Access Atlanta > Movies > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 17 > Entry
Is Will Smith the biggest celeb on the planet?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As far as movie stars go, the media always seems to hang around George Clooney or Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. But when it comes to the public using their hard-earned money at the box office, it looks like Will Smith is a prince if not the king.
Smith’s tepid version of “I Am Legend” has just become the No. 1 box office opener of all time for December. It earned more than $76 million, making it Smith’s biggest opening movie ever. That might sound just OK, but consider that No. 2 on the list is “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” which was a huge mainstream movie.
The 15 movies Smith has appeared in during the last dozen years have earned a total of more than $2 billion.
People of practically any race, age or gender like him.
And it’s easy to see why, especially when you encounter Will Smith in person. At last year’s Academy Awards, he didn’t act stuck up like so many stars do. He was climbing up onto the red carpet bleachers to shake hands with fans and smiling for pictures they took. He’s a rarity in Hollywood — talented and extremely personable.
Here are my favorite Will Smith movies:
“Independence Day” (1996) — He’s