They say you’re not a complete star, unless you starred in a blockbuster movie. That’s true for most Filipino superstars, whose exceptional popularity on mainstream television transcended to cinema.
Movie stars make up an entirely different league of stars, the ones you purposedly paid for, to see them on the big screen. Unlike the stars and the stories you see on TV, the ones seen on silver screen demand spectators to shed a portion of their income. Blockbuster films generate real movie stars, and while every superstar in film has their fair share of ‘flops’, the biggest hits in their career, are also what helps the local entertainment industry keep going.
Who are the biggest-grossing female Filipino movie stars of the 21st century? Based on combined grosses of their films since 2000, we are able to rank 20 of them, each accentuated by the biggest films they starred in:
No. 1 Kathryn Bernardo.
Bernardo is movie royalty like no other. She is currently the only Filipino actress, with two ₱800 million-grossers, under her belt. Both The Hows of Us (₱810 million) and Hello Love, Goodbye (₱880 million) held the record for the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. She starred in three more films, whose lifetime grosses each exceeded ₱320 million. Last year, she made a triumphant comeback via dark-comedy film, A Very Good Girl, raking more than ₱100 million in ticket sales, despite the overall lethargic state of the post-pandemic Philippine cinema.
Major Films: Way Back Home (2011), Â Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 (2011), 24/7 in Love (2012), Â 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), Cant Help Falling in Love (2017), The Hows Of Us (2018), Three Words to Forever (2018), Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019), A Very Good Girl (2023).
No.2 Bea Alonzo
Dubbed as her generation’s movie queen, Alonzo is a force to be reckoned with in local cinema. From her enormous success on television, she transcended to film and built a lucrative career, through several blockbusters, including the record-breaking , A Second Chance, which gave her a Phenomenal Box Office Star award, from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation Box Office Entertainment Awards, in 2016.
Major Films: My First Romance (2003), Now That I Have You (2004), Dreamboy (2005), All About Love (2006), Pacquiao: The Movie (2006), Close to You (2006), One More Chance (2007), And I Love You So (2009), Miss You Like Crazy (2010), Sa’yo Lamang (2010), Pak Pak Dr. Kwak Kwak (2011), The Mistress (2012),  24/7 in Love (2012), Four Sisters & A Wedding (2013), She’s the One (2013), The Love Affair (2014), A Second Chance (2015), How to Be Yours (2016),  Kasal (2018), First Love (2018), Eerie (2018), Unbreakable (2019).
No.3 Ai-Ai de las Alas
De las Alas is the highest-grossing female comedian in the country, and it’s hard to guess why. Her films, especially the Tanging Ina series, did not only make theaters explode in laughter, but also imparted sociopolitical messages that stirred discussions among spectators.
Major Films: Ang Tanging Ina (2003), Pinay Pie (2003), Volta (2004), Shake, Rattle & Roll 2K5 (2005), Ang Cute ng Ina Mo (2007), Pasukob (2007), Ikaw Pa Rin Bongga ka Boy (2008), Ang Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat (2008),  BFF: Bestfriends Forever (2009), Ang Tanging Pamilya (2009), 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),  Our Mighty Yaya (2017),  3POL Trobol (2019).
No.4 Toni Gonzaga
Aside from being a successful TV host, Gonzaga has built her own empire in film, starring in numerous blockbuster titles, including the recied-setting Starting Over Again in 2014. She has paired-up in a number of top leading men in the country, including John Lloyd Cruz, Coco Martin, and Piolo Pascual, each tandem resulting to a box office victory.
Major Films: D’Anothers (2005), You Are The One (2006), You Got Me (2007), My Big Love (2008), My Only U ( 2008), Ang Tanging Pamilya (2009), My Amnesia Girl (2010), Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi (2011), This Guy’s in Love with You (2012), Four Sisters and A Wedding (2013), Starting Over Again (2014), You’re My Boss (2015), Last Night (2017), Marry Me, Mary (2018), My Sassy Girl (2024).
No.5 Angelica Panganiban.
Panganiban is a movie star, through and through, having maintained her box office brilliance since being a child star, to being one of the most sought after drama actresses in Philippine showbiz. Among her biggest hits, are award-winning and top-grossing drama films, A Love Story, The Unmarried Wife, and Exes Baggage.
Major Films: All About Love (2006), Matakot Ka Sa Karma (2006), A Love Story (2007), I Love You Goodbye (2009), Here Comes the Bride (2010), Bulong (2011), Segunda Mano (2011), Every Breath You Take (2012), 24/7 in Love (2012), One More Try (2012), Beauty in A Bottle (2013), That Thing Called Tadhana (2014), The Unmarried Wife (2016), Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes (2018), Exes Baggage (2018), Unbreakable (2019).
No.6 Kris Aquino.
