The most successful actors in the local entertainment history have transcended the borders of film, television, recording, and endorsement to bring their careers to a new height. A breakthrough in movies, however, can turn things around for a newbie actor.
Vice Ganda, for example, starred in several box-office setting films. He is currently the only Filipino actor to be named six times, by Box-Office Entertainment Awards or (the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation), as the Phenomenal Box Office Star.
Combining the total grosses of all the films in which actors appeared as major characters, we are able to name the 22 biggest grossing movie stars since 2010. The figures are based on the reported box-office hauls, and official records published by production outfits. However, as many films opt to not disclose official box-office figures, we tapped reliable box-office trackers, to rank the top-earning actors of the past decade.
With the exception of the first four spots, the real ranks of other entries on the list, may be slightly higher or lower in reality. This is largely due to rough estimates of the reported grosses of the films tallied. The tight proximities between these films’ totaled grosses make it virtually impossible to place some actors on definite spots on the chart. It is for these reason that combined grosses for these actors are rounded to the nearest hundred, thus placing a number of them on the same spot.
Vice Ganda, Php4.5 billion.
Since 2010, Vice Ganda has appeared in nearly 20 films; 11 of which were lead roles.
He had his first starring role in 2010 via the millennial reboot of the Roderick Paulate classic, Petrang Kabayo. A massive success, the film began the string of record-setting movies that would, later on, define his phenomenal film career.
In 2012, his MMFF film, Sisterakas, became the highest-grossing Filipino-produced film of all time. He consecutively broke his own records for a few more years. His biggest-grossing film to date is the 2016 action-comedy, The Super Parental Guardians, where he shared the lead with Coco Martin. The film finished its theatrical run with a Php596million box-office gross.
Major films: Petrang Kabayo (2010), The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2011), This Guy’s in Love with U Mare! (2012), Sisterakas (2012), Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy (2013), The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014), Beauty and the Bestie (2015), The Super Parental Guardians (2016), Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad (2017), Fantastica (2018), and The Mall, The Merrier (2019).
Kathryn Bernardo, PhP3.8 billion.
Bernardo appeared as a lead or major character in 13 films since 2010. She had her first leading role via the family drama, Way Back Home.
Her on-screen team-up with Kapamilya actor Daniel Padilla would inarguably catapult her to becoming a major movie star. She was first awarded the Box Office Queen title in 2016, following Barcelona: A Love Untold’s more than PhP300million take in the box office.
She would later on cement her place as her generation’s movie queen when she led the record-setting movies, The Hows of Us, and Hello, Love, Goodbye, which both held the position of being the highest-grossing local film of all time. Both films also remain as the only two Filipino movies which grossed more than Php800million, in the box office.
Major Films: Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 (2011), Way Back Home (2011), 24/7 in Love (2012), Sisterakas (2012), Must Be… Love (2013), Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay (2013), She’s Dating the Gangster (2014), Crazy Beautiful You (2015), Barcelona: A Love Untold (2016), Can’t Help Falling in Love ( 2017), The Hows of Us (2018), Three Words to Forever (2018), and Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019).
Daniel Padilla, PhP3.3 billion.
Since his 2012 debut, Padilla has starred in no less than 10 full-length films. Most of these films featured his tandem with his reel-to-reel partner Kathryn Bernardo.
He also made collaborations with other box-office giants, including Vice Ganda, with whom he worked in two record-breaking MMFF films.
His 2018 film, The Hows Of Us, however, to which he starred alongside Bernardo is his crowning glory. The film grossed Php810 million at the box office.
Major Films: 24/7 in Love (2012), Sisterakas (2012, Must Be…Love (2013), Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay (2013), Sa Ngalan ng Ama, Ina, at mga Anak (2014), She’s Dating the Gangster (2014), Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo (2014), Crazy Beautiful You (2015), Barcelona: A Love Untold (2016), Can’t Help Falling in Love (2017), Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad (2017), and The Hows of Us (2018)
Bea Alonzo, Php2.4 billion.
