Melissa McCarthy is crushing it right now–with a $40 million dollar opening weekend with The Heat, a rumored ESPYS hosting gig and recently wrapped up principal production on Tammy a film she co-wrote and co-directed with her husband Ben Falcone.

In turns out McCarthy is also outperforming her male comedy counterparts at the box office as well. Variety compared the numbers between her and her male comedy colleagues including Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Bateman, Steve Carrell and Will Ferrell. Her first two movies Bridesmaids and Identity Thief grossed over $169 million and $135 million, and Bridesmaids earned McCarthy an Oscar nomination. 

In comparison, Ferrell’s first major film, A Night at the Roxbury (1998) made about $30 million domestically. And Ferrell never saw a film break $100 million until Elf in 2003.  

According to Variety she’s ahead of all the guys at this point in her career.  But of course, no one wants to see funny women.  Her box office numbers and growing clout prove that men and women want not only to see funny women, they want to see Melissa McCarthy. 

Melissa McCarthy: Comedy’s Hottest
Star (Variety)