13 vibrant Will Smith films worth seeing

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

This talented actor beautifully played a cheeky cop, the savior of the planet and a charming genie.

1. Bad guys

• USA, 1995.
• Action, comedy, thriller, crime.
• Duration: 119 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

A large consignment of drugs is being stolen from a police station in Miami. The family man Markus and Don Juan Mike are entrusted to return the loss. To get the only witness on the case to talk, partners must pretend to be each other.

Bad Boys is Michael Bay's directorial debut. Previously, he shot music videos and unusual commercials, which is why his first film came out so dynamic and with an abundance of special effects.

This adrenaline-fueled buddy movie also paved the way for big cinema for Will Smith and comedian Martin Lawrence.

Bad Boys has a sequel. The second part was filmed eight years later, and the third was released in 2020 and received mixed reviews.

2. Independence Day

• USA, 1996.
• Science fiction, action, adventure.
• Duration: 145 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Aliens arrive on Earth, and their intentions are far from peaceful. The threat of total annihilation hangs over the planet. People can only survive if they infect the main alien ship with a computer virus. Scientist David Levinson and pilot Stephen Hillier, who dreams of flying into space, are sent on this dangerous mission.

The fantastic blockbuster "Independence Day" is ridiculously naive, but became the most successful film of 1996 and the finest hour of the German director Roland Emmerich.

The main role was played by Will Smith, whose career was just gaining momentum after The Bad Boys. The young actor brought a lot of personal charm to the action movie and immediately moved from among the rising stars to the caste of the most in-demand artists.

3. People in black

• USA, 1997.
• Science fiction, action, comedy, adventure.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Agents Kay and Jay work for the most secret organization in the world. Their task is to catch aliens that are dangerous to the Earth. The new task of the partners is to neutralize a giant alien invading beetle, because of which humanity may be threatened with destruction.

The myth of agents who supposedly know about the existence of aliens was very popular in the United States in the second half of the twentieth century. Barry Sonnenfeld's film is based on a comic strip that plays this conspiracy theory in a funny way.

The role of Agent Jay was originally offered to the star of "Friends" David Schwimmer, but then the creators drew attention to Will Smith: his image in the sitcom "The Prince of Beverly Hills" impressed them.

In the wake of the success of the first part of "Men in Black", two more came out. It must be admitted that each subsequent film turned out to be weaker than the previous one. In 2019, a completely disastrous spin-off with Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth was born - the picture was criticized for parasitizing nostalgia and the absence of everyone's beloved Smith.

4. Enemy of the state

• USA, 1998.
• Action, thriller.
• Duration: 132 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

A successful lawyer Robert Dean accidentally gets compromising evidence on an official: it turned out that he was pushing through a law that allows literally every inhabitant of the country to be monitored. From this moment, the hero from a law-abiding citizen turns into an outcast and enemy of the state, and government agents follow on his heels.

Will Smith further cemented his superstar status by starring in Tony Scott's successful technotriller. But ahead of the actor was a failure. He could have played in The Matrix instead of Keanu Reeves, but preferred Barry Sonnenfeld and his Wild Wild West project. The latter ultimately turned into a commercial failure.

5. Ali

• USA, 2001.
• Drama, biography, sports.
• Duration: 157 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

The film tells about the great boxer Muhammad Ali. The athlete converts to Islam under the influence of black rights activist Malcolm X, and this changes his life forever.

Director Michael Mann took a big risk by inviting Will Smith, who made a name for himself on commercial hits, into the drama. But the actor did not disappoint and performed his first serious role with maximum dedication.

Watching the film is worth not only for the sake of Smith's excellent performance. The camera work of Emmanuel Lubezki, who filmed the fights in the ring, is simply brilliant.

6. I, a robot

• USA, Germany, 2004.
• Science fiction, action, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

In the near future, the world is inhabited by humanoid robots. No one can even think that a machine is capable of harming a person. Everything changes when cop Dal Spooner takes on a murder case involving a cyborg.

The free film adaptation of the collection of stories by Isaac Asimov was liked by the audience, including the fans of the writer. The film turned out to be cheerful, the plot was intriguing, and Smith proved that he could play not only the typical good guy, but also a much more controversial character.

