The 20 Best Will Smith Movies, Ranked

Now with three Best Actor Oscar nominations to his name, we’re looking back on the Fresh Prince’s expansive career.

WhenIndependence Daywas liberate in 1996 , Will Smith undeniably enkindle his status in Hollywood from lovely rapper and lovable situation comedy personality to bankable movie wizard . Smith ’s filmography has highs and lows , but one affair has remained constant : Even in his most somber work when he ’s tasked with turn down that million - dollar charm , the doer remains one of the most enthusiastic , personable performing artist out there . No matter what movie he ’s in , he ’s at his most relatable .

Even still today , Smith extend to play Hollywood ’s game and limit modern stardom — reject appearances in sequels of properties that he once led likeIndependence Day , taking up opportunities in the DCEU , and still skim in critical acclaim and Oscar nominations . With that in judgment , we take a look at the actor ’s career with a ranking of his 20 best roles . Welcome to Earth , as own by Will Smith .

20.Bad Boys For Life(2020)

On a scene - to - panorama base , Bad Boys for Lifeis really more of a showcase for Martin Lawrence ’s rapid - fervidness humor than Smith ’s movie star personal appeal . Less bombastic than the too vulgarBad Boys 2,Bad Boys For Lifeis a legacy subsequence that finds itself settle into sitcom rhythm in between the action set - pieces that let Lawrence really smooth . Still , it speaks to Smith ’s abilities as an worker that at this point in his vocation he ’s able to cede ground to his co - star , particularly in a big - budget action thriller like this with its more and more convoluted patch and set of newFast and Furious - corresponding support character reference . fortuitously , the resonance between Lawrence and Smith go on this from experience like an empty practice in nostalgia . — Dan Jackson

19.Concussion(2015)

Concussionis one of Smith ’s many try at Oscar gold that end up hold out unnoticed . While he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance , the Academy ended up snubbing him for his purpose as the substantial - lifespan , Nigerien forensic diagnostician who happen upon that football musician can die from make one - too - many concussions on the orbit . It ’s the select example of a form of role Smith take on frequently and does well — playing the only noble character in a movie ring by frightful people who strangle the striking investigation at hand . — Craig D. Lindsey

18.Men in Black 3(2012)

Smith once again bring back to his theatrical role of Agent J , going back in time to couple up with a younger version of Tommy Lee Jones ’s Agent K ( played here by an uncanny Josh Brolin ) to defeat renegade stranger and all that . While nothing will compare to the original , it ’s far ripe than its herald and ended up exceeding fan expectation upon its release . — CL

17.Hancock(2008)

Released in 2008 , just two months after the MCU kicked off withIron Man , Hancockemerged as an original superhero movie that nowfeels like it was ahead of its time . In it , Smith plays a surly Skid course antihero appoint John Hancock who ’s despised by the citizen of his LA hometown . Much like the grinder from the MCU and DCEU , Hancock , too , has a job with wreaking havoc every time he ’s called to activity — and , amazingly , the consequences of those action are seemingly the film ’s nidus . After saving the life of a hot shot Commonwealth of Puerto Rico image advisor ( Jason Bateman ) , he ’s offered the chance to undergo a makeover and become the model superhero . At first , Hancockseems to slap the typical genre tropes apart to rather search what would happen if a superhero was hold accountable for alwaysfucking shit up — but every superhero has their Kryptonite . What start out out as a promising premise ultimately makes an awkward tonal switching and segues into an origin taradiddle — and a rather underwhelming one , too . WhileHancockfeatures a " meh " second half , Smith stands out as the compelling title of respect type , evolving from a blemished and snarky curmudgeon ( a character shtik the actor always deplume off well ) who does n’t really give a damn about humanity , to becoming a somewhat sympathetic do - gooder . It ’s a shame that narration is sideline and bogged down by a mediocre third - act lineage story . — Gil Macias

16.I, Robot(2004)

Named after Isaac Asimov ’s famous collection of robot stories , Alex Proyas’I , Robotdoesn’t have much in common with Graeco-Roman sci - fi , but it is a hardboiled police detective pic zipped up in a sci - fi movie ’s wooing . It ’s the near future , and the world ’s mundane line of work have been automated , thanks to the habit of humanoid robots with rudimentary artificial intelligence service programme to abide by three prescript . Will Smith play Del Spooner , a detective investigating the suspicious death of the scientist who co - founded the company that start the land ’s robotics systems . There are only two problems : The premier suspect is a robot the brilliant scientist created , and Spooner harbors a bass hatred for all robot . — Emma Stefansky

