When you think of the word “celebrity,” Will Smith is someone who quickly comes to mind. He’s dominated three different industries when he first came to prominence in the 90s, with a successful hip-hop career (both as a solo artist and as one-half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince), a television career with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and a movie career. Smith’s films are considered some of the most bankable - even if not always the most critically acclaimed - with seventeen films having earned over $100 million worldwide. He’s also the only actor with eight consecutive films that grossed $100 million at the box office (starting with 2002’ Men in Black II all the way through 2008’s Hancock). Even though his starring roles aren’t as frequent as they once were, each time he does lead a new film, it can still draw crowds, with his latest release - Disney's live-action remake of Aladdin - predicted to be the next of his to draw in $100 million at the box office.
To coincide with the release of Aladdin, here’s a look back at five of Smith’s best films (in alphabetical order):
1) Enemy of the State
This 1998 action-thriller is an underrated film for both Smith as well as its director, the late Tony Scott, which is now seen as ahead of its time due to many of the issues brought up in this film wound up occurring in real life years later. This saw Scott reunite with his Crimson Tide star Gene Hackman, who co-stars as a former communications expert who aids Smith, playing lawyer Robert Clayton Dean, uncover a conspiracy involving increased government surveillance within the United States. Smith at this point was strictly known more for his mostly comedic presence, even in more serious films like Independence Day where he’d still spout one-liners, so this is the first time he’s played a role completely straight-faced, and he does a solid job carrying the film. It’s a bit overly-complex at times, with a few exposition-heavy moments due to the “conspiracy theory” nature of the film, but overall it’s an engaging, fast-paced, well-acted thriller that is surprisingly timely.
2) Hitch
The title character of this film is a role that feels tailor-made for Smith, as it just lets him be the embodiment of nearly every other character he’s played in the past: Smooth, fast-talking, funny, and charming. And it’s Smith’s on-screen charisma that mainly carries this 2005 romantic comedy. Smith’s Hitch is a professional “date doctor,” guiding men to winning over women specifically with the goal of long-term relationships. And while he’s successful with one particular client, played by Kevin James, he struggles applying his methods to his own romantic life. Hitch is a fairly predictable romantic-comedy and comes off as a bit too sugary sweet at times, but it’s incredibly funny. Its constant one-liners and visual gags, and overall likable nature, thanks to the impressive talents of Smith and James, as well as fellow cast members Eva Mendes and Amber Valletta, make many of its narrative shortcomings forgivable and make for an often enjoyable feel-good movie.
3) I Am Legend
The third adaptation of the influential novel of the same name was a massive success, ranking as the largest opening for a non-Christmas film in December. The film follows Smith as Dr. Robert Neville, who lives out on his own in a post-apocalyptic world where 90% of the population is wiped out due to a virus, and spends most of his days trying to find a cure. It’s an often grim experience, though the dour tone is often elevated by Smith’s highly emotional performance, which never comes off as too manipulative, as it still manages to let him showcase is well-known sense of humor. The scenes in which he “speaks with” a bunch of mannequins, while sad due to the nature of the film, does allow him to get in a couple of lines that are difficult to not at least chuckle at. The film can also be incredibly tense, diving into horror territory multiple times throughout the film that can be often gripping and creepy. While the film generated some controversy from fans of the novel due to the fact that it changes the source material’s ending, it’s still a well-done thriller that finds Smith giving one of his absolute best performances.
4) Independence Day
“Welcome to Earth!” is probably one of Smith’s most iconic movie lines in what’s easily one of his most well-known roles. Smith stars as Captain Steven Hiller, one of the leaders of the groups of people countering an alien attack on Earth, which also saw the likes of Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, and Randy Quaid getting in on the action. Not only was Independence Day one of Smith’s first major movie roles - and his first coming right off the end of The Fresh Prince - it also marked a turning point for Hollywood blockbusters. Independence Day set a precedent for large-scale action movies and disaster epics, and while it suffers a bit in terms of story and characters, it is still a crowd-pleaser thanks to its impressive action sequences and its likable cast. Interestingly enough, at this point, the film wound up being the second-highest grossing film of all-time, behind Jurassic Park, only for both films to be quickly thrown out of the Top 50 of all-time thanks to the many blockbuster films they went on to inspire.
5) Men in Black
Another of Smith’s most iconic films, Men in Black is the perfect combination of all the genres that have made him so likable up until this point. It has a layered plot like one of his first films Six Degrees of Separation, big budgeted action like Independence Day, and is above all extremely funny like The Fresh of Bel-Air. Smith brings his A game as new MIB recruit Agent J, getting pitted alongside the more experienced Agent K, played by Tommy Lee Jones. While it’s a buddy movie, the film is bolstered by just how wonderful Jones and Smith play off each other, with the two containing fantastic chemistry together. And despite what at first seems like a familiar set-up, it winds up being anything but, with an impressive script that touches upon themes of identity that is surprisingly layered for a comedy. A stunning achievement for both sci-fi and comedy, Men in Black is Will Smith at his finest.
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