Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll

The Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll were polls on determining the bankability of movie stars. They began quite early in movie history. At first, they were popular polls and contests conducted in film magazines, where the readers would vote for their favorite stars, like the poll published in New York Morning Telegraph on 17 December 1911. Magazines appeared and disappeared often and among the most consistent in those early days were the polls in the Motion Picture Magazine.

Though this and numerous other magazines, like Photoplay, continued with this type of poll, the standards for the polling were set by the Quigley Publishing Company. They published a poll, which became known as the "Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll", from a questionnaire sent to movie exhibitors every year between 1915 and 2013 by Quigley Publishing Company. The list was based on a poll of movie theater owners, who were asked to name who they felt were the previous year's top 10 money-making stars. The Top 10 Poll, which appeared annually in Quigley's Motion Picture Herald and The Motion Picture Almanac, was long regarded as one of the most reliable barometers of a movie star's box-office power, as film exhibitors base their decisions on one economic criterion: those stars who will bring patrons into their theaters.

For the 1915–1924 period, the list was compiled from 200,000 exhibitor reports, published in the "What the Picture Did for Me" department in 520 weekly editions of the Exhibitors Herald magazine. The first version of the questionnaire, specifically made for the exhibitors to vote for the money-makers, was used from 1925 to 1931. It included voting for both the box office films and the stars. A standardized questionnaire specifically for choosing the biggest box office stars was used after 1933.

Records

Most years ranked top 10 Actor Years 25 1949–1957, 1959–1974 21 1968–1986, 1992–1993 20 1983, 1986–1990, 1992–1994, 1996–1997, 1999–2007 18 1936–1937, 1941–1949, 1951–1957 17 1988–1989, 1993–1995, 1998–2000, 2002–2007, 2009–2010, 2013 16 1932–1943, 1947–1949, 1955 15 1934, 1937, 1940, 1943–1954 14 1963–1964, 1966–1975, 1982, 1986 13 1914–1926 13 1941–1953 13 1981–1985, 1990, 1993–1997, 2000, 2008 13 1987, 1989–1996, 1998–2000, 2002 12 1973–1984 11 1916–1926 11 1944, 1948–1949, 1959–1966 10 1938–1942, 1944–1945, 1948, 1950–1951 10 1942–1951 10 1950, 1952–1959, 1965 10 1951–1952, 1959–1966 10 1969–1970, 1972–1975, 1977–1980 10 1990–1991, 1993, 1997–2001, 2003–2004

Most years ranked #1 Actor Years 7 1986, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000–2001, 2005 5 1944–1948 5 1972–1973, 1983–1984, 1993 5 1978–1982 5 1994–1995, 1998, 2002, 2004 4 1935–1938 4 1950–1951, 1954, 1971 4 1960, 1962–1964 3 1939–1941 3 1974–1976 3 2006–2007, 2010 2 1915–1916 2 1917–1918 2 1919–1920 2 1921–1922 2 1928–1929 2 1932–1933 2 1957, 1959 2 1966–1967 2 1969–1970 2 1977, 1985

Most consecutive years ranked #1 Actor Years 5 1944–1948 5 1978–1982 4 1935–1938 3 1939–1941 3 1962–1964 3 1974–1976

Poll results by year

1912 1916 1921 1926 1931 1936 1941 1946 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011

Place 1912 1913 1914 1915 1 Maurice Costello Romaine Fielding Earle Williams William S. Hart 2 Dolores Cassinelli Earle Williams Clara Kimball Young Mary Pickford 3 Mae Hotely J. Warren Kerrigan Mary Pickford Tom Mix 4 Francis X. Bushman Alice Joyce J. Warren Kerrigan Blanche Sweet 5 Broncho Billy Anderson Carlyle Blackwell Mary Fuller William Farnum 6 Alice Joyce Francis X. Bushman Marguerite Clayton J. Warren Kerrigan 7 Octavia Handworth Broncho Billy Anderson Arthur Johnson Dorothy Gish 8 Florence Lawrence Muriel Ostriche Alice Joyce Anita Stewart 9 Arthur Johnson Arthur Johnson Carlyle Blackwell Kathlyn Williams 10 May Buckley Mary Fuller Francis X. Bushman Francis X. Bushman & Beverly Bayne

Place 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1 William S. Hart Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Fairbanks Wallace Reid Wallace Reid 2 Mary Pickford William S. Hart Mary Pickford Douglas Fairbanks Marguerite Clark 3 J. Warren Kerrigan Anita Stewart Wallace Reid Mary Pickford Charles Ray 4 Anita Stewart Mary Pickford William S. Hart Charles Ray Douglas Fairbanks 5 Tom Mix Bessie Barriscale Mary Miles Minter William S. Hart Mary Miles Minter 6 William Farnum J. Warren Kerrigan Clara Kimball Young Marguerite Clark Mary Pickford 7 Francis X. Bushman & Beverly Bayne Wallace Reid Dorothy Dalton Jane & Katherine Lee ("Lee Kids") Clara Kimball Young 8 Douglas Fairbanks Charles Ray Charles Ray Mary Miles Minter William S. Hart 9 Wallace Reid Frank Keenan Marguerite Clark Clara Kimball Young Norma Talmadge 10 Frank Keenan Dorothy Dalton Anita Stewart Dorothy Dalton Theda Bara

