At a Glance
- Colin Jost tried to boost wife Scarlett Johansson’s box-office total on Weekend Update and the figure dropped instead
- Zoe Saldaña now leads all-time actress grosses at $15.5 billion, Johansson sits at $15.1 billion
- The live gag is the latest public ribbing of the couple’s high-profile marriage
- Why it matters: It shows how SNL keeps mining its own anchor’s personal life for laughs
Colin Jost’s attempt to defend his wife’s box-office crown turned into a live punchline at his own expense during the Jan. 17 Saturday Night Live Weekend Update.
The Joke That Flipped
Reading a headline about Zoe Saldaña passing Scarlett Johansson as the highest-grossing actress of all time, Jost quipped, “Let’s see what happens when you include the box office from Scarlett’s husband’s movies.”
The on-screen graphic responded by lowering Johansson’s total from $15.4 billion to $15.1 billion.
Jost burst out laughing. “It went down?!”
Saldaña’s New Record
Saldaña reached $15.5 billion worldwide thanks to Avatar sequels plus her Marvel role as Gamora. Johansson’s credits include Marvel’s Black Widow, Jurassic World entries, and animated Sing films.
After the milestone was announced, Saldaña posted an Instagram video:
> “I just want to express my sincerest gratitude for the extraordinary journey that has led me to become the highest-grossing film actor of all time.”
She thanked the directors who hired her and added, “May the next record breaker be another woman!”
Jost’s Film Haul
Outside SNL, Jost has appeared in:
- How to Be Single
- Tom & Jerry
- Coming 2 America
- The Bad Guys 2
- 2024’s Fly Me to the Moon alongside Johansson
In July 2025 he told Entertainment Tonight:
> “Combined, me and her are probably one of the top couples at the box office. Ever. She’s probably doing a little more of that lifting, but combined, you know what I mean? That could be a huge record too. … I basically only do number-one movies.”
Constant SNL Target
Jost’s marriage to the A-lister is a running gag on the show, especially with co-anchor Michael Che delivering regular zingers.
The couple wed in 2020 and share:
- Son Cosmo, 4
- Johansson’s daughter Rose, 11, from a previous relationship
Key Takeaways
- A live graphic turned Jost’s boast into a comedic own-goal
- Saldaña’s Avatar performance secures her the industry lead
- SNL continues to mine its anchor’s home life for on-air material
