Will Smith is one of just a handful of cinematic sure things, the type of performer whose presence alone results in a box-office bonanza.
A dozen films by the actor-singer-producer have grossed more than $100 million at the box office, which is a stunning total when you consider: a) he is just 43 years old; and b) he has made just 19 films to date. Smith's career box-office total is only going to increase with the release of Men in Black III, the long-awaited blockbuster that hits theatres Friday.
Don't go looking for deep meaning from Agent J, his MiB character. Like many Smith creations, the suited-up agent is a stock player designed to be all things to all viewers. That Smith has whittled that type of portrayal down to a science explains why he is so universally loved - and so incredibly successful.
Though he has put together quite a resum脙漏 for himself, not every movie he makes scores. Here's 10 from Smith that do.
1 Ali (2001). Oscar-nominated for his role as the greatest heavyweight in boxing history, Smith crossed over to the A-list with this star-making epic, a visceral Michael Mann movie that plays out over Muhammad Ali's most successful decade as a fighter. Along the way, Smith is required to gain considerable weight, speak in Ali's trademark dialect and convey the gravitas of one of the most inspirational people in sports history. Smith nailed the role, even though Ali remains one of his least-successful films to date.
2 Six Degrees of Separation (1993). People couldn't believe the actor playing a high-society con man in Six Degrees of Separation was the same goofball playing a street-wise teen on the syndicated TV comedy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The maturation of Will Smith begins here, with a performance that stands alongside those by Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland and Ian McKellen. A triumphant arrival.
3 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). Though heartstrings are pulled in nearly every scene, The Pursuit of Happyness doesn't take a calculated approach to the true story of single father Chris Gardner's year-long struggle with homelessness as he studies to become a stockbroker. The movie doesn't need to pander: There's a warmth to Smith's portrayal that helps the film move forward during the sad parts, of which there are many.
4 Hancock (2008). Smith took a chance on Hancock, an anti-hero actioner that mixes the deadpan delivery of Jason Bateman with director Peter Berg's gift for gadgetry. Darker than most films in Smith's catalogue - his character is a suicidal, alcoholic superhero who's tired of saving the world - Hancock was a gamble, to say the least. But audiences responded to the tune of $650 million worldwide, making it the second-highest international hit of his career behind -
5 Independence Day (1996). Smith cornered the market on cocky with his role in Roland Emmerich's unstoppable Independence Day, the highest-grossing movie of 1996 and one of the biggest hits in film history. Smith played a big role in the movie's success, dropping corny one-liners ("Welcome to Earth!") while kicking alien butt during the movie's intricate action sequences. To some, it remains his definitive role.
6 Men in Black (1997). What's not to like about the pairing of Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as secret agents tasked with keeping Earth safe from aliens? The dynamics of Jones and Smith gave MiB a rock-solid foundation to work with, one that has been played out over the course of a series of blockbuster instalments.
7 Enemy of the State (1998). The era of Will Smith, action star, was in full swing at the time of this film, which reunited him with Bad Boys producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Here he plays an unsuspecting lawyer on the run from the government, and does so while surrounded by a toptier roster of acting talent, including Gene Hackman and Jon Voight. Big, dumb fun.
8 Where the Day Takes You (1992). Smith - looking greener than ever - makes his film debut in Where the Day Takes You, a soso ensemble movie that never quite reaches second gear. Smith, playing a wheelchair-bound homeless youth, is one of the few performers worth noticing in this clumsy picture about youngsters - in the form of master thespians Ricki Lake, Alyssa Milano and David Arquette - living on the mean streets of Los Angeles.
9 I Am Legend (2007). A techheavy remake of 1964's The Last Man on Earth and 1971's The Omega Man, I Am Legend is standard fare made infinitely better by Smith's presence. The film was a huge hit on arrival, thanks not only to its popular story (zombies known as Darkseekers have taken over the planet) but the reliability of Smith as a sci-fi action hero.
10 Bad Boys (1995)/Bad Boys 2 (2003). Critics appear to hate the Bad Boys franchise with a passion. The 2003 sequel, in particular, drew some of the worst reviews of Smith's career, for reasons that weren't entirely of his own doing. Smith and Martin Lawrence, a former stand-up comic who plays the neurotic yin to Smith's cocksure yang, gave the buddy-picture genre a much-needed kick in the seat, even if Michael Bay's flashoverfinesse direction made them look like extras in a rap music video.