Place 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1 Mary Pickford Mary Pickford Thomas Meighan Norma Talmadge Rudolph Valentino 2 Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Fairbanks Norma Talmadge Marion Davies Norma Talmadge 3 Wallace Reid Anita Stewart Douglas Fairbanks Rudolph Valentino Marion Davies 4 Charles Ray Thomas Meighan Mary Pickford Douglas Fairbanks Mary Pickford 5 Gloria Swanson Rudolph Valentino Marion Davies Thomas Meighan Douglas Fairbanks 6 Mary Miles Minter Pola Negri Lon Chaney Gloria Swanson Fred Thomson 7 Marion Davies Mae Murray Rudolph Valentino Mary Pickford Harold Lloyd 8 Norma Talmadge Harold Lloyd Harold Lloyd Lon Chaney Colleen Moore 9 Clara Kimball Young Lon Chaney Gloria Swanson Harold Lloyd Gloria Swanson 10 William S. Hart Douglas MacLean Colleen Moore Ramon Novarro Thomas Meighan

Place 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1 Colleen Moore Tom Mix Clara Bow Clara Bow Joan Crawford 2 Tom Mix Colleen Moore Lon Chaney Lon Chaney Clara Bow 3 Fred Thomson Clara Bow Colleen Moore William Haines William Haines 4 Harold Lloyd Fred Thomson Tom Mix Hoot Gibson Janet Gaynor 5 Hoot Gibson Lon Chaney John Gilbert Colleen Moore Colleen Moore 6 Norma Talmadge Richard Dix Harold Lloyd Charles Buddy Rogers Greta Garbo 7 Mary Pickford Hoot Gibson William Haines Richard Barthelmess Al Jolson 8 Douglas Fairbanks Harold Lloyd Richard Barthelmess Ken Maynard Richard Barthelmess 9 Thomas Meighan John Gilbert Billie Dove Tom Mix Rin Tin Tin 10 Reginald Denny Bebe Daniels Bebe Daniels Nancy Carroll Tom Mix

Place 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1 Janet Gaynor Marie Dressler Marie Dressler Will Rogers Shirley Temple 2 Charles Farrell Janet Gaynor Will Rogers Clark Gable Will Rogers 3 Joan Crawford Joan Crawford Janet Gaynor Janet Gaynor Clark Gable 4 Norma Shearer Charles Farrell Eddie Cantor Wallace Beery Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers 5 Marie Dressler Greta Garbo Wallace Beery Mae West Joan Crawford 6 Wallace Beery Norma Shearer Jean Harlow Joan Crawford Claudette Colbert 7 Clara Bow Wallace Beery Clark Gable Bing Crosby Dick Powell 8 Al Jolson Clark Gable Mae West Shirley Temple Wallace Beery 9 Colleen Moore Will Rogers Norma Shearer Marie Dressler Joe E. Brown 10 Greta Garbo Joe E. Brown Joan Crawford Norma Shearer James Cagney

Place 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1 Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney 2 Clark Gable Clark Gable Clark Gable Tyrone Power Spencer Tracy 3 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Robert Taylor Sonja Henie Spencer Tracy Clark Gable 4 Robert Taylor Bing Crosby Mickey Rooney Clark Gable Gene Autry 5 Joe E. Brown William Powell Spencer Tracy Shirley Temple Tyrone Power 6 Dick Powell Jane Withers Robert Taylor Bette Davis James Cagney 7 Joan Crawford Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Myrna Loy Alice Faye Bing Crosby 8 Claudette Colbert Sonja Henie Jane Withers Errol Flynn Wallace Beery 9 Jeanette MacDonald Gary Cooper Alice Faye James Cagney Bette Davis 10 Gary Cooper Myrna Loy Tyrone Power Sonja Henie Judy Garland

Place 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1 Mickey Rooney Abbott and Costello Betty Grable Bing Crosby Bing Crosby 2 Clark Gable Clark Gable Bob Hope Gary Cooper Van Johnson 3 Abbott and Costello Gary Cooper Abbott and Costello Bob Hope Greer Garson 4 Bob Hope Mickey Rooney Bing Crosby Betty Grable Betty Grable 5 Spencer Tracy Bob Hope Gary Cooper Spencer Tracy Spencer Tracy 6 Gene Autry James Cagney Greer Garson Greer Garson Humphrey Bogart 7 Gary Cooper Gene Autry Humphrey Bogart Humphrey Bogart Gary Cooper 8 Bette Davis Betty Grable James Cagney Abbott and Costello Bob Hope 9 James Cagney Greer Garson Mickey Rooney Cary Grant Judy Garland 10 Judy Garland Spencer Tracy Clark Gable Bette Davis Margaret O'Brien