Alonzo starred in at least two dozens of films since the start of her movie career in the early 2000s.
She’s received more Box Office Queen titles than most of her contemporaries. She was named a Phenomenal Box Office Star in 2015, after her non-MMFF film, A Second Chance, became the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time.
The film grossed nearly Php560 million in the box office. Other than her movies with John Lloyd Cruz, she also had a number of box-office hits with other actors, making her a titanic box-office force, who does not rely largely on a love team.
Major Films: Miss You Like Crazy (2010), Sa’yo Lamang (2010), Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! (2011), The Mistress (2012), 24/7 in Love (2012), Four Sisters and a Wedding (2013), She’s the One (2013), The Love Affair (2015), A Second Chance (2015), How to Be Yours (2016), Kasal (2018), First Love (2018), and Eerie (2019).
Joh Lloyd Cruz, Php2.3 billion.
Cruz has made box-office hits with more different actresses than anyone on this list.
He has made powerhouse big screen tandems with the likes of Bea Alonzo, Toni Gonzaga, Angel Locsin, and Sarah Geronimo over the years.
Like Alonzo, he received the Box Office King title in more awarding ceremonies, than his contemporaries. He is also one of the most awarded best actors in the country. On hiatus since 2017, Cruz is yet to officially announce his comeback.
Major Films: My Amnesia Girl (2010), Miss You Like Crazy (2010), Unofficially Yours (2012), The Mistress (2012), 24/7 in Love (2012), It Takes A Man and A Woman (2013), The Trial (2014), A Second Chance (2015), Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis (2016), Just the 3 of Us (2016), and Finally Found Someone (2017).
Coco Martin, Php2.3 billion.
Martin is among very few actors who maintain high-level stature in both television and film. Undoubtedly among the highest-paid actors in the Philippines, the Kapamilya actor has appeared in more than 15 movies, since 2010.
He has also made collaborations with some of the industry’s biggest-grossing stars, including Vic Sotto, Vice Ganda, and Toni Gonzaga.
His most recent film, Love or Money got released entirely to online audiences.
Major Films: Noy (2010), Sa’yo Lamang (2010), Born To Love You (2012), A Moment in Time (2013), Maybe This Time (2014), Feng Shui 2 (2014), You’re My Boss (2015), Beauty and the Bestie (2015), The Super Parental Guardians (2016), Ang Panday (2017), and 3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon (2019).
Vic Sotto, PhP2.1 billion.
Sotto never lost his box-office appeal, even after being in showbiz for nearly five decades.
His blockbuster movies in the past 10 years are all screaming proofs of his unfading charisma on the silver screen. Most of his biggest hits in the previous decade are entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Major Films: Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote (2010), Enteng Ng Ina Mo (2011), Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! (2011), Si Agimat, Si Enteng, at Si Ako (2012), My Little Bossings (2013), My Big Bossing (2014), My Bebe Love (2015), Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers (2016), Meant to Beh (2017), Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (2018), and Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity (2019).
Dingdong Dantes, PhP1.8 billion.
Dantes’s powerful movie portfolio is no doubt made possible by Star Cinema.
The homegrown Kapuso actor has made a total of six blockbuster films for the Kapamilya film-production outfit, all of which grossing at least Php100 million.
His most recent work is the MMFF 2018 entry, Fantastica, which grossed almost Php600 million.
Major Films: You to Me Are Everything (2010), Segunda Mano (2011), Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012), One More Try (2012), She’s the One (2013), Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2 (2014), The Unmarried Wife (2016), Seven Sundays (2017), Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story (2018), and Fantastica (2018).
Anne Curtis, Php1.5 billion.
Curtis has made seven films, with at least Php100 million gross in the box office in the past 10 years.
Her most recent film–The Mall, The Merrier ended its run with more than Php320 million take.
In 2012, she was the Box Office Queen, following No Other Woman’s phenomenal gross.
