6 2
Age 87

HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

Age 77

#41

Current Rank

#86

#3

Peak Rank

#4

43

Years Ranked

47

6

Years in Top 10

9

28.2

Average Rank

36.1

42

Theatrical Releases

32

Beauty and the Beast $504.0 Million

Biggest Hit

Tootsie $177.2 Million

$3.9 Billion

Career Domestic
Box Office

$757.5 Million

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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.

The 2026 comparison presents Ian McKellen and Jessica Lange through the ranking data available at that point in time. Commercial scale is another meaningful divider, with the career domestic box office measure giving Ian McKellen the larger theatrical footprint.

The category score gives Ian McKellen the broader edge, though the result remains a comparison of career outcomes rather than personal popularity. Overall, the head-to-head score leans leans toward Ian McKellen, but the strongest context comes from the categories where the gap is clearest.

CAREER RANKING HISTORY

Ian McKellen Jessica Lange

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

Jessica Lange

32 theatrical releases • $757.5 Million Domestic

Year Movie Domestic Box Office Domestic BO
2023 Marlowe $4.4 Million
2016 Wild Oats $40,598
2014 The Gambler $33.7 Million
2014 In Secret $444,179
2012 The Vow $125.0 Million