Will Smith is easily one of the greatest movie stars of his generation. He's been in the public eye since the 1990s as a rapper, actor, and overall entertainer. Will Smith's career as a modern-day movie star is unprecedented. He has also become an entrepreneur, producing countless films and TV shows. With his latest film Gemini Man set to hit theaters this month, Will Smith will only look to further his reign over the box office.
While he has starred in some classic films that have woven themselves into pop culture, he's also been in some stinkers as well. Here are 5 of his best movies and 5 of his most forgettable ones.
FORGETTABLE: THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE
If any of Smith's movies is considered truly forgettable, it's The Legend of Bagger Vance, which was met with ridicule. Considering the film was set in 1931, it doesn't bring up the issue of racism at all. Will Smith's Bagger Vance is introduced as a magical character whose aim is to make Matt Damon's Rannulph Junuh reach his potential as a golfer.
Considering the film was released in 2000 and after the rise of Tiger Woods, it just feels that it belongs to a bygone era. It deserved all the criticism it received.
BEST: INDEPENDENCE DAY
This is the film that put Will Smith on the map and made him a true box office champion. His turn as Capt. Steven Hiller provided the alien invasion film with a lead star that was likable, persuasive and whom the audience could truly route for. It's interesting that the film was actually a large disaster movie with an ensemble cast, as Will Smith's star easily shined the brightest as he welcomed the aliens to Earth.
While Will Smith benefited the most from this film, he was smart enough to choose Suicide Squad over the Independence Day sequel.
FORGETTABLE: HITCH
For the most part, Hitch is a very enjoyable film. Smith plays Alex "Hitch" Hitchens who is a professional "date doctor" and provides men the secret to long-term relationships. His role is to essentially to help Kevin James woo a celebrity client. Smith also finds love for himself in the process.
The film is a fun, romantic comedy. But it doesn't really do much for the viewer. In essence, movie fans could probably watch it and forget about it in mere seconds. It doesn't leave a lasting impression and while that seems unfair, it falls far beneath some of Will Smith's best films to date.
BEST: ALI
This is the film that gave Will Smith his first Oscar nomination for playing one of the most famous pro boxers of the 20th century. Mohammed Ali's status as a boxer, sportsman, as well as a pop culture icon, is undeniable. In Ali, Will Smith immerses himself into Ali's over-the-top persona, which is not that far from his own. At the same time, he is able to bring a gravitas to the role that few would have expected from Smith at the time.
Moreover, Will Smith explored Ali as a showman as well as his most intimate moments. That is why the film works.
FORGETTABLE: AFTER EARTH
This is perhaps one of the biggest misfires of Will Smith's career. While he is more of a supporting player in this film, his son Jaden Smith is the lead. After Earth, directed by M. Night Shyamalan was essentially a survivalist tale set in the far future. It was supposed to be the film that would launch Jaden Smith into the limelight but it did just the opposite.
Moreover, Will Smith plays Cypher Raige as an emotionless robot and practically immobile for most of the film. The story is flat and was considered a flop after its release in 2013.
BEST: I AM LEGEND
I Am Legend, released in 2007. was easily one of Will Smith's best performances. Imagine Tom Hanks' character from Cast Away and setting the same premise in an empty world filled with mutants and seemingly being the last human on earth. Smith's turn as Lt Col. Robert Neville is fantastic to watch. His main co-star is a German Shepard, which provides touching and tragic moments.
Smith portrays Neville like a man who is desperately trying to hold on to his sanity as he tries to find a cure for the virus that wiped out most of humanity. The film's third act was certainly problematic, but Smith's performance is honestly what makes this film one of his best.
FORGETTABLE: I, ROBOT
Released in 2004, I, Robot was an action sci-fi film that betrayed its very premise. Essentially, it's a murder mystery set against the backdrop of robots who may have gone rogue. The film was loosely connected to Issac Asimov's Robot series, but that's where the connections end.
Smith's performance is serviceable. It's not terrible, but the film is so by-the-numbers that it doesn't provide any introspective questions about life and A.I. I, Robot is an action film that doesn't take any chances and just plays with any sense of mystery, sacrificing the story for special effects.
BEST: MEN IN BLACK
Men in Black may feel like a relic compared to science fiction films of today, but it had a lot going for it. It was part buddy-comedy, sci-fi mystery, as well as a special effects extravaganza. But the heart of the film was the friendship that Will Smith creates with his co-star Tommy Lee Jones, and that provided audiences with reasons to watch this film.
Moreover, Men in Black saw Will Smith to showcasing his comedic skills and playing off his co-star in entirely entertaining ways. The best way to describe this film is when Will Smith's character Agent J says, "I make this look good."
FORGETTABLE: WILD WILD WEST
This was memorable, as it was probably one of Will Smith's first major box office misfires. The film boasted a bloated budget of $170 million and was one of the most expensive movies ever made back in 1999. The film was a remake of the 1960s TV show and probably didn't have anything in common with it, except the name itself. The film was set in 1869 and had ludicrous set pieces, including a big giant spider.
Wild Wild West was such a forgettable film that only Kevin Smith's entertaining Superman riff gives background as to how producer Jon Peters got a big giant spider into the film.
BEST: THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
Will Smith's turn as Chris Gardner was a turning point in hiss career. The film didn't break box office records nor was it the best film of 2006, but it did prove Smith was a talented performer capable of playing against type. He played a man who was down on his luck and did everything he could to survive while trying to raise his five-year-old son on his own, played by Jaden Smith.
It's amazing to see how Smith has evolved as a performer. That evolution was due to the smart choices he made during the course of his career. The Pursuit of Happyness will always go down as one of Smith's most memorable movies and performances.