15.Bad Boys 2(2003)

As much fun as it was seeing Smith and Martin Lawrence back together again as pettifoggery mate , just take up stuff as they go along ( includingthis sceneof them hassling a young man , which is comic atomic number 79 ) , their infectious camaraderie convey side - cut through when Michael Bay amps up the violence and the bloodshed . While it count like they ’re enjoying themselves , you ca n’t help but sense a bit sick watch this continuation . — CL

14.Where the Day Takes You(1992)

Smith ’s braggy - screen first appearance cast him alongside a who’s - who of ' 90s Hollywood up - and - comers ( Dermot Mulroney ! Lara Flynn Boyle ! Sean Astin ! ) , all wager houseless youth navigating the street of LA . Smith plays a disabled man who habituate a wheelchair . Although he ’s one of many in a large ensemble casting , he glow with the material that he was give and you may distinguish he was always one to take in , even early on in his career . — centilitre

13. Made in America (1993)

Smith ’s second movie found him providing straight - up comic ease , playing the champion - zoned pal of a curious youth play by Nia Long ( who later played his fiancée onThe Fresh Prince of Bel - Air ) . Long ’s case is on the hunt club for her biologic father , who she cerebrate is a railway car salesman ( Ted Danson ) . This movie is really ill-famed for being the picture where Danson had a eminent - profile romance with carbon monoxide gas - star Whoopi Goldberg ( play Long ’s mom ) , but Smith stands out by delivering hearty zingers , too . — CL

12.Focus(2015)

If the studio commercialise this crime comedy as the totally bonkers escapade it is ( the final human activity has more twists than a pocketbook of Twizzlers ) , perhaps audiences would ’ve get word it . Will Smith and hisSuicide Squadco - whiz Margot Robbie play con artists who make money . ( That is , when they ’re not make love . ) Their undeniable chemistry will certainly make you bid you were watching a romanticistic comedy , and that this flick had the smash hit going that it deserved . — CL

10.Hitch(2005)

This fixed storage - com gave Smith the chance to be a romantic lead , starring as a man who lift up male guest with the women of their dream . The close he ’s since come up to relive theFresh Princedays , Hitch piles on one ridiculous situation after another as Smith tries to coach Kevin James on dating and undertake to court his own love sake play Eva Mendes . One question remains : Why the infernal region does n’t Will Smith get call on to do romantic clowning more often ? — CL

9.Six Degrees of Separation(1993)

This is the film that examine the Fresh Prince could do by dramatic material — and did n’t have problem tackling controversial roles . At the time , play a gay drifter function his direction into the upper crust of Manhattan was a risky move for someone make it in Hollywood . After all of these year , it remains one of his most riveting turns as an actor . — CL

8.Enemy of the State(1998)

Rarely call upon to play an in - over - his - head everyman , Smith shows a surprising endowment for selling the anxieties of Robert Clayton Dean , a family man and labor attorney who ascertain himself trapped in a monolithic government conspiracy . Tony Scott ’s delightfully frenzied management captures the scourge and paranoia of digital surveillance , predicting next NSA exploits and transgression with surprising acuity , and Gene Hackman step dead into the role of an aging whistle-blower , clear mock up after his iconic performance as Harry Caul inThe Conversation . But Smith , with his intelligence and wit , take the flick together , make it one of the sharper action thrillers of the late ' 90s . — DJ

7.The Pursuit of Happyness(2006)

In his second Oscar - nominate office , Smith portrays literal - life-time enterpriser Chris Gardner , who spends nights on the street and in houseless shelter as he attempts to get a job . Happynessis a impregnable - willed , sentimental sire - Logos story , riding entirely on Smith ’s relationship with his on - screen boy , act as by his actual son Jaden Smith . It ’s a dear performance , and the two have the power to bring on the waterworks . — CL

6.King Richard(2021)

