With “Iron Man 3" breaking box-office records, Robert Downey Jr. is emerging as the go-to blockbuster man. But is he big enough to beat world box-office champ Johnny Depp?

Downey has taken on the role of a superhero, playing Tony Stark in the “Iron Man” franchise. The first movie made more than $500 million worldwide, with its sequel raking in more than $600 million. “Iron Man 3" has made more than $1 billion so far and will go on to surpass the totals of both previous movies put together. His character also appeared in “The Avengers,” which made a little over $1.5 billion worldwide.

And Downey also appeared as the famed English detective in two Sherlock Holmes movies. The first was released in 2009, the second in 2011 -- and each grossed more than $500 million worldwide.

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Other Downey movies include “Due Date,” which made more than $200 million and “Tropic Thunder,” which topped $100 million.

But he still hasn’t caught up to Depp.

Depp has had massive success with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that has four movies with a fifth coming. Depp plays Captain Jack Sparrow. The first movie in the franchise, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” made more than $600 million worldwide. The second movie, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and the fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” made more than $1 billion each, while the third movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” made more than $900 million.

Depp has done very well appearing in movies by filmmaker Tim Burton, too, like the musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” and “Alice in Wonderland,” which made more than $1 billion.


In the past decade, Depp’s 18 movies have grossed more than $6.5 billion at the worldwide box office while Downey has had credited roles in 22 films that made more than $5.5 billion.

The gap between the two stars may narrow, thanks to the next “Avengers” movie, which is slotted for 2015. Downey’s other upcoming movies include “The Judge” and “Chef.” Depp’s upcoming movie “The Lone Ranger” seems unlikely to be a worldwide box-office hit. Other future titles include “Into the Woods” and a fifth “Pirates” movie.

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Twitter:@DiangeleaMillar

angie.millar@latimes.com