7. Rules of taking off: Hitch method

• USA, 2005.
• Melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

Consultant Alex Hitchens, nicknamed Hitch, secretly teaches men how to charm a woman they like. One day, the hero meets the journalist Sarah, who works in the gossip. They immediately feel sympathy for each other, but the problem is that the girl writes about one star romance, for which Alex is just responsible.

The Russian title of the film can confuse viewers who are waiting for a hooligan comedy in the spirit of "Bachelor Party in Vegas". Of course, there will also be jokes here, but the genre is much closer to romantic melodrama. Moreover, Will Smith here showed his versatile talent, playing a very sweet and modest hero.

8. In search of happiness

• USA, 2006.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

New Yorker Chris Gardner is left with a young son in his arms and practically no money. He tries to figure out how to make money, and decides to try his luck on the stock exchange. But to get into brokers' courses, he will have to risk literally everything he has.

In this wonderful drama, Will Smith played a real successful investor who went from a homeless poor man to a millionaire. For the role of the child of the hero, the actor offered his son Jaden. The idea fell into place: the audience saw on the screen the most natural relationship of two loving people.

9. I am a legend

• USA, 2007.
• Science fiction, action, thriller, drama, adventure.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Robert Neville is the only person who did not turn into an aggressive mutant cannibal after the zombie apocalypse. At night he fights for survival, and during the day he tries to find an antidote and get to the bottom of the causes of the epidemic.

The film by Francis Lawrence based on the novel by Richard Matheson is famous for two versions of the ending. In the theatrical ending, Will Smith's character acts like a typical Hollywood action movie character. The alternative denouement is much bolder. It is written in the spirit of the original book source and turns the whole point of the plot inside out.

10. Hancock

• USA, 2008.
• Science fiction, action, drama, comedy.
• Duration: 92 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Superhero John Hancock suffers from alcoholism and is always depressed, and his every attempt to help someone turns into massive destruction. Unlucky PR man Ray Embry convinces Hancock that he needs to work on his image, but Ray's wife is not happy with the idea.

The script about the heavy burden of supernormal abilities lay on the shelf for about 10 years. In general, the film was conceived as a superhero version of "Bad Santa", but during the filming process they changed a lot: for example, although Smith's hero appears to be a bully, he is far from Billy Bob Thornton's cynicism.

As a result, the picture conquered the audience with its reckless comedic intonation.

11. Seven Lives

• USA, 2008.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Ben Thomas's life changes abruptly when his beloved accidentally dies through his fault. Ben decides to commit suicide, but first help seven strangers, each with their own trouble.

The film directed by Gabriele Muccino is built in a rather unusual way: only at the end of the story it becomes clear what's what. Will Smith not only played the main role here, but also acted as an executive producer.

The audience really liked the sentimental picture about sacrificial love and atonement for sins. But critics found the tape too similar to "21 grams" by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu and even suspected the creators of plagiarism.

12. Phantom beauty

• USA, 2016.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

Advertiser Howard Inlet is grieving over the death of his little daughter. Colleagues come up with an unusual plan to get their friend back on his feet, but this leads to unexpected results.

From the director of The Devil Wears Prada, this story of loss, loneliness and grief will be appreciated by true romantics. And fans of Will Smith will see his favorite in an unusual genre for him - a touching melodrama.

13. Aladdin

• USA, UK, Australia, 2019.
• Musical, fantasy, melodrama, adventure.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

A young street thief Aladdin accidentally meets the freedom-loving princess Jasmine, who is tired of life in the palace and does not want to get married. The young man decides to conquer her heart, and the powerful Genie is ready to help him in this. But the insidious vizier Jafar interferes in the plans of the heroes.

Not everyone liked the game interpretation of the 1992 cartoon. Guy Ritchie, the creator of the cult crime comedies, was responsible for the production, but, alas, his corporate style in the film, alas, is not felt at all.

When the trailer came out, Will Smith, who scared everyone with his blue skin color, was criticized. But after the rental, almost all viewers noted how good the actor is in the role of the charming Ginny.