Youngest Actors Ever to Lead a Box-Office #1, Ranked

Young actors have headlined some of the biggest weekends in movie history, stepping into the spotlight long before most kids are thinking about anything beyond school and hobbies. This list looks at performers who were bona fide leads or clear co leads in films that reached number one at the domestic weekend box office, and it focuses on their exact age when that first number one weekend happened.

To keep things consistent, ages are calculated by the weekend when the film first hit the top spot, not by filming dates. Voice roles are included only when the performer is the on screen protagonist’s primary voice and is billed as a lead. Now let’s count down the youngest to do it.

Alexa PenaVega

Alexa PenaVega was 12 when ‘Spy Kids’ opened at number one on March 30, 2001. Born on August 27, 1988, she shared top billing as Carmen Cortez, one half of a sibling duo who stumbles into a family spy legacy. The film debuted with a strong opening weekend and introduced a new action adventure series aimed squarely at families.

The success of ‘Spy Kids’ turned PenaVega into a household name and brought swift follow ups. The franchise returned to number one with ‘Spy Kids 3 D Game Over’ as the series expanded its world with new gadgets and bigger set pieces. PenaVega continued working in film and television while also returning for later entries that kept the brand visible for a new wave of young viewers.

Tatum O’Neal

Tatum O’Neal was 12 when ‘The Bad News Bears’ reached number one during its first weeks in theaters in April 1976. Born on November 5, 1963, she starred as ace pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer opposite Walter Matthau, giving the team its needed spark in a baseball comedy that quickly connected with audiences.

The film’s strong performance led to sequels and cemented its place as a sports comedy touchstone. O’Neal’s lead turn here arrived shortly after her Oscar winning breakthrough for an earlier role, and this box office milestone showed that her drawing power extended beyond awards season into mainstream ticket sales.

Dakota Goyo

Dakota Goyo was 12 when ‘Real Steel’ opened at number one on October 7, 2011. Born on August 22, 1999, he portrayed Max Kenton opposite Hugh Jackman in a father and son story set against robot boxing. The film led the weekend with a solid debut and appealed to families through the mix of spectacle and an underdog arc.

‘Real Steel’ held strong in subsequent weeks and played well internationally, giving Goyo a high profile anchor credit early in his career. He followed with additional film and voice roles while the movie found a long tail on home platforms, where his performance continued to reach new audiences discovering the title after its theatrical run.

Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith was 11 when ‘The Karate Kid’ opened at number one on June 11, 2010. Born on July 8, 1998, he headlined as Dre Parker alongside Jackie Chan in a Beijing set retelling that connected with a cross generational audience. The film enjoyed a robust opening weekend powered by four quadrant appeal and school break timing.

The strong start translated into an impressive domestic total and steady overseas business. Smith’s lead credit on a major summer release positioned him for additional roles and music projects, while the film’s lasting popularity kept his early star turn visible across cable rotations and streaming windows.

Emma Watson

Emma Watson was 11 when ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ opened at number one on November 16, 2001. Born on April 15, 1990, she shared the lead as Hermione Granger in the first screen adaptation of the bestselling series. The film posted a record setting debut for the era and dominated the marketplace heading into the holidays.

Watson would return to number one openings multiple times as the series continued. Her lead work across the franchise showed uncommon consistency for a performer who began so young, with each title stacking up sizable domestic and international totals and giving her a sustained box office presence throughout her teen years.

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment was 11 when ‘The Sixth Sense’ opened at number one on August 6, 1999. Born on April 10, 1988, he starred as Cole Sear opposite Bruce Willis in a thriller that built week over week momentum through word of mouth. The film ultimately spent multiple weekends at number one and finished among the highest grossers of the year.

Osment’s performance anchored repeat viewing and helped drive a rare late summer phenomenon where the box office grew rather than faded. The success expanded his opportunities across prestige and mainstream projects, and the film’s enduring rewatch value has kept his early lead role a regular reference point for young screen careers.

Henry Thomas

Henry Thomas was 10 when ‘E.T. the Extra Terrestrial’ first topped the weekend box office after opening on June 11, 1982. Born on September 9, 1971, he led as Elliott in a story that became a cultural event and a long running theatrical draw. The film held number one for many weekends across its original run and subsequent reissues.

The theatrical legs of ‘E.T. the Extra Terrestrial’ were extraordinary for the time, with strong holds that turned an impressive opening into a historic total. Thomas’s lead role remained central to the film’s emotional pull, and the title’s continued special screenings and anniversary engagements have kept his early achievement widely recognized.

Georgie Henley

Georgie Henley was 10 when ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ opened at number one on December 9, 2005. Born on July 9, 1995, she led as Lucy Pevensie in a fantasy adaptation that launched a new franchise for family audiences. The film’s opening weekend secured the top spot ahead of a crowded holiday slate.

The success led to further entries that expanded the series and returned Henley to a central role. The strong debut translated into sizable global returns, and the film’s seasonal replay on television and streaming helped cement Lucy’s journey as a go to family watch, keeping Henley’s early lead performance in frequent circulation.

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin was 10 when ‘Home Alone’ opened at number one on November 16, 1990. Born on August 26, 1980, he starred as Kevin McCallister in a family comedy that dominated the box office into the new year. The film held the top spot for a remarkable stretch of consecutive weekends and became an annual holiday staple.

The breakout led to additional number one success with the sequel and broadened Culkin’s slate of leading roles. Home media and seasonal re releases kept the title’s revenue stream active for decades, ensuring that his early lead credit remained one of the most widely seen young star turns in modern theatrical history.

Daryl Sabara

Daryl Sabara was 8 when ‘Spy Kids’ opened at number one on March 30, 2001. Born on June 14, 1992, he shared the lead as Juni Cortez in an adventure that paired sibling heroes with inventive gadgetry and family centered stakes. The film captured the top spot over a competitive spring frame and connected strongly with repeat family attendance.

The franchise’s continued success kept Sabara in front of audiences through additional entries, including a later installment that again reached number one. The early milestone gave him one of the youngest ages on record for a weekend box office leader, and the series’ long run on television and streaming extended the reach of that first achievement.

Share your thoughts below and tell us which young box office first timer you would add to the list.