by Tom Hiddleston has come a long way since his early acting days in smaller films over a decade ago. Thanks to his breakout and iconic role as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hiddleston has cemented himself as a true box office star. His filmography boasts some of the highest grossing movies of all time, largely fueled by his fan favorite MCU character. Let’s take a closer look at Hiddleston’s box office journey from his breakthrough to ongoing success.
Early Roles and Building Credibility
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Hiddleston cut his teeth with supporting roles in films like The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004), Wallander (2005-2008), and Midnight in Paris (2011). These parts helped establish him as a talented character actor and build his credibility in the industry. However, it was his 2011 role in Thor that truly launched him into the mainstream and supercharged his career.
Prior to Thor, Hiddleston’s highest grossing film domestically was War Horse with $79 million in 2011. Internationally, his biggest movie was The Deep Blue Sea with $4.6 million globally. While respectable totals, they were modest compared to what was still to come. Thor provided Hiddleston’s big breakout moment and a true taste of box office success.
The Breakthrough Role: Thor and Loki’s Introduction
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, 2011’s Thor was Marvel’s big screen introduction of the God of Thunder. It marked Hiddleston’s debut as Thor’s cunning, deceptive brother Loki. From the moment he appeared on screen, Loki instantly stole every scene with his magnetic, villainous charisma. Audiences and critics alike took notice of Hiddleston’s magnetic performance.
At the box office, Thor was a massive hit. It earned $449.3 million worldwide off a $150 million budget, becoming one of the highest grossing films of 2011. Domestically, it made $181 million. For Hiddleston, this marked his entry into the blockbuster realm and set the stage for bigger things to come playing the fan favorite Loki.
Dominating the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Over the next decade, Hiddleston would reprise Loki in no less than six Marvel films, becoming a central part of the record-breaking Marvel Cinematic Universe. He returned for 2012’s The Avengers, cementing Loki as a formidable Avengers villain. Grossing an incredible $1.5 billion globally, it instantly became the third highest grossing film of all time.
Hiddleston then featured in 2013’s Thor: The Dark World, which made $644.6 million worldwide. He had an extended cameo in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, contributing to its $1.4 billion total. Hiddleston also voiced Loki in animation and appeared in Marvel tie-in shorts, keeping fans engaged between films.
By 2017, Hiddleston was back for another round of MCU mayhem in Thor: Ragnarok. Under the direction of Taika Waititi, the film had a lighter, comedic tone that played to both Thor and Loki’s strengths. It ended up as the highest grossing Thor film yet with $854 million globally. Hiddleston was a major factor in its box office success and remained a fan favorite character.
Through his half dozen MCU appearances over 10 years, Hiddleston consistently delivered in hugely profitable blockbuster hits. The films he starred or co-starred in made over $6 billion combined at the worldwide box office. There’s no doubt his scene-stealing performances as Loki turned him into one of Marvel’s most bankable stars.
Leading Man Potential Beyond the MCU
While hugely successful within the MCU, Hiddleston sought to prove himself as a leading man beyond just the superhero realm. In 2017, he took the top billing in Kong: Skull Island, which made $566.6 million worldwide. Playing a British Army captain alongside Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson, Hiddleston held his own against big name co-stars.
The monster movie showed audiences and studios he had the charisma and talent to carry larger non-MCU films. Though not quite at the billion-dollar level of his Marvel outings, Kong: Skull Island demonstrated Hiddleston’s drawing power and leading man potential. It remained one of his highest grossing solo vehicle roles to date.
In the rom-com archival drama Early Man in 2018, Hiddleston voiced the character of Dug in the Aardman animated film. While a smaller release, it gave him the chance to flex his voice acting chops. The same year saw him take on a supporting yet pivotal role in Steven Soderbergh’s heist thriller Unsane, starring Claire Foy.
While these post-MCU films didn’t reach the same box office heights, they served to expand Hiddleston’s range and showcase he wasn’t just a Marvel commodity. The projects signaled his desire to branch out as both a leading man and versatile character actor beyond just big budget fare.
Continued MCU Success and Future Potential
Of course, Hiddleston wasn’t done with the Marvel universe just yet. In 2021, he headlined the Disney+ series Loki to widespread acclaim. The time travel-bending show was a ratings smash, further developing the complexities of the fan favorite character. It has since become one of the most popular Marvel shows.
While Loki hinted at the character’s story coming to an end, Hiddleston left the door open to potentially reprising the role in future Avengers films or cameos. There is certainly box office incentive for Marvel to bring him back given his proven popularity. Whenever the character does ride off into the sunset, it will be the culmination of over a decade of box office gold.
Looking ahead, Hiddleston remains one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood with a proven ability to both lead big budget blockbusters and deliver nuanced supporting performances. Upcoming projects include the historical epic The White Darkness, sci-fi thriller Oppenheimer, and the Broadway bound play Betrayal.
No matter the size or genre of project, Hiddleston brings devoted fans and box office potential along with his talent. After over 15 years in the business, he has cemented himself not just as a box office draw but one of the premier actors of his generation through iconic roles like Loki. Hiddleston’s box office journey shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
