Will Smith’s 5 Best Movies (& 5 Worst), According To IMDb

There are few stars bigger in Hollywood than Will Smith. After having a successful rap career, not many people predicted Smith would become a movie star and a legitimately talented actor. His early star-making role on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air showcase his skills and soon his movie career took off in an incredible way.

Along with becoming box office hits, many of Smith’s films have remained favorites of fans, whether they show his action hero side or his dramatic skills. Of course, not all of Smith’s projects have been successful. Taking a look at his IMDb page, there are some films that were hits with fans and some that missed the mark.

10 Worst: After Earth (2013) – 4.8

While Smith’s first collaboration with his son was a success, the next time they teamed up didn’t go so well. The two Smiths teamed up with M. Night Shyamalan for this sci-fi adventure about a father and son who crash land on Earth years after humans abandoned it.

Many pointed out that Jaden Smith doesn’t have the same charisma as his father so it didn’t help that he was pretty much the lead of the film. Shyamalan continued his losing streak with this dull and embarrassing flop.

9 Wild Wild West (1999) – 5.0

Smith’s hot streak in Hollywood seemed to come to a crashing halt with Wild Wild West. The movie was a loose remake of the classic Western television series and starred Smith as Jim West, a lawman who teams up with an inventor (Kevin Kline) to take down a warlord.

The movie took what could have been a fun Western adventure and turned it into an unwieldy gigantic blockbuster with a huge metal spider in its finale. It is a film Smith himself has apologized for.

8 Made in America (1993) – 5.1

Given that he is one of the biggest stars on the planet, there probably aren’t too many Will Smith movies audiences aren’t familiar with. However, Made in America was an early role for Smith which he likely wishes would remain forgotten.

The film stars Whoopi Goldberg a woman whose daughter seeks out her sperm donor father only to realize to both their surprise that he is a white man (Ted Danson). The movie has a premise that would seem thin for a comedy sketch, let alone an entire movie.

7 Gemini Man (2019) – 5.7

Smith isn’t slowing down as an action star, but his more recent films in the genre have been disappointing. One of his latest is Gemini Man in which he plays a skilled assassin who discovers he is being hunted by a young clone of himself.

Despite the premise and the fact that it was directed by Oscar-winner Ang Lee, the film didn’t connect with audiences. The concept couldn’t get over the formulaic script and the action was not as thrilling as one would hope given the talent involved.

6 Suicide Squad (2016) – 6.0

It’s likely that Smith had been offered countless comic book movies over the years, but he finally said yes to Suicide Squad. The DCEU film follows a group of criminals, including Deadshot (Smith) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) who are recruited by the government to carry out a dangerous mission.

What could have been a very fun and dark take on the superhero genre ended up being a total mess in the eyes of many fans. Smith and Robbie were praised as highlights but they were surrounded by a bad script, miscasting, and dull action.

5 I Am Legend (2007) – 7.2

For an actor to carry a movie without the help of any co-stars requires tremendous talent. Smith proved to be up to that daunting task with the sci-fi thriller I Am Legend. Following a virus outbreak, Smith plays seemingly the last man on Earth who is hunted by deadly mutants.

Based on the sci-fi novel of the same name, some fans were disappointed with the film’s new ending. However, many saw it as a thrilling and suspenseful genre film featuring a stellar performance by Smith who truly elevates the movie.

4 Enemy of the State (1998) – 7.3

Given how often Smith is seen as an unstoppable action hero, it’s interesting to see him in a more vulnerable role. In Enemy of the State, Smith plays a lawyer and family man who is targeted and his life picked apart by a covert government agency who believes he is hiding sensitive evidence.

The movie, from director Ridley Scott, is a pulse-pounding ride that is more of a chase film than a full-blown action-adventure. Smith gives one of his most underrated performances and he holds his own while sharing the screen with Gene Hackman.

3 Men in Black (1997) – 7.3

Smith became the biggest star in the world in the 1990s and Men in Black helped him cement that status. Smith plays a young and talented cop who is recruited by Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) to join a secret organization that monitors aliens on Earth.

The film is a wildly fun mix of sci-action and clever humor. The excellent script and fun direction are made even better by the excellent chemistry between Smith and Jones as the buddy cop duo.

2 Seven Pounds (2008) – 7.6

Despite his action movie star status, Smith often reminds audiences of his remarkable acting talent in the occasional dramatic film. In Seven Pounds, Smith plays a seeking redemption for his past by changing the lives of seven strangers.

Some found the film to be overly sentimental, but most agreed that Smith’s performance is one outstanding element. He plays against type as a man consumed with guilt and is very effective in the role.

1 Best: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – 8.0

Smith received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his lead role in the drama Pursuit of Happyness, based on a true story. Smith plays a divorced and homeless man who tries to make a future for himself and his young son by becoming a stockbroker despite having no experience.

This is the kind of feel-good inspirational films that audiences love, and that Smith is so good in. He gives a moving and heartfelt performance alongside his real-life son, Jaden Smith, in a true crowd-pleasing story.

About The Author

Colin McCormick
(2045 Articles Published)

Colin McCormick is a Senior Writer with Screen Rant and has been a proud member of the team since 2019. In addition to his work as Screen Rant, Colin is also a writer of News, Feature and Review pieces at Game Rant. Colin has had a long passion and obsession with movies going back to the first time he saw The Lion King in theaters. Along with movies, Colin stays up-to-date on the latest must-see TV shows. While he loves to find interesting projects in any kind of genre, he has a special movie of crime stories that are infused with a little dark humor much like the work of his favorite author, Elmore Leonard.

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