No matter the role, whether it is the arrogant DC villain in Suicide Squad or the leading male in a romantic comedy like Hitch, Will Smith always manages to wow. In the 1990s, he appeared in films ranging from the highly acclaimed drama Six Degrees of Separation to the blockbuster alien invasion films Independence Day and Men in Black.
1. The Pursuit of Happiness (Sequel)
The brash, confident superstar of Men in Black films took on more serious material in this 2008 movie about a boozy homeless nobody who’s granted superhuman powers that include lightning speed, incredible strength, indestructibility, and flight. Despite the movie’s cloying tone, Smith delivers a strong, moving performance.
Based on a true story, The Pursuit of Happyness stars Smith as Chris Gardner, a struggling stockbroker who becomes a millionaire by persevering through tough times. He also faces his greatest personal challenge as a father, caring for his son (played by Jaden Smith) while attempting to build his career. Gabriele Muccino’s film is a powerful, inspiring drama. Sadly, it would be followed by the 2013 disaster After Earth. The biggest budget flop of Smith’s career, this sci-fi thriller is a blaring example of pandering Hollywood filmmaking at its worst.
2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Sequel)
Taking over for the original star, Will Smith gives a hilarious performance as the heir to a multi-billion empire. Despite its flaws, it’s a must-watch film to appreciate Smith’s movie-star appeal. Adapted from John Guare’s stage play, this Fred Schepisi dramedy made Smith a true Hollywood star. The movie’s slick and stylish look, plus its cast of top-notch actors, make Six Degrees of Separation one of the most underrated Will Smith movies.
Before starring as DC supervillain Deadshot in 2016’s Suicide Squad, Smith gave his best performance to date in this thriller. He’s the only actor on screen for a large portion of the film, but he makes it work. He even gets to belt out a catchy theme song that still lingers in our heads. This is his most underrated movie.
3. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Sequel)
After a successful run as Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith starred in this drama about an escaped slave who cons his way into the lives of two wealthy high society types. Director Antoine Fuqua’s approach to the material is a bit more action-movie glib than some might prefer, but Smith brings gravity and a spine of concrete to this role and carries the movie himself.
This Tony Scott action-thriller marked a dry run for the more dramatic roles Smith would pursue in the next decade, and he is commanding as a lawyer who gets mixed up in a government conspiracy with only his buddy Agent J (Tommy Lee Jones) to help him out. It’s a film that is available on gomovies that has held up well over the years and is an entertaining sci-fi adventure.
Before he became DC’s Deadshot, Smith got in touch with his inner nerd with this film about a homeless nobody who harnesses superhuman abilities. Hancock might not quite deliver on its promise to be a dark satire of superhero movies, but it’s still a funny and exciting popcorn flick with plenty of big-screen spectacle.
4. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Sequel)
This sequel to the hit sitcom pushed Smith from the suburbs and into big-screen action. It was a huge success and marked the start of his run as a box office king. During his bulletproof period, Smith could do no wrong. He was likable and charming as Hitch, a master matchmaker with a flair for romantic comedies. But in Enemy of the State, he showed his dramatic chops with a commanding turn as a mild-mannered lawyer caught up in a government conspiracy with Gene Hackman by his side.
Michael Mann’s 2001 biopic Ali may have lost some of its luster since the late champ’s passing, but it was an early career highlight for Smith. His fusion of electric showman and soulful dramatist makes the performance a true one-of-a-kind. And he’s backed by a great cast including Donald Sutherland and Stockard Channing.
5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Sequel)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is getting a sequel and there’s no doubt that it will star Will Smith. The actor has amassed a wide variety of movies in his career, including dramas like Six Degrees of Separation and The Pursuit of Happiness, as well as comedies like Hitch and Bad Boys. He’s also tackled action and sci-fi films, including Hancock, a role that earned him an Oscar nomination. But it’s his one big-budget flop — After Earth, a dystopian sci-fi flick with a pandering plot and his son Jaden Smith in the leading role — that really stands out as a career low point.
Independence Day, meanwhile, is considered the movie that launched Smith’s rise to box office superstardom. He’s Agent J, a street-smart police officer recruited to monitor alien activity on Earth alongside Tommy Lee Jones as his partner.