Major Films: Babe I Love You (2010), In Your Eyes (2010), No Other Woman (2011), Who’s That Girl (2011), A Secret Affair (2012), The Gifted (2014), Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo may Boyfriend? (2016), Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story (2018), Buybust (2018), Aurora (2018), Just a Stranger (2019), and The Mall, The Merrier (2019).
Sarah Geronimo, Php1.4 billion.
Geronimo’s success in both television and recording is pretty well duplicated by her movie career.
She has made a total of nine full-length and starring films, since 2010. The biggest-grossing of those films is her team-up with box-office leading man, John Lloyd Cruz with whom she shared three of top-grossing movies.
Major Films: Hating Kapatid (2010), Catch Me… I’m in Love (2011), Won’t Last A Day Without You (2011), It Takes A Man and A Woman (2013), Maybe This Time (2014), The Breakup Playlist (2015), Finally Found Someone (2017), Miss Granny ( 2018), and Unforgettable (2019).
Angelica Panganiban, Php1.4 billion.
Panganiban has been making movies since she was a kid, and scored numerous box-office hits. She had a similar success since 2010.
She has starred in 10 films, playing a lead role. Her biggest film is the 2018 sleeper hit, Exes Baggage, which raked almost Php300 million in the box office.
Major Films: Here Comes the Bride (2010), Bulong (2011), Segunda Mano (2011), Every Breath U Take (2012), 24/7 in Love (2012), One More Try (2012) Beauty in a Bottle (2014), That Thing Called Tadhana (2014), The Unmarried Wife (2016), Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes (2018), and Exes Baggage (2018).
Ai- Ai de las Alas, Php1.4 billion.
De las Alas hurdled the turn of the decade when she kept her place as among the country’s top-grossing movie stars from 2010 onwards.
Following the success of the ‘Ina’ franchise, she made two more installments, each grossing at least Php200 million. In 2013, she was named a Phenomenal Box Office Star.
Major Films: Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To!) (2010), Enteng Ng Ina Mo (2011), Sisterakas (2012), Kung Fu Divas (2013), Past Tense (2014), My Bebe Love (2015), and 3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon (2019).
Kris Aquino, Php1.4 billion.
The Philippine Movie Queen continued her winning streak in the box office in the early 2000s, to the next decade.
She made three box-office movies, which grossed more than Php500 million. She also made collaborations with big movie stars, which gave her bigger box-office feats.
Major Films: Dalaw (2010), Segunda Mano (2011), Sisterakas (2012), My Little Bossings (2013), Feng Shui 2 (2014), Etiquette for Mistresses (2015), All You Need Is Pag-Ibig (2015 ), and I Love You, Hater (2018).
Enrique Gil, Php1.4 billion.
Enrique Gil’s leading man status got cemented by both his hits in movies and television.
In films, he scored more blockbuster movies than most of his contemporaries.
He has gone a long way since his launching role in Way Back Home. His most recent blockbuster Alone/Together raked in an estimated Php370million in domestic and international box office returns.
Major Films: Way Back Home (2011), The Reunion (2012), Amorosa (2012), The Strangers (2012), She’s the One (2013), Just the Way You Are (2015), Everyday I Love You (2015), My Ex and Whys (2017), Seven Sundays (2017), and Alone/Together (2019).
Alden Richards, Php1.3 billion.
Richards first appeared as a minor or supporting character in a number of films, before finally getting his big break on the big screen.
His last three movies arguably defined his entire showbiz career. In 2019, he starred in a Star Cinema film–Hello Love, Goodbye, which ultimately became the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time.
Major Films: The Road (2012) My Bebe Love (2015), Imagine You and Me (2016), and Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019).
Derek Ramsay, Php1.3 billion.
Ramsay’s stellar movie career is largely defined by his films with ABS-CBN.
He got named as a Box Office King in 2011, following No Other Woman’s record-breaking feat.
