No, really. In this week’s Entertainment Weekly, senior writer Karen Valby crunched the numbers and discovered that, since her 2001 debut, the now 11-year-old Dakota Fanning may have become the top female box office draw in Hollywood. In her four-year career, Fanning’s films have grossed $647 million, compared to $586 million for Julia Roberts, $497 million for Nicole Kidman, $338 million for Reese Witherspoon, and $295 million for Sandra Bullock over the same period. (Take out Tomcats and Sweet Home Alabama, in which Fanning had cameos, and her seven-film total is still an impressive $513 milion.) The preternaturally mature, scary-eyed moppet takes her box office drawing power in stride, telling Valby: ”I don’t think that’s really for me to worry about, but it’s exciting when people tell you that they really like a movie, because that’s what we strive for.” Don’t worry that Fanning’s success will turn her into a diva; at the War of the Worlds junket, she told me she doesn’t even get an allowance.
Dakota Fanning: Hollywood's most powerful actress?
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Comments (1-30) of 575 Add your comment
This doesn’t surprise me at all. Fanning has made better acting choices than any of these actresses in the last 3-4 years. how many times have wee seen 11-year-olds who can act better than her peers of 40 years of age?
Dakota is scary.
Although i love Dakota and she is scaringly good as an actress for her age, her films arent headlined with her name on the Marquee. But when Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and Reese Witherspoon can open a movie it is guarenteed at least 20 million or more in the opening weekend… The last time Dakota headlined a film was Uptown Girls and i dont think its final gross made it to 20 million. The reason her films are doing well is because she stared with Denzel, Tom, Mike, and other BIG box office drawers. I’m sure noone went for the sole reason to see little Dakota.
Although i love Dakota and she is scaringly good as an actress for her age, her films arent headlined with her name on the Marquee. But when Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and Reese Witherspoon can open a movie it is guarenteed at least 20 million or more in the opening weekend… The last time Dakota headlined a film was Uptown Girls and i dont think its final gross made it to 20 million. The reason her films are doing well is because she stared with Denzel, Tom, Mike, and other BIG box office drawers. I’m sure noone went for the sole reason to see little Dakota.
I really hate articles that make the moronic attempt to pin a movie’s success on one actor. In the case of the Dakota Fanning article in EW, it’s downright silly to credit more than 5 bucks of War of the World’s box office success to Dakota. Does anyone really think that if you had substituted another child actor in that role WOTW wouldn’t have been a hit? Two people named Spielberg and Cruise may have had something to do with the movie making money. What’s next? Calculating the box office gross of movies that show Hot Pockets in them and reaching the conclusion that Hot Pockets outgross Tom Hanks’ movies? Give me a break!
I just don’t understand all the hype about her.
I don’t find her ‘acting’ to be that wonderful.
Rather, it is the characters and the role those characters have had in the movies she has been in that is drawing attention to her.
(almost any young actor portraying those characters would have created such attention)
Her ’success’is soley because of the movies she’s in and not her ‘acting’ skill.
She seems to have the same facial expressions regardless of the lines of dialoge she is saying.
Her skills have been exagerated.
To all of you naysayers, Dakota Fanning has gone head to head with Deniro, Denzel, and Cruise and come out looking very good. Not many full grown actors can say that. And while she may not be top billing for these films she has chosen her roles very well. “Hide and Seek” was all about Dakota Fanning, and she stole “Man on Fire” from Denzel Washington. She is a fresh presence on the screen, and like Haley Joel Osment a few years back, has the ability to command a movie from the star that brought you into the theater. She will likely soon disappear as Haley Joel did a few years ago, but hopefully she will resurface when she grows up.
Dakota’s character in War Of The Worlds is one of the main reasons i don’t want to buy it when it comes out. I was going NUTS through the entire movie with her screaming, whining, freaking out and complaining!!!