Place 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1 Bing Crosby Bing Crosby Bing Crosby Bob Hope John Wayne 2 Ingrid Bergman Betty Grable Betty Grable Bing Crosby Bob Hope 3 Van Johnson Ingrid Bergman Abbott and Costello Abbott and Costello Bing Crosby 4 Gary Cooper Gary Cooper Gary Cooper John Wayne Betty Grable 5 Bob Hope Humphrey Bogart Bob Hope Gary Cooper James Stewart 6 Humphrey Bogart Bob Hope Humphrey Bogart Cary Grant Abbott and Costello 7 Greer Garson Clark Gable Clark Gable Betty Grable Clifton Webb 8 Margaret O'Brien Gregory Peck Cary Grant Esther Williams Esther Williams 9 Betty Grable Claudette Colbert Spencer Tracy Humphrey Bogart Spencer Tracy 10 Roy Rogers Alan Ladd Ingrid Bergman Clark Gable Randolph Scott

Place 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1 John Wayne Martin and Lewis Gary Cooper John Wayne James Stewart 2 Martin and Lewis Gary Cooper Martin and Lewis Martin and Lewis Grace Kelly 3 Betty Grable John Wayne John Wayne Gary Cooper John Wayne 4 Abbott and Costello Bing Crosby Alan Ladd James Stewart William Holden 5 Bing Crosby Bob Hope Bing Crosby Marilyn Monroe Gary Cooper 6 Bob Hope James Stewart Marilyn Monroe Alan Ladd Marlon Brando 7 Randolph Scott Doris Day James Stewart William Holden Martin and Lewis 8 Gary Cooper Gregory Peck Bob Hope Bing Crosby Humphrey Bogart 9 Doris Day Susan Hayward Susan Hayward Jane Wyman June Allyson 10 Spencer Tracy Randolph Scott Randolph Scott Marlon Brando Clark Gable

Place 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1 William Holden Rock Hudson Glenn Ford Rock Hudson Doris Day 2 John Wayne John Wayne Elizabeth Taylor Cary Grant Rock Hudson 3 James Stewart Pat Boone Jerry Lewis James Stewart Cary Grant 4 Burt Lancaster Elvis Presley Marlon Brando Doris Day Elizabeth Taylor 5 Glenn Ford Frank Sinatra Rock Hudson Debbie Reynolds Debbie Reynolds 6 Martin and Lewis Gary Cooper William Holden Glenn Ford Tony Curtis 7 Gary Cooper William Holden Brigitte Bardot Frank Sinatra Sandra Dee 8 Marilyn Monroe James Stewart Yul Brynner John Wayne Frank Sinatra 9 Kim Novak Jerry Lewis James Stewart Jerry Lewis Jack Lemmon 10 Frank Sinatra Yul Brynner Frank Sinatra Susan Hayward John Wayne

Place 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1 Elizabeth Taylor Doris Day Doris Day Doris Day Sean Connery 2 Rock Hudson Rock Hudson John Wayne Jack Lemmon John Wayne 3 Doris Day Cary Grant Rock Hudson Rock Hudson Doris Day 4 John Wayne John Wayne Jack Lemmon John Wayne Julie Andrews 5 Cary Grant Elvis Presley Cary Grant Cary Grant Jack Lemmon 6 Sandra Dee Elizabeth Taylor Elizabeth Taylor Elvis Presley Elvis Presley 7 Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis Elvis Presley Shirley MacLaine Cary Grant 8 William Holden Frank Sinatra Sandra Dee Ann-Margret James Stewart 9 Tony Curtis Sandra Dee Paul Newman Paul Newman Elizabeth Taylor 10 Elvis Presley Burt Lancaster Jerry Lewis Richard Burton Richard Burton

Place 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1 Julie Andrews Julie Andrews Sidney Poitier Paul Newman Paul Newman 2 Sean Connery Lee Marvin Paul Newman John Wayne Clint Eastwood 3 Elizabeth Taylor Paul Newman Julie Andrews Steve McQueen Steve McQueen 4 Jack Lemmon Dean Martin John Wayne Dustin Hoffman John Wayne 5 Richard Burton Sean Connery Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood Elliott Gould 6 Cary Grant Elizabeth Taylor Dean Martin Sidney Poitier Dustin Hoffman 7 John Wayne Sidney Poitier Steve McQueen Lee Marvin Lee Marvin 8 Doris Day John Wayne Jack Lemmon Jack Lemmon Jack Lemmon 9 Paul Newman Richard Burton Lee Marvin Katharine Hepburn Barbra Streisand 10 Elvis Presley Steve McQueen Elizabeth Taylor Barbra Streisand Walter Matthau