One thing that sets Black apart from his comedy contemporaries is his ability to alternate between low-budget films and record-smashing blockbusters. Often in the same year, Black will appear in a charming little comedy and a humongous tent-pole movie that makes a mint at the box office. A lot of that can be chalked up to his almost universal appeal.
Though he’s been in the business for over 30 years, Black is still very much beloved by the youngest moviegoers. He’s kept three generations of fans entertained already, and his star isn’t fading any time soon. With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on the horizon, Black’s box office hot streak is bound to continue.
10
Ice Age (2002) – $383 Million
Jack Black has appeared in over a dozen movies that have made more than $100 million, and Ice Age just barely cracks his top 10. The Blue Sky classic concerns a mismatched trio of prehistoric animals who find an abandoned human child and return the kid to safety. Black voices the comparatively small role of Zeke, a goofy saber-toothed tiger.
Ice Age performed quite well at the box office, and was released right as the CGI animation boom was in full force. Jack Black never returned for any of the Ice Age sequels, and his brief appearance in the first film is usually overlooked. Interestingly, the first Ice Age movie is the lowest-grossing of the entire mainline franchise.
9
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) – $521 Million
Kung Fu Panda 3 wasn’t a box office disappointment, but it did gross the least of the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Po reunites with long-lost family members and tries to impart his martial arts wisdom onto his clumsy panda brethren. Jack Black returned to voice Po, and he got to show off some dramatic acting in the threequel.
The movie’s earnings dipped by over $100 million from the previous film, but still drew over half a billion. Producers put the series on ice for a few years, which proved to be a smart move. The fact that a $500 million movie is near the bottom of the list is a testament to Jack Black’s box office potential.
8
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) – $547 Million
After nearly a decade away, the Kung Fu Panda series swung back into action with a fourth film in 2024. Po is selected to be the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace, and must train the newest Dragon Warrior. Kung Fu Panda 4 got the worst reviews of the bunch, but was not a stinker by any means.
All things considered, the fourth film’s box office gross of nearly $550 million is much lower than expected. It only scratched out a marginally better gross than its predecessor, despite eight years of inflation. It’s Black’s most consistent franchise, but the $500 million range is likely the ceiling for the Kung Fu Panda series.
7
King Kong (2005) – $556 Million
Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong was a huge hit, and it’s still one of Jack Black’s highest-grossing movies. An enterprising filmmaker takes his crew to the mysterious Skull Island where they encounter the titular giant ape. In one of his more dramatic parts, Black plays Carl Denham, the determined director.
With a gigantic budget of more than $200 million (the largest of all time up to that point), King Kong wasn’t nearly as profitable during its theatrical run as it appeared. Nevertheless, it’s over $550 million box office makes it Jack Black’s highest-grossing film that isn’t a sequel or animated.
6
Kung Fu Panda (2008) – $632 Million
Typically, franchise-launching movies fare worse than their sequels, but Kung Fu Panda is the second highest-grossing film in the series. A bumbling panda is selected as the next guardian of the Valley of Peace, and the unorthodox hero must save his homeland. Jack Black’s career took a big jump when he was cast to voice the title character, Po.
Making $632 million at the box office, Kung Fu Panda was Black’s highest-grossing film up to that point, and it has still only been topped by a handful of other movies. DreamWorks had yet another massive property on their hands, and wasted no time turning Po and his martial arts exploits into a cash cow franchise.
5
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) – $665 Million
Making a hit movie is tricky, and doing it again is even harder. Kung Fu Panda 2 catches up with Po as he settles into his role as the Dragon Warrior. Unfortunately, a villain arrives to destroy his peace. While the first sequel was guilty of being a bit predictable, it scored the largest box office of the franchise.
Kung Fu Panda 2‘s over $650 million gate proved that Jack Black was no box office fluke. His name began to carry serious weight, especially with two half billion dollar movies under his belt. Most stars would be proud to have headlined such a hit, but Kung Fu Panda 2 isn’t even close to Black’s highest-grossing project.
4
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) – $801 Million
After the first film in the reboot series nearly cracked a billion, Jumanji: The Next Level was expected to succeed. The real-world players return to Jumanji, but a glitch in the game makes everything a lot more deadly. Once again at his hammy best, Black returns to play the role of the video game character named Professor Oberon.
The Next Level made over $150 million less than its predecessor, but executives likely weren’t shedding any tears over its $800 million gross. Throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s, Jack Black quietly began to amass a handful of nearly billion dollar films, something that started with his two Jumanji flicks.
3
A Minecraft Movie (2025) – $961 Million
Inflated by memes and a devoted fanbase, A Minecraft Movie jumped to the second place spot among the highest-grossing video game films ever made. A group of outcast gamers are drawn into the Overworld where they learn to craft from a seasoned player named Steve. Black leads the show as Steve, and he turns up the goofy energy to 11.
Though the film got pretty poor reviews, that wasn’t enough to stop it from grossing $960 million. The infamous chicken jockey scene was the bane of every movie theater employee, but the film’s box office power was undeniable. A Minecraft Movie firmly crowned Jack Black as the king of video game movies, and sequels are bound to follow.
2
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017) – $962 Million
Beating A Minecraft Movie by only $1 million, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is Jack Black’s second highest-grossing film thus far. The legacy sequel to the ’90s cult classic involves video game players who trade places with their in-game avatars while exploring the world of Jumanji. Black co-stars as the brainy Professor Oberon.
The one-two punch of The Rock and Jack Black helped propel Jumanji to legendary box office success. It missed grossing a billion by a mere fraction, and even spawned an equally popular sequel a few years later. Welcome to the Jungle would top most actor’s highest-grossing lists, but Jack Black beat his own record a few years later.
1
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) – $1.3 Billion
Proving that the golden age of video game movies has truly begun, The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed an amazing $1.3 billion at the box office. Italian plumbers Mario and Luigi accidentally discover a magical world, and go on a whirlwind adventure. Black voices the villainous Bowser, but he plays him with silly charm instead of sinister evil.
Jack Black is returning as Bowser in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Putting his musical skills to good use, Black sang the rousing anthem, “Peaches”, which itself became a meme. With such a recognizable I.P. and a stellar cast, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a recipe for billion dollar ticket sales. Though Jack Black was only a cog in a much larger machine, his star power certainly helped make the movie such a success.
Source: Box Office Mojo
- Birthdate
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August 28, 1969
- Birthplace
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Santa Monica, California, USA