4 4
Age 87

HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

Age 89

#41

Current Rank

Not Ranked

#3

Peak Rank

#1

43

Years Ranked

41

6

Years in Top 10

19

28.2

Average Rank

18.8

42

Theatrical Releases

43

Beauty and the Beast $504.0 Million

Biggest Hit

Batman $251.2 Million

$3.9 Billion

Career Domestic
Box Office

$2.0 Billion

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Career Comparison Summary AI-generated historical comparison. Click to expand.

Note: Films released during the selected year influence the following year's rankings.

By the 2026 season, the comparison is less about a single breakout moment and more about the shape of each actor's accumulated Hollywood results. Elite Top 10 presence favors Jack Nicholson, whose advantage across Top 10 seasons gives the comparison more long-range context.

The biggest-hit category sharpens the box office contrast, especially because Ian McKellen's leading film creates the stronger single-release benchmark. Based on the available ranking data, the balance stays evenly split without turning the result into a subjective judgment of acting quality.

CAREER RANKING HISTORY

Ian McKellen Jack Nicholson

FILMOGRAPHY COMPARISON

Ian McKellen

42 theatrical releases • $3.9 Billion Domestic

Year Movie Domestic Box Office Domestic BO
2026 The Christophers $1.8 Million
2024 The Critic $449,020
2019 Cats $27.2 Million
2019 The Good Liar $17.2 Million
2019 All Is True $1.2 Million

Jack Nicholson

43 theatrical releases • $2.0 Billion Domestic

Year Movie Domestic Box Office Domestic BO
2010 How Do You Know $30.2 Million
2010 I'm Still Here $408,983
2007 The Bucket List $93.5 Million
2006 The Departed $132.4 Million
2003 Something's Gotta Give $124.7 Million