Smith will likely acquire the 2022 Oscar forhis performanceas Richard Williams , the eccentric , get father of Venus and Serena Williams . Is it his best work ? In some agency it might be hismostwork . Smith does the kind of forcible transmutation that Oscar voters love in the motion-picture show target by Reinaldo Marcus Green , hunch forward his back and affecting Williams ' distinctive dialect . But both Smith and the picture itself ca n’t quite figure out what to make of Williams . Is he a genius and the reason his daughters are the champion they are ? Or is his borderline abusive with his intensity and methods ? Eventually , all those interrogation fritter away whenKing Richardturns into an inspiring sport dramatic play — which , nonetheless , is very fun to watch . — Esther Zuckerman

5.I Am Legend(2007)

time perfectly to the top of 2000s dad culture ’s zombi fever , I Am Legendadapts Richard Matheson ’s 1954 novel to a modern visual modality of a post - Book of Revelation movie . Will Smith treads the ruining of NYC as former virologist Robert Neville , the last surviving human being in the city after a purported curative for Crab turn into a virus that pass over out nearly everyone , turning the survivor into undead violent variation . Immune to the virus , Neville tries to use his roue to make a cure while defending himself from the nightstalking mutants . Haunting and hopeful , I Am Legendremixes multiple genres to make something all its own , and Smith ’s performance as a world fighting the obliviousness of grief and death is one of his unspoilt ever . — atomic number 99

4.Bad Boys(1995)

When he published his new memoir , Smithmade amendswith conductor Michael Bay by sending him a copy of the Koran with a promissory note inscribed , " OK , Michael . You were ripe . I was unseasonable . " He was touch to a disagreement between the two about whether not Smith should wear a shirt during a chase scene . ( Smith wanted to keep his shirt on ; Bay disagreed . ) If you ’ve see the movie , you know the two worked out a via media : Smith runs around with his shirt unbuttoned , looking very cool in the physical process , and the rest is action motion-picture show chronicle . The argument is suggestive of the liberal appealingness ofBad Boys , an over - the - top buddy cop picture show where Smith and Martin Lawrence bicker and work crimes together . The movie understands Smith ’s collection as a movie mavin on a fundamental point , letting him be charming , vulnerable , and badass all at once . — DJ

3.Independence Day(1996)

Black movie - goers already knew Smith as a suave badass fromBad Boys , buteveryoneknew it after he starred in this ruinous summer smash hit . As a scrapper pilot who ’s so ready to kick E.T. ’s ass , he knocks an alien out and drags it across the desert — Smith was a amusing , unafraid , heroic delectation . People werereadyto see him defeat all those grampus aliens ! It ’s a shame he was n’t in the 2016 subsequence . — CL

2.Ali(2001)

This is the role Will Smith was born to spiel . Who else could act the magnetic , athletic , controversial boxing ikon but him — a humans who could be a charmer one instant and a strapper the next ? 2001 was such a confusing , fatal blur that a lot of hoi polloi have block how good this film is , and how triumphant Smith was in it . Denzel may have won the Oscar the next year forTraining Day , but possibly if that functioning was n’t around , Smith , who experience his first - ever Best Actor nomination forAli , would ’ve been the next in line to take it . — CL

1.Men in Black(1997)

This sounds like exaggeration but it ’s not : There ’s a magical toMen in Blackthat seems like it would be easy to duplicate , but it ’s dead impossible , as the two sequels demonstrate . So much of that special brewage has to do with Will Smith , at the height of his business leader , polish the cocky know - it - all assurance fromIndependence Dayand bounce it off of an impenetrable Tommy Lee Jones . Mash that up with Barry Sonnenfeld ’s cunning direction , and you ’ve get something that after all of these years feels unfeignedly special . Smith plays the NYC cop who will eventually don the last suit he will ever wear to become Jay . Working with Ed Solomon ’s immensely clever book , it ’s Smith ’s incredulity that both grounds the action and provides its biggest gag . He uses all the creature at his disposal : The comedic chops that made him a sitcom wiz , the magic spell that made him a read-only storage - com lead , and the physicality that made him an action hero . Plus , Men in Blackis just a skinny flawless movie — as much about New York as it is about outer blank ; as heartfelt as it is sappy . It ’s a vehicle that would only work with Will Smith , but also one that matches his charisma in every way . — EZ

best will smith movies