2011 The Measured Circle’s Box Office MVPs

2011 The Measured Circle’s Box Office MVPs

Who are the Most Valuable Players in the movies?

What actors generate the most American domestic gross (dogro)?

There are a lot of ways to measure this, and The Measured Circle has our own (begun with movies released in 2010).

Here are our rules:

1. You must have been first-billed in a movie that makes at least $100 million dogro in the year in question

2. You must have appeared in at least one other movie that dogroed at least $40 million in the year in question (but you do not have to have been first-billed)

3. Voice roles count: one of the reasons they cast big names in animated features is that they attract audiences

4. Our winners are ranked by the average of their movies in the given year that earned at least $40 million dogro

5. Since we base it on release year, it may be well into the following year until the standings are final. We do not count re-releases that do not happen in the same year as the initial release

Here are qualifiers for 2011 as of January 19, 2012  ($100m or more movies are in bold, unreleased movies are in italics):

Ludacris: No Strings Attached, Fast Five

Natalie Portman: No Strings Attached, Thor

Johnny Depp: Rango, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Timothy Olyphant: Rango, I Am Number Four

Bradley Cooper: The Hangover Part II, Limitless

Joe Nunez: Rango, Bridesmaids

Matt Lucas: Bridesmaids, Gnomeo & Juliet

Seth Rogen: Kung Fu Panda 2, The Green Hornet

James McAvoy: X-Men: First Class, Gnomeo & Juliet

Rose Byrne: X-Men: First Class, Bridesmaids

January Jones: X-Men: First Class, Unknown

Geoffrey Rush: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Green Lantern

Michael Hitchcock: Bridesmaids, Super 8

Jason Flemyng: X-Men: First Class, Hanna

Tyrese Gibson: Fast Five, Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Ken Jeong: The Hangover Part II, Zookeeper, Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Owen Wilson: Cars 2, Hall Pass, Midnight in Paris

Michael Caine: Cars 2, Gnomeo & Juliet

John Turturro: Cars 2, Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Clark Gregg: Thor, Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Jeffrey Tambor: The Hangover: Part II, Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Glenn Morshower: X-Men: First Class, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Moneyball

Jackie Sandler: Just Go with It, Zookeeper

Adam Sandler: Just Go with It, Zookeeper, Jack and Jill

Hugo Weaving: Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Captain America: The First Avenger, Happy Feet Two

Maya Rudolph: Bridesmaids, Zookeeper

Gary Oldman: Kung Fu Panda 2, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Clancy Brown: Green Lantern, Cowboys & Aliens

Jennifer Aniston: Just Go With It, Horrible Bosses

Tom Felton: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Kevin Bacon: X-Men: First Class, Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Hank Azaria: Hop, The Smurfs

James Franco: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Green Hornet

Jamie Harris: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Green Hornet

David Oyelowo: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Help

James Franco: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Green Hornet

Emma Stone: The Help, Friends with Benefits, Crazy, Stupid, Love.

P.J. Byrne: Horrible Bosses, Final Destination 5

Cameron Diaz: Bad Teacher, The Green Hornet

Jason Segal: Bad Teacher, Friends with Benefits, The Muppets

Justin Timberlake: Bad Teacher, Friends with Benefits, In Time

Zach Galafianakis: The Hangover Part II,  Puss in Boots, The Muppets

Conrad Vernon: Kung Fu Panda 2 (not first billed), Puss in Boots

Nick Swardson: Just Go with It, Jack and Jill

Allen Covert: Just Go with It, Jack and Jill

Frieda Pinto: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Immortals

Kellan Lutz: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Immortals

Robert Pattinson: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Water for Elephants

James Pizzinato: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Jack Black: Kung Fu Panda 2, The Muppets

Michael Albala: Horrible Bosses, The Muppets

Neil Patrick Harris: The Smurfs, The Muppets, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Paul Giamatti: The Hangover Part II, The Ides of March

John Michael Higgins: Bad Teacher, We Bought a Zoo

Toby Jones: Captain America: The First Avenger, The Adventures of Tintin

Gil Birmingham: Rango, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1

Josh Duhamel: Transformers: Dark of the Moon, New Year’s Eve

Michael Sheen: Midnight in Paris, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Meg Phillips: The Smurfs, New Year’s Eve

Daniel Craig: Cowboys & Aliens, The Adventures of Tintin, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

John Lithgow: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, New Year’s Eve

Ty Olsson: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1

Sofia Vergara: The Smurfs, New Year’s Eve, Happy Feet 2

Jeremy Renner: Mission Impossible; Ghost Protocol, Thor

Simon Pegg: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, The Adventures of Tintin

