRONG!

The worlds biggest star is Jimmy Saville!

 

[Catman]

i dont even think Alice made so much money because of Depp.

In Japan, Alice in Wonderland has been #1 for 6 weeks and has grossed over $100 million. That was mostly because of Johnny Depp whose very popular there.

The billion Alice In Wonderland has made is misleading...with 3D prices

Avatar's $2 billion is misleading...you know...with the 3D and all.

The Dark Knight

I know this is SHH and all, but it took TDK like 6-7 months to reach $1 billion. And it only did because WB re-released the movie in January of 2009. So, 3D or no 3D, studios always use a gimmick to gain extra profits.

Pirates

Pirates grossed $1 billion for the same reason as Alice - Japan. It grossed $84.5 million there.

Alice got the boost from Avatar and all the hype 3D received

You mean the same hype that helped How to Train Your Dragon and Clash of the Titans? Oh, wait.

He is a big star but as a member mentioned in an earlier post,Sweeney Todd which was marketed stricly as a Depp vehicle,made only$50 domestically and $150 worldwide even though it received great reviews.The same thing can be said about Public Enemies and so on...

Hey, remember Seven Pounds, that Will Smith movie? Man, that sure was a huge hit. Oh, wait. It wasn't. You can't win them all. If Will Smith can have flops (Wild Wild West, Legend of Bagger Vance, Ali) and still be crowed a superstar then Johnny Depp should get the same courtesy.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

If we're talking popularity and recognition, it's short-sighted to think the biggest movie star in the world is someone from Hollywood. It's Asia, always Asia. People like Shah Rukh Khan and Jackie Chan are more famous worldwide than Johnny Depp.

 

[Leenie]

I don't know if he's the biggest star, but I know he's the most overrated one.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I meant at the moment.



Will Smith is consistant. I'll give him that. But his most successful movie is Independence Day with $306.1 million domestically and $817.4 million worldwide. That was in 1996 - 14 years ago. Since then he's had no movie reach $300 million domestically and only three that reached $200 million (Men in Black, I Am Legend, and Hancock). His total domestic take is $2.5 billion.

Johnny Depp, by comparison, has had any amazing 7 years. The three Pirates of the Caribbean movies combined grossed $2.6 billion worldwide. Add Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which grossed $474.9 million worldwide and that's $4 billion worldwide with JUST five movies!

Will Smith was the biggest star of the late `90s and early `00s. No one is denying that. But, Johnny Depp has definitely surpassed him these days. Especially since Will Smith has slowed down. His next movie is Men in Black III in...2012! That's four years without a Will Smith movie. Sorry, but Smith is no longer #1.

If you go down that route, though, Stan Lee is technically something like the 17th biggest actor of all time....

 

[Mace Dolex]

It's interesting how in 7 years he went from the weirdo who couldn't be mainstream to the biggest actor in the world.

It's amazing despite all throughout the 90's Depp was mostly playing strange kooky roles that were faves with critics but didn't make any money but yet was still a sex symbol with all his scruffiness.

It's the Pirates' movies that have made him even more popular.

 

[Catman]

If we're talking popularity and recognition, it's short-sighted to think the biggest movie star in the world is someone from Hollywood. It's Asia, always Asia. People like Shah Rukh Khan and Jackie Chan are more famous worldwide than Johnny Depp.

Jackie Chan has had a major career decline in the past decade. In the `80s and `90s he was a force to recken with...but now he kinda sucks. Do his Asian movies still make big bucks? I don't think any of them are even in the States. Which is surprising since most of his work from the `70s, `80s, and `90s are available.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

The popularity of Depp and Jack Sparrow eventually overwhelmed those movies though. Technically Orlando Bloom's character Will Turner is the main character, on the classic Hero's Journey, and Jack Sparrow is Han Solo. It's very clear in the first movie. But the sequels, understandably, focus on the more popular Jack, despite the fact he doesn't have a story arc, and sideline Will, when he should be front and centre.