While many future movie stars spend many years making their bones before hitting it big, Channing Tatum had a somewhat more direct path. After a few music videos and a guest spot on CSI: Miami, Tatum got a few small roles in several films from 2005 and then 2006's double whammy of She's the Man and Step Up landed him as an above the title kind of star who gets his face on the poster.
He's become a box office star. Bit parts and cameos from Tatum, like The Hateful Eight, Step Up 2: The Streets, & Free Guy, as well as most of his credited animated features where he also has a small role, such as The Lego Movie franchise, aren't included.
Magic Mike (2012)
Box Office: $167,800,003
It makes sense that his first feature on this list is one loosely based on set to Ginuwine's "Pony" song for maximum effect.
Produced for only $7 million, third Magic Mike film now in production. While one box office hit like this would have already made for a good year, it wasn't even his biggest success of 2012--which turned out to be quite the year for him.
Jupiter Ascending (2015)
Box Office: $183,887,723
Unfortunately for this grand space opera about destiny that starred Tatum as an interplanetary warrior, the Wachowskis (of The Matrix fame) weren't quite able to stick the landing.
While a gross of nearly $184 million could be a success for many films, Jupiter Ascending cost a whopping $176 million to make. If it were a beloved bomb that might have taken the sting off a little, but it was poorly received by audiences and has mostly become a punchline in the years to follow.
The Vow (2012)
Box Office: $196,114,570
The Vow, a romantic drama starring Tatum and Rachel McAdams, was based on the real-life tale of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter. Soon after marrying, they were in a car accident that left the new bride with no memories of her husband or their relationship. While real-life eventually gave way to adultery and divorce, reel life found a money-making romance film.
This was the first of Tatum's 2012 winning streak, opening around Valentine's Day of that year to a $40 million opening weekend on a $30 million budget. It went on to make $125 million domestically and just under $200 million worldwide, a big hit no matter what reality had in store for the couple.
21 Jump Street (2012)
Box Office: $201,585,328
In between the huge success of The Vow and Magic Mike in 2012, Channing Tatum had yet another box office smash. 21 Jump Street, based on the '80s TV show, featured Tatum and Jonah Hill as cops who go undercover as high school students to crack a drug ring.
This action-comedy proved to be an audience favorite, making $138 million domestically and over $200 million worldwide on a $42 million budget. Tatum's big three 2012 hits wound up making $565 million worldwide while costing just under $80 million total.
White House Down (2013)
Box Office: $205,366,737
2013 saw the release of two competing films about a heroic underdog taking out terrorists who seize control of the White House and, unfortunately for Tatum, his film came out on the losing end. White House Down wasn't hated, but it came out a few months after Olympus Has Fallen and was generally considered an also-ran.
White House Down, with $73 million domestically and $205 million worldwide, actually grossed more in total than Olympus Has Fallen, which finished at $99 million domestically and $170 million worldwide, but WHD both lost the American battle and cost $150 million to OHF's $70 million.
Smallfoot (2018)
Box Office: $214,115,531
Channing Tatum has lent his voice to several animated features over the years, but Smallfoot actually has him in a lead role as opposed to a brief cameo. Tatum plays Migo, a young yeti who discovers the existence of humans and hijinks ensue.
Smallfoot was a reasonable success, grossing over $214 million on an $80 million budget. Some talk of a sequel has occurred, but as of now, there are no plans to continue the series.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
Box Office: $302,469,017
Only a few years after his big screen coming out, Channing Tatum found himself in the lead role of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. While others might have been jazzed to play Duke from G.I. Joe on the big screen, Tatum had this to say about the movie he had to make under threat of legal action: "I hate that movie."
Its worldwide gross of over $300 million might sound like a lot, but considering it cost $175 million and only made $150 million domestically (which, according to Investopedia, is where studios make more of their money), it wasn't exactly a slam dunk hit.
22 Jump Street (2014)
Box Office: $331,333,876
After the unqualified success of 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street didn't take too long and came out two years after the first. While the plot, in which Tatum and Hill go undercover at a college as opposed to high school, might sound like a quick cash-in idea, the film was warmly received by both critics and audiences.
22 Jump Street made about 40% more than the first one domestically and increased over 120% internationally, for a total of over $330 million on a budget of 50 million--not too shabby. A third Jump Street installment of some kind has been discussed over the years, but so far nothing is in the works.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
Box Office: $375,740,705
While G.I. Joe: Retaliation could perhaps be considered a cameo or bit part for Tatum, since he exits the picture early, he was prominently featured in the advertising and his sudden departure was surely intended to be a bit of a surprise. As for the film, considering Tatum was no fan of playing Duke in the first place, it's doubtful he was sad to exit the franchise.
Budgeted at $130 million, this sequel actually managed to cost less and make more than its predecessor worldwide, but not enough to get a third going. A reboot, Snake Eyes, was eventually released in 2021, but that topped out at only $40 million worldwide so the G.I. Joe franchise is surely on the backburner for a while.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Box Office: $410,902,662
Channing Tatum ed the cast as an American counterpart to the British spies in this sequel to 2o14's Kingsman: The Secret Service. Scheduling issues led to Tatum being more of a ing player here than in other films on this list, but he proves to be an added value element and featured heavily in the marketing.
Despite its The Lost City doing rather well at the box office, Channing Tatum's 2022 is shaping up to be a good year.