Léa Seydoux: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Midnight in Paris

Ilia Volok: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Water for Elephants

David Cross: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Kung Fu Panda 2

Alan Tudyk: Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked 

Andy Buckley: Bridesmaids, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Projected:

Kaitlyn Dever: Bad Teacher,  J. Edgar (may still break 40m…especially with an Oscar nomination)

Why isn’t…

David Bradley on the list? After all, he returned to his role of Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movie. He had a pivotal part in Captain America. They both made well over a hundred million dollars domestically. Well, he wasn’t first-billed in either movie. I’m not saying he should talk to his agent, but…

Here’s the table as of February 11, 2012. While there are still movies from 2011 making money (we’ve presumed Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will get to $100m), it should give a pretty good idea of the rankings, at least at the top. We may adjust this later: for example, Hugo could get an Oscar bump.

Actor	TTL	AVG	100K+	100K+ Dogro	40K+	40K Dogro
Hugo Weaving	592.4	296.2	Captain America: The First Avenger; Transformers: Dark of the Moon	529	Happy Feet Two	63.4
Tyrese Gibson	562.0	281.0	Transformers: Dark of the Moon; Fast Five	562
Tom Felton	558.0	279.0	Rise of the Planet of the Apes; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2	558
Gary Oldman	546.0	273.0	Kung Fu Panda 2; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2	546
Alan Tudyk	480.0	240.0	Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked; Tranformers: Dark of the Moon	480
John Hurt	464.5	232.3	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2	381	Immortals	83.5
Ty Olsson	458.0	229.0	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1; Rise of the Planet of the Apes	458
James Pizzinato	458.0	229.0	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1; Rise of the Planet of the Apes	458
Rich Hutchman	436.2	218.1	Transformers: Dark of the Moon	352	Crazy, Stupid, Love	84.2
Gil Birmingham	404.0	202.0	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1; Rango	404
Ken Jeong	772.7	193.2	Transformers: Dark of the Moon; The Hangover Part II	605	Zookeeper; The Muppets	167.7
Jeremy Renner	386.0	193.0	Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol; Thor	386
Glenn Morshower	573.6	191.2	Transformers: Dark of the Moon; X-Men: First Class	498	Moneyball	75.6
Tammy Hui	382.0	191.0	Rise of the Planet of the Apes; Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol	382
Kellan Lutz	364.5	182.3	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1	281	Immortals	83.5
Johnny Depp	364.0	182.0	Rango; Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides	364
Geoffrey Rush	358.0	179.0	Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides	241	Green Lantern	117
Samuel L. Jackson	358.0	179.0	Thor; Captain America: The First Avenger	358
John Turturro	352.0	176.0	Transformers: Dark of the Moon; Cars 2	352
David Oyelowo	347.0	173.5	Rise of the Planet of the Apes; The Help	347
Robert Pattinson	339.7	169.9	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1	281	Water for Elephants	58.7
Bradley Cooper	333.2	166.6	The Hangover Part II	254	Limitless	79.2
Zach Galifianakis	489.3	163.1	The Hangover: Part II; Puss in Boots	402	The Muppets	87.3
Jeffrey Tambor	322.2	161.1	The Hangover Part II	254	Mr. Popper’s Penguins	68.2
Jude Law	321.5	160.8	Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows	184	Contagion; Hugo	137.5
Rose Byrne	315.0	157.5	Bridesmaids; X-Men: First Class	315
Tom Hiddleston	314.8	157.4	Thor	181	Midnight in Paris; War Horse	133.8
Hank Azaria	314.4	157.2	The Smurfs; Hop	251	Happy Feet Two	63.4
Conrad Vernon	313.0	156.5	Puss in Boots; Kung Fu Panda 2	313
Emma Stone	310.0	155.0	The Help	170	Friends with Benefits; Crazy, Stupid, Love	140
Richard Griffiths	302.9	151.5	Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides	241	Hugo	61.9
