Every Will Smith Movie, Ranked Worst to Best
Updated December 1, 2022 to add Emancipation.
First rising to fame in the 1980s as the non-DJ half of the hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Will Smith moved into acting in 1990 as the star of the hit NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (soon to be rebooted as a Peacock drama series). He would make his big-screen debut a few years later in a few indie movies before quickly moving to above-the-title stardom with 1995's Bad Boys. He has been a major presence in film ever since, with roles in over 30 films, a pair of Oscar nominations, and a cumulative box office gross of over $4 billion.
His newest film, King Richard, is headed to theaters and HBO Max on November 19th and is expected to be an Oscar contender in multiple categories. How does it compare to his past work? In the gallery on this page, we rank every one of Will Smith's films in order from worst to best by their Metascores, which represent the consensus opinions of top film critics. Note that we have excluded titles where Smith's role was limited to a brief cameo appearance (such as in Winter's Tale, Jersey Girl, and Anchorman 2).
Smith's most recent film may be his best yet. (As we write this, no Will Smith movie has a higher score.) And it ends a string of 13 consecutive Will Smith movies without a green Metascore. Expected to be a contender for multiple Oscars, this 2021 biopic tells the story of Richard Williams (Smith) as he guides his two young daughters, Venus and Serena Williams, at the beginning of their careers that will see them become tennis legends. The sisters are producers on the film, which is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Joe Bell), and it will receive a simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max release on November 19 following a widely praised festival debut in Telluride a few months ago.
“King Richard is a simple tale of triumph over adversity. The supporting cast shines, Will Smith excels, and while this might not be the full story, King Richard nevertheless works as both character study and feel-good sports movie.” —Chris Tilly, IGN
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|