Celebrity Showdown: Hugh Jackman vs Liam Neeson

While two of Hollywood’s most popular action stars are duking it out in the box office, we thought it might be a good time for them to face off in the only thunderdome that really matters: The Celebrity Showdown.

Looking at seven unique criteria that weigh box-office earnings, critic’s reviews and award season gold, Celebrity Showdown examines the anatomy of both stars’ careers to show who’s really the best.

So, will Chappie star Hugh Jackman (beloved for his many, many turns playing Wolverine in the X-Men franchise) be able to take down action veteran Liam Neeson (best known for the many films in which he’s had to retrieve people who have been taken)? For fun, take a guess, then check out our totally scientific results.*

*Results not actually scientific.

ROUND 1 – TOTAL FILMS
Hugh Jackman: 23
Liam Neeson: 60 (WIN)

ROUND 2 – HIGHEST GROSSING FILM
Hugh Jackman: $234.3 million – X-Men: The Last Stand
Liam Neeson: $474.5 million – Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (WIN)

ROUND 3 – AVERAGE GROSS
Hugh Jackman: $96.9 million (WIN)
Liam Neeson: $47.3 million

ROUND 4 – TOTAL GROSS
Hugh Jackman: $2.23 billion
Liam Neeson: $2.84 billion (WIN)

ROUND 5 – HIGHEST RATED FILM
Hugh Jackman: 91% – X-Men: Days of Future Past
Liam Neeson:: 100% – Husbands and Wives (WIN)

ROUND 6 – AVERAGE RT SCORE
Hugh Jackman: 56.56% (WIN)
Liam Neeson: 53.1%

ROUND 7 – ‘AWARDS’ SCORE*
Hugh Jackman: 2 (WIN)
Liam Neeson: 0
*2 points for Oscar wins, 1 point for Golden Globes, Emmy or Screen Actors Guild Wins, .5 points for People’s Choice Wins and -1 point for a Razzie Win.

AND THE WINNER IS…

LIAM NEESON! 4 TO 3

Congrats to Mr. Neeson! Although you might lose some of that blockbuster edge if you follow through on your claim that you’re going quit making action films in two years.

As for Mr. Jackman? It’s all a matter of volume. Neeson’s been in nearly three times as many films. And, as well-known as the X-Men franchise is, none of them have ever really been as monumentally successful as any of Marvel Studios’ comic book films. That being said, Jackman is still one of the coolest, nicest guys in Hollywood and his portrayal of Wolverine is amazing.

[NOTE: I originally wrote this story for ETonline.com, where it was first published.]

Tags: actors, career, celebrity, celebrity showdown, celebs, Chappie, comparison, Days of Future Past, film, Hollywood, Hugh Jackman, Liam Neeson, movies, rotten tomatoes, Run All Night, show business, Taken, taken 3, The Wolverine, Wolverine, X-Men