Andy Buckley	297.0	148.5	Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked; Bridesmaids	297
Michael Hitchcock	296.0	148.0	Bridesmaids; Super 8	296
Paul Gtamatti	295.0	147.5	The Hangover Part II	254	The Ides of March	41
David Cross	293.0	146.5	Kung Fu Panda 2; Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked	293
Joe Nunez	292.0	146.0	Bridesmaids	169	Rango	123
James McAvoy	291.2	145.6	X-Men: First Class	146	Gnomeo & Juliet; Arthur Christmas	145.2
Michael Caine	290.8	145.4	Cars 2	191	Gnomeo & Juliet	99.8
Geraldine James	284.0	142.0	Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo	284
Stellan Skarsgård	281.0	140.5	Thor; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo	281
Simon Pegg	280.3	140.2	Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol;	205	The Adventures of Tintin	75.3
James Franco	275.8	137.9	Rise of the Planet of the Apes	177	The Green Hornet	98.8
Jamie Harris	275.8	137.9	Rise of the Planet of the Apes	177	The Green Hornet	98.8
Matt Lucas	268.8	134.4	Bridesmaids	169	Gnomeo & Juliet	99.8
Seth Rogen	263.8	131.9	Kung Fu Panda 2	165	The Green Hornet	98.8
Ilia Volok	263.7	131.9	Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol	205	Water for Elephants	58.7
Jamie Foxx	262.0	131.0	Rio; Horrible Bosses	262
Léa Seydoux	261.5	130.8	Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol	205	Midnight in Paris	56.5
Eddie Marsan	261.3	130.7	Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows	184	War Horse	77.3
Sofia Vergara	260.8	130.4	The Smurfs	143	Happy Feet Two; New Year’s Eve	117.8
Adam Sandler	257.0	128.5	Just Go With It	103	Zookeeper; Jack and Jill	154
Emily Mortimer	252.9	126.5	Cars 2	191	Hugo	61.9
Toby Jones	252.3	126.2	Captain America: The First Avenger	177	The Adventures of Tintin	75.3
Jack Black	252.3	126.2	Kung Fu Panda 2	165	The Muppets	87.3
Natalie Portman	251.6	125.8	Thor	181	No Strings Attached	70.6
Maya Rudolph	249.4	124.7	Bridesmaids	169	Zookeeper	80.4
Clark Gregg	249.2	124.6	Thor	181	Mr. Popper’s Penguins	68.2
Rachel McAdams	240.5	120.3	Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows	184	Midnight in Paris	56.5
John Lithgow	231.4	115.7	Rise of the Planet of the Apes	177	New Year’s Eve	54.4
Kevin Bacon	230.2	115.1	X-Men: First Class	146	Crazy, Stupid, Love	84.2
Phyllis Smith	228.0	114.0	Bad Teacher; Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked	228
Ludacris	335.0	111.7	Fast Five	210	No Strings Attached; New Year’s Eve	125
Jennifer Aniston	221.0	110.5	Horrible Bosses; Just Go with It	221
Michael Albala	205.3	102.7	Horrible Bosses	118	The Muppets	87.3
Clancy Brown	200.0	100.0	Green Lantern; Cowboys & Aliens	200
Elle Fanning	199.7	99.9	Super 8	127	We Bought a Zoo	72.7
Cameron Diaz	198.8	99.4	Bad Teacher	100	The Green Hornet	98.8
Owen Wilson	292.5	97.5	Cars 2	191	Midnight in Paris; Hall Pass	101.5
Jason Segel	187.3	93.7	Bad Teacher	100	The Muppets	87.3
Ray Winstone	184.9	92.5	Rango	123	Hugo	61.9
Daniel Craig	275.3	91.8	Cowboys & Aliens; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo	200	The Adventures of Tintin	75.3
Jackie Sandler	183.4	91.7	Just Go With It	103	Zookeeper	80.4
Dustin Ybarra	180.7	90.4	Hop	108	We Bought a Zoo	72.7
Timothy Olyphant	178.1	89.1	Rango	123	I Am Number Four	55.1
Abigail Breslin	177.4	88.7	Rango	123	New Year’s Eve	54.4
Nick Swardson	176.6	88.3	Just Go With It	103	Jack and Jill	73.6
Allen Covert	176.6	88.3	Just Go With It	103	Jack and Jill	73.6
Robin Wright	175.6	87.8	The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo	100	Moneyball	75.6
Christina Applegate	173.0	86.5	Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked	128	Hall Pass	45
John Michael Higgins	172.7	86.4	Bad Teacher	100	We Bought a Zoo	72.7
Bill Nighy	169.4	84.7	Rango	123	Arthur Christmas	46.4
Jason Sudeikis	163.0	81.5	Horrible Bosses	118	Hall Pass	45
P.J. Byrne	160.6	80.3	Horrible Bosses	118	Final Destination 5	42.6
Justin Timberlake	155.8	77.9	Bad Teacher	100	Friends with Benefits	55.8
Hugh Laurie	154.4	77.2	Hop	108	Arthur Christmas	46.4

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the The Measured Circle blog.