He made five movies with the production giant since 2010.
Major Films: No Other Woman (2011), The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2011), Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang (2012), A Secret Affair (2012), Trophy Wife (2014), English Only, Please (2014), Ex with Benefits (2015), All You Need Is Pag-Ibig (2015), Love is Blind (2016), All of You (2017), and Kasal (2018).
Eugene Domingo, Php1.3 billion.
Domingo has made more movies, than anyone else on this list since 2010.
In 2011 alone, she starred (in a lead role) in six full-length films.
Major Films: Here Comes the Bride (2010), Mamarazzi (2010), RPG: Metanoia (2010), Working Girls (2010), Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank (2011), My Househusband (Ikaw Na!) (2011), My Valentine Girls (2011), Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 (2011), Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi (2011), Who’s That Girl (2011), Kimmy Dora and The Temple of Kiyeme (2012), I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila! (2012), Tuhog (2013), Instant Mommy (2013), Momzillas (2013), Status: It’s Complicated (2013), Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel (2013), and Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough (2016).
Toni Gonzaga, Php1.3 billion.
One of this generation’s biggest grossing rom-com movie queens, she is among the few local actresses who maintain her stature in both TV and movies.
Her top-grossing movie to date is the 2014 Valentine film, Starting Over Again for which she earned her first Box Office Queen title.
The movies grossed over Php400 million in the local box office.
Major Films: My Amnesia Girl (2010), Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi (2011), This Guy’s in Love with U Mare! (2012), Four Sisters and a Wedding (2013), Starting Over Again (2014), You’re My Boss (2015), Last Night (2017), and Mary, Marry Me (2018).
Kim Chiu, Php1.1 billion.
12 of Chiu’s films in the past 11 years, grossed no less than Php30million.
Her biggest film to date remains the 2013 box office record-setting rom-com, Bride for Rent.
Chiu is also dubbed as the modern movie queen, having starred in a number of successful horror movies, including the 2017 Star Cinema horror, The Ghost Bride.
Major Films: Paano Na Kaya (2010), Till My Heartaches End (2010), The Heaing (2012), 24/7 in Love (2012), Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? (2013), Bride for Rent (2013),Past Tense (2014), Etiquette for Mistresses (2015), All You Need Is Pag-Ibig (2015), The Ghost Bride (2017), DOTGA: Da One That Ghost Away (2018), and One Great Love (2018).
James Reid, Php1 billion.
Reid’s phenomenal onscreen partnership with Nadine Lustre has undoubtedly given him magical favors in his showbiz career.
He has starred in at least seven films since 2010–two of which he starred with two of the biggest-grossing local movie stars.
Major Films: Diary ng Panget (2014), Talk Back and You’re Dead (2014), Para sa Hopeless Romantic (2015), Beauty and the Bestie (2015), This Time (2016), Never Not Love You (2018), and Miss Granny ( 2018).
Xian Lim, Php1 billion.
Lim has made a number of successful films, outside other than the one he starred with Kim Chiu, his long-time onscreen (and now off-screen) partner.
He has also collaborated with other Kapamilya actresses in movies, including Sarah Geronimo and Angel Locsin.
Major Films: My Cactus Heart (2012), The Reunion (2012), Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? (2013), Bride for Rent (2013), Past Tense (2014), All You Need Is Pag-Ibig (2015), Everything About Her (2016), Dear Other Self (2017), Sin Island (2018), and Miss Granny (2018).
Nadine Lustre, Php1 billion.
Other than being an award-winning actress, she has also scored a number of box-office hits.
She has also collaborated with a number of leading men, proving her versatility and box office power.
Major Films: Diary ng Panget (2014), Talk Back and You’re Dead (2014), Para sa Hopeless Romantic (2015), Beauty and the Bestie (2015), This Time (2016), Never Not Love You (2018), Ulan (2019), and Indak (2019).
If the list missed someone else, please feel free to put in a word in the comment section.