I don’t know if its entirely her decision about the movies she has been in, I do think that she does have help. She doesn’t make the movie, the movie does. Along with a good script and actors, but like someone said, any other young girl could have been cast and it wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Beauty, brains, a wonderful personality…and tremendous acting ability. Anyone who doesn’t think Dakota and Elle Fanning are frightfully adorable are in league with the Axis of Evil. :p
Dakota is NOT scary!She’s an amazing young actress who is very mature and adorable!Although I’m only 2 years older than her, I still think she’s sooo cute! She was fantastic in War of the Worlds and she’s one of the main reasons why I even saw it(not because of Tom, I don’t like him. She has been in so many great films and she’s always done a good job in all of them. She is my favorite actress and I hope to see many many more films with Dakota in them. She’s so lucky she was born with this fanominal ability. She’s only 11 and she’s better than many of her older peers(she made more money too). I hope she keeps up the fantastic work because I’m sure she’ll become one of the greatest actresses ever known!
dakota is not a scary eyed moppet! i know her! she is a very talented 11year old ,and my favorite actress!
she is not wierd ! i know her and she is very nice and talented!
Hello,
I can autograph of Dakota Fanning
hi i just want to say dakota is the best actress ever
i dont no how to contact her but i want to ill still try
thanks
I don’t care what anyone says, Dakota will be even bigger than Jody Foster! Her talent is so amazing and she is so down to earth. I would be surprised if she didn’t get an Oscar by the time she is 21.
dakota fanning is so awsome she is awsome at being an actress i dont know if dakota reads this but if u do dakota u are my favourite actress and i am 9 years old but if u read this dakota plzz contact me it is brookemathieu@hotmail.com and if u have msn add me ok then ttyl bye bye
Dakota Fanning rocks. She is my favorite actress. I am so impressed that at age 11 she has more talent than most adult actors. I think Dakota is the bomb. If any one either doesn’t like her or doesn’t know who she is , I am assamed of you. I think that I will get to know her after I get my album published.!
~Sara
Dakota is a GREAT actress..i saw War of the Worlds and she is just such a cute girl and great at doing her parts. i believe she is my favorite actress and in my opinion she is the greatest female actress ive heard of! keep it up Dakota!!
I think Dakota Fanning is a very good actress who can put on the most innocent faces. I bet if she robbed a million dollars she could get away with it!! I live in Australia and I try to watch all of her movies but some of them I am not aloud to watch. My favourite one though is the war of the worlds. It was so good I told all my friends about and they went to watch it too!!And can you guess which character I liked the most?Great job, Dakota!!
Hi again! Dakota Fanning is one of a kind!!!!
I think dakota is pretty cool its just there are alot of fantastic young actresses at the age of 11 and 12 who don’t have a chance to show of their talent and i’m sure not only me wants to be a young actress i’m sure theres a hand full of girls.
I think dakota is wiked! she the best little actress! id love to meet her she seems like such a babe and im sure her sister is going to follow her footsteps! – watch out for Elle Fanning!
I think Dakota fanning is a great actress. Personally I think she the best actress in Hollywood. And I sort of have a crush on her. If Dakota is reading this email me at Cartun@alltel.net.
I think Dakota fanning is a great actress. Personally I think she the best actress in Hollywood. And I sort of have a crush on her. If Dakota is reading this email me at Cartun@alltel.net.
hey give me a call some time or add me chixdigtrix_22@hotmail.com then we’ll talk
dakota is a tallented actress and she most likly go all the way she defintly diserves and oscar
dakota is the best!! dakota if you even read any of these comments please email me at dancer4life1313@msn.com! it would awesome to talk to you because you are so amazing. you are the luckliest person in the world. please email me. bye
I knew that Dakota Fanning was going to be BIG. I knew, my sister knew, my brothers knew, the whole world knew! When I saw her in “I am Sam” I GASPED. THIS GIRL CAN ACT! And for all you people that say Dakota is only big because she was in films with BIG actors you are wrong! Why do you think that she was in those films, hmmm lets think. Mabe beacause she’s good enough or mabe beacause people have seen her act and they spoted the talent that this 11 year old girl had. I have seen movies where the acting is bad, trust me, anyone could spot it out. It doesn’t madder who the director is, you know when it’s a cheesy movie. So I know that Dakota is a brilliant actress. She is VERY smart on her interviews, everytime I read them or see them I just don’t understand how an 11 year old girl can be so smart. She has so much energy and loves to act. Dakota could be playing a boring charecter but she brings them to life, hell she brings the whole movie to life. I am a HUGE Dakota Fanning fan as you all must know! If Dakota is reading this I my self want to be a actress and i am not usually a kid to ask but mabe you coukd send me an e-mail giving me some tips at xXhbabyxX@netscape.net. I’m only 13 but I my self can see the talent this girl has!
드라군이 출동하면어떻까?
드!!!!!!