Hollywood movie star Brad Pitt has been voted the top money-making star of 2011 in the Quigley Publishing Company's 80th Annual Poll of Motion Picture Exhibitors. The 49-year old Pitt, who starred in 'Moneyball', in the award-winning 'The Tree of Life' in 2011 and who  borrowed his voice for 'Happy Feet Two' came first in the top, for the first time. He was followed by 51-year old George Clooney, who starred in 'The Ides of March' and 'the Descendants'.

Last year's winner Johnny Depp ranked third for his roles in ' Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' and ' The Rum Diary.' This year's number four was Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in ' J. Edgar.' Matt Damon followed with the movies 'Contagion,' 'The Adjustment Bureau,' 'Margaret' and 'We Bought a Zoo.' Sandra Bullock came sixth, after she won in the 2009 poll. Bradley Cooper, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey, Jr. and Meryl Streep were also in the top 10.

It was yet another year without Tom Cruise in the poll- the 5th since 2006. His sequel to 'Mission Impossible' was launched towards the end of the year. However, Cruise remains the all time number one, after having ranked 1st for seven years. Bing Crosby, Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks came second, with five years on the 1st position each.

The Top Ten All-Time Poll of Money-Making Stars is lead by John Wayne, who appeared 25 times in the poll in the last 80 years. Clint Eastwood follows with 21 entries, and Tom Cruise comes third, with 20 entries, ranking better than Gary Cooper and Clark Gable.

The Quigley Poll, conducted each year since 1932, is an annual survey of motion picture theater owners and film buyers, which asks them to vote for the ten stars that they believe generated the most box-office revenue for their theaters during the year.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Moneyball official website)