The Philippine Queen of Horror movies, Aquino has made cinematic success like no other, via a string of top grossing horror films. Among her biggest titles, are Feng Shui and Feng Shui 2, which grossed ₱114 and ₱235M, respectively.
Major Films: Mano Po (2002), Mano Po 2 (2003), Feng Shui (2004), So Happy, Together (2004), Sukob (2006), Mano Po 6 (2009), Dalaw (2010), Segunda Mano (2011), Sisterakas (2012), My Little Bossings (2013), Feng Shui 2 (2014), Etiquette for Mistresses (2015), All You Need Is Pagibig (2015), I Love You, Hater (2018).
No.7 Iza Calzado
Major Films: Sigaw (2004), Ispiritista (2005) Moments of Love (2006) Shake, Rattle, & Roll 8 (2006),  Ouija (200, Batanes (2007), Desperaradas (2007), One True Love (2008), Desperadas 2 (2008), The Echo (2008), Yaya & Angelina (2009), Ang Panday (2009), Working Girls (2010),  White House (2010), Ang Panday 2 (2011), Starting Over Again (2014), Maria Leonora Teresa (2014), Etiquette for Mistresses (2015), Haunted Mansion (2015), Shake, Rattle, & Roll Extreme (2023).
No.8 Sarah Geronimo
Rare is an artist who makes success as a television star, a recording star, and a movie star, all the same time. Geronimo, alongside becoming one of the most bankable singers of her time, went on to captivate moviegoers and starred in various blockbuster romcom films. She forged successful onscreen alliances with the country’s top leading men, including Piolo Pascual, Coco Martin, John Lloyd Cruz, and Gerald Anderson.
Major Films: Lastikman: Unang Banat (2004), A Very Special Love (2008), You Changed My Life (2009), Hating Kapatid (2010), Catch Me, I’m In Love (2011), Won’t Last A Day (2011), It Takes A Man and A Woman (2013), Maybe this Time (2014), The Breakup Playlist (2015), Finally Found Someone (2017), Miss Granny (2018).
No.9 Anne Curtis
Curtis’ star power is undeniable. A major television presenter and a teleserye royalty, she is also a movie royalty, her films grossing nearly ₱2 billion at the box office. In 2011, she was crowned a Box Office Queen by the GMMSF Box Entertainment Awards, for the smash performance of her film, No Other Woman.
Major Films: All About Love (2006), Wag Kang Lilingon (2006), Ang Cute ng Ina Mo (2007), When Love Begins (2007), Baler (2008), Babe, I Love You (2010), In Your Eyes (2010), Who’s That Girl (2011), No Other Woman (2011), A Secret Affair (2012), The Gifted (2014), Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo May Boyfriend? (2016), Sid & Aya (2018), Buy Bust (2018), Aurora (2018), Just A Stranger (2019), The Mall The Merrier (2019).
No.10 Marian Rivera
Rivera already made a string of successful movies, early in her career, but her biggest hit came with Star Cinema’s Rewind, which ended its theatrical run as the new highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, and the only local film to surpass ₱1 billion at the box office.
Major Films:Â Desperadas (2007), My Bestfriend’s Girlfriend (2008), One True Love (2008), Shake, Rattle & Roll10 (2008), Desperadas 2 (2008), You To Me Are Everything (2009), Temptation Island (2011), My Lady Boss (2012), Kung Fu Divas (2013), My Big Bossing (2014), Rewind (2023).
No.11 Eugene Domingo
One of the finest comediennes of our time, Domingo is a certified box office charmer, with many of her films, raking hundreds of millions. In 2011, she starred in a major role in 8 movies, proving her being in-demand among movie producers.
Major films: Ang Tanging Ina (2003),  D’Lucky Ones (2006), Shake, Rattle, Roll 8 (2006), Ang Cute ng Ina Mo (2007), Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat (2007), Pasukob (2007), My Monster Mom (2008), Ang Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat (2008,  Kimmy Dora (2009), Working Girls (2010),  Here Comes the Bride (2010), Ang Tanging Ina Mo: Last Na To (2011), My Valentine Girls (2011), Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (2011), Kimmy Dora 2 (2012), Momzillas (2013),  Status: Its Complicated (2013), Kimmy Dora: Kiyemeng Prequel (2013), Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2 (2016), Becky and Badette (2023).
No.12 Judy Ann Santos
To say that Judy Ann Santos is this century’s ‘The Superstar’ is an understatement. From making a gargantuan success on television via top rating teleseryes, she also made the local cinema her own empire, blessing it with numerous blockbuster anthems, including Don’t Give Up On Us, and Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo.
Major Films: Kahit Isang Saglit (2000), Bakit Di Totohanin (2001), Magkapatid (2002), Jeannie, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang (2002), Till There Was You (2003), Don’t Give Up on Us (2005),  Kasal Kasali Kasalo (2006), Ouija (2007), Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo (2007), Mag-ingat Ka Sa Kulam (2008) Hating Kapatid (2010),  My House Husband (2011), Si Agimat, Enteng Kabisote, at Ako (2012), Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes (2018).
