Colin Jost proved once again that no one is off-limits when it comes to his comedy—not even his superstar wife, Scarlett Johansson.
During the January 17 episode of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, the comedian delivered a self-deprecating punchline that had audiences roaring.
The joke centered around recent news that Zoe Saldaña had officially surpassed Scarlett as Hollywood’s highest-grossing actor of all time.
But Colin’s attempt to “help” his wife’s numbers backfired spectacularly—and hilariously.
When Adding Your Husband’s Box Office Makes Things Worse
Colin, 43, addressed the milestone during Weekend Update with his trademark dry humor. A bar graph displayed both actresses’ earnings as he set up the joke.
Zoe Saldaña—who stars in the new Avatar movie—has surpassed Scarlett Johansson to become the highest grossing actress of all time. Okay, well let’s see what happens if you include the box office from Scarlett’s husband’s movies.
The visual punchline landed perfectly. Scarlett’s earnings of $15.4 billion actually dropped to $15.1 billion after factoring in Colin’s film contributions.
His genuine surprise at the graphic made the moment even funnier. Through fits of laughter, he managed to get out two words that captured everyone’s reaction: “It went down?”
Breaking Down Hollywood’s Box Office Titans
The timing of Colin’s joke couldn’t have been more perfect. News had just broken that Zoe officially claimed the title thanks to James Cameron’s massively successful Avatar franchise.
Avatar: Fire and Ash alone brought in $1.23 billion at the worldwide box office by January 12, according to Box Office Mojo. This pushed Zoe’s total career gross to an astounding $16.8 billion across all her films.
Her impressive filmography includes blockbusters like Star Trek, Avengers: Endgame, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The Emilia Pérez actress edged out Scarlett’s previous record of $16.4 billion.
The top five highest-grossing actors reads like a Marvel Cinematic Universe reunion. Alongside Zoe and Scarlett, the list features Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt—all franchise heavyweights.
Making Fun of Hollywood—And Himself
This isn’t Colin’s first rodeo when it comes to joking about his wife’s famous colleagues and co-stars. The SNL writer has built a reputation for fearlessly poking fun at Hollywood’s elite.
Last July, he addressed viral footage of Scarlett kissing her Jurassic World Rebirth co-star Jonathan Bailey with characteristic wit during an Entertainment Tonight interview.
I guess in Jurassic Park terms, the attack always comes from the raptor you never thought was there. Of all the threats out there, I wasn’t thinking it was Jonathan.
He quickly clarified that the situation was blown out of proportion, comparing the kiss to a friendly greeting between colleagues.
Colin even proposed a tongue-in-cheek solution to make everything “fair.” He joked about kissing the Bridgerton star himself, noting that Jonathan is openly gay and hardly posed a romantic threat.
Jonathan is an out gay man—it didn’t seem like the biggest threat. Jonathan and I were at the red carpet like, ‘I guess we have to kiss now? Will that close the loop?’
A Comedy Tradition That Keeps Giving
Colin’s willingness to joke about Scarlett has become a beloved SNL tradition, particularly during the show’s annual Christmas Joke Swap. During this segment, Colin and co-anchor Michael Che write jokes for each other—often targeting their personal lives.
Over the years, audiences have witnessed increasingly bold jokes about the 41-year-old actress during these segments. The tradition has appeared in multiple season finales and holiday episodes spanning from 2020 through 2025.
These moments showcase Colin’s ability to laugh at himself while celebrating his wife’s extraordinary success. Rather than feeling threatened by Scarlett’s stardom, he leans into the humor of their vastly different box office appeal.
Life Beyond The Punchlines
Behind the jokes lies a strong partnership. Scarlett and Colin share four-year-old son Cosmo, while she also has 11-year-old daughter Rose from her previous marriage to Romain Dauriac.
The couple has mastered balancing their high-profile careers with family life and maintaining a sense of humor about the absurdities of Hollywood fame.
Colin’s latest joke perfectly encapsulates this dynamic. By playfully acknowledging the massive gap between his box office contributions and Scarlett’s blockbuster success, he demonstrates the confidence and humor that defines their relationship.
While Zoe may have claimed the title of highest-grossing actor, Scarlett can take comfort knowing she married someone willing to publicly admit his movies actually lower her numbers. That’s the kind of self-aware comedy money can’t buy.