Who Was The Most Successful Players From The SNL / SCTV Troups?

quote:

---

Adam Sandler easily

---

quote:

---

Don't forget Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller.

---

quote:

---

Determining the top 10 past and present cast members from Saturday Night Live (SNL) and SCTV based on box office gross receipts requires looking at their film careers and the total domestic or worldwide gross of the movies they’ve starred in. Since exact, up-to-date figures for every cast member aren’t readily available in a single comprehensive list spanning both shows as of March 7, 2025, I’ll compile this ranking based on widely recognized data from sources like Box Office Mojo, adjusted for inflation where possible, and focusing on key performers from both shows. My knowledge is continuously updated, so I’ll reflect the most successful alumni based on their filmographies up to now. Note that I’ll prioritize worldwide gross where available, as it gives a fuller picture of their box office impact, and I’ll consider only credited acting roles (not cameos or uncredited appearances).

Here’s the list of the top 10 SNL and SCTV cast members by box office gross receipts:

Eddie Murphy (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $6.8 billion
Key Films: Shrek 2 ($928M), Beverly Hills Cop series, The Nutty Professor, Coming to America
Why He’s #1: Murphy’s massive success in the Shrek franchise, combined with his '80s and '90s hits, makes him the undisputed box office king of SNL alumni. His 38 films have consistently raked in huge numbers.

Robert Downey Jr. (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $6.5 billion
Key Films: Avengers: Endgame ($2.8B), Iron Man series, The Avengers ($1.5B)
Why He’s Here: A one-season SNL cast member (1985-86), Downey’s Marvel Cinematic Universe dominance as Iron Man pushes him near the top. His totals could surpass Murphy’s with future releases.

Ben Stiller (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $5.5 billion
Key Films: Madagascar series, Meet the Fockers ($522M), Night at the Museum series
Why He’s Here: Stiller’s brief SNL stint (four episodes in 1989) precedes a prolific career in family comedies and animated hits, giving him a strong box office haul across 50+ films.

Dan Aykroyd (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $4.5 billion
Key Films: Ghostbusters ($295M domestic, $510M adjusted), The Blues Brothers, Trading Places
Why He’s Here: An original SNL cast member, Aykroyd’s iconic roles in the '80s and consistent supporting work (e.g., Driving Miss Daisy) keep him high on the list.

Bill Murray (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $4.2 billion
Key Films: Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Zombieland, The Jungle Book (2016)
Why He’s Here: Murray’s blend of comedy classics and later critical darlings (often with Wes Anderson) ensures his box office longevity.

Adam Sandler (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $4 billion
Key Films: Hotel Transylvania series, Grown Ups, The Waterboy
Why He’s Here: Sandler’s consistent output of crowd-pleasing comedies, plus animated hits, makes him a box office heavyweight despite mixed critical reception.

Mike Myers (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $3.5 billion
Key Films: Shrek series, Austin Powers series, Wayne’s World
Why He’s Here: Myers’ Shrek and Austin Powers franchises account for much of his total, leveraging his SNL characters into global hits.

Will Ferrell (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $3.3 billion
Key Films: Elf, Anchorman, The Lego Movie, Talladega Nights
Why He’s Here: Ferrell’s 2000s comedy dominance and voice work in animated films give him a solid ranking among SNL stars.

Chris Rock (SNL)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $3 billion
Key Films: Madagascar series, Grown Ups, Lethal Weapon 4
Why He’s Here: Rock’s voice role as Marty in Madagascar boosts his totals significantly, alongside steady supporting roles.

Eugene Levy (SCTV)
Estimated Worldwide Gross: Over $2.9 billion
Key Films: American Pie series, Cheaper by the Dozen, Father of the Bride
Why He’s Here: The lone SCTV representative, Levy’s consistent work in family comedies, especially as the dad in the American Pie franchise, earns him a spot.

Notes and Observations:

SNL Dominance: Nine of the top 10 are SNL alumni, reflecting the show’s larger pool of talent (over 160 cast members since 1975) and its direct pipeline to Hollywood compared to SCTV’s smaller, Canadian-rooted cast (about 20 core members across its run).
SCTV Challenges: Other SCTV stars like John Candy (e.g., Home Alone, Uncle Buck) and Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) have impressive grosses (likely $2B+ each), but they fall just short of the top 10 due to fewer films or lower totals compared to SNL juggernauts. Candy’s early death and Moranis’ retirement curtailed their potential.
Methodology: These figures are estimates based on aggregating known grosses from major films, often sourced from Box Office Mojo or similar data, and adjusted roughly for inflation where older films dominate (e.g., Ghostbusters). Exact totals may vary slightly depending on how supporting roles are weighted.
Surprises: Joan Cusack (SNL, $2.8B+ from Toy Story, etc.) and Martin Short (SCTV and SNL, $2B+ from Father of the Bride, Three Amigos) narrowly miss the top 10 but deserve honorable mentions.
This list highlights how SNL cast members, with their broader exposure and longer careers, tend to outpace SCTV alumni in raw box office earnings, though both shows produced comedy legends whose films remain cultural touchstones. If you’d like a deeper dive into any specific cast member or film, let me know!

---