No.13 Angel Locsin
One of her generation’s most awarded A-list actresses, Locsin’s box office portfolio is dominated not just by blockbuster titles, but also ones that gave her top acting accolades, including One More Try, from which she won a FAMAS Best Actress trophy.
Major Films: Singles (2004), Sigaw (2004), Let the Love Begin (2005), Mulawin (2005), I Will Always Love You (2006), Txt (2006), Mano Po 5 (2006) 22, The Promise (2007), Â Love Me Again (2009), In the Name of Love (2011), Unofficially Yours (2012), One More Try (2012), Four Sisters and A Wedding (2013), Everything About Her (2016), The Third Party (2016).
No.14 Kim Chiu
Chiu topbilled a streak of undeniably profitable films, including the record-breaker, Bride For Rent, which then, became the first local romcom flick, to cross ₱300 million at the box office. Dubbed as the Princess of Horror Movies, she starred several blockbuster horror flicks, including The Healing, Da One That Ghost Away, and The Ghost Bride.
Major Films: First Day High (2006), I’ve Fallen For You (2007), Shake, Rattle, & Roll 10 (2008), I Love You Goodbye (2009), Paano Na Kaya (2010), Till My Heartaches End (2010), The Healing (2012), 24/7 in Love (2012), Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo? (2013), Bride for Rent (2014), Past Tense (2014), Etiquette For Mistresses (2015), All You Need is Pagibig (2015), The Ghost Bride (2016), Da One That Ghost Away (2018), One Great Love (2018).
No.15 Nadine Lustre
Major Films: Diary ng Panget (2014), Talk Back and You’re Dead (2014), Para Sa Hopeless Romantic (2015), Â Beauty & The Bestie (2015), This Time (2017), Never Not Love You (2018), Ulan (2019), Deleter (2022).
No.16 Kristine Hermosa
Hermosa has been on hiatus in film for more than a decade already, but her films remain a major driver that keeps her part of this list. One of few local actresses who made blockbuster films with different bankable leading men, Hermosa soared with her movie career, via timeless hits including the ones she starred with Jericho Rosales, and Vic Sotto.
Major Films: Trip (2001), Forevermore (2002), Ngayong Nandito Ka (2003),  All My Life (2004), BCuz of You (2005), Enteng Kabisote (2004), Enteng Kabisote 2 (2005), Wag Kang Lilingon (2006), Enteng Kabisote 3 (2006), Enteng Kabisote 4 (2007), My Big Love (2008).
No.17 Claudine Barreto
An award-winning and bankable film actress, at the same time, Barretto checks all the boxes of what makes a true movie star. Among her biggest hits are blockbuster films, which she topbilled alongside some of the country’s top leading men, include Aga Mulach, Robin Padilla, Piolo Pascual, and John Lloyd Cruz.
Major Films: Anak (2000), Oops, Teka Lang Diskarte Ko To (2001), Got 2 Believe (2002), Kailangan Kita (2002), Milan (2004), Nasaan Ka Man (2005), Dubai (2005), Sukob (2006), In Your Eyes (2010), Etiquette for Mistresses (2015).
No.18 Cristine Reyes
Reyes is undoubtedly one of the most successful product of the artista search, StarStruck. From being one of the first eliminated contestants, she emerged as a very in-demand actress. After moving to ABS-CBN in 2008, she soared further, and even got crowned a box office queen in 2011, via No Other Woman.
Major Films: Patient X (2008), Ang Darling Kong Aswang (2009), Working Girls (2010), Tumbok (2011), No Other Woman (2011), The Reunion (2011) Bromance (2013), When the Love is Gone (2013),  Trophy Wife (2014), The Gifted (2014), Seven Sundays (2017)
No.19 Liza Soberano
Soberano may have limited titles in her filmography, but they are enough to place her among the 20 biggest female movie stars of the century. In 2018, she was named Box Office Queen b the GMMMSF Box Office Entertainment Awards, for the exemplary blockbuster performance of her film, My Ex & Whys.
Major Films: Just The Way You Are (2015), Everyday, I Love You (2015), My Ex & Whys (2017), Alone/Together (2018).
No.20 Maricel Soriano
Soriano continues to shine like Diamond. She is the Diamond Star, after all. With string of top grossing films released since 2000, she has managed to accomplished what many of her contemporaries have failed to do: remain a relevant and earning movie star.
Major Films: Â Mano Po (2002), Filipinas (2003), I Will Survive (2004), Inang Yaya (2005), A Love Story (2007), Bahay Kubo (2007), T2 (2009), Momzillas (2013), Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy (2013), My 2 Mommies (2016) 50M.
Did you think we forgot your faves? Head to the comment section and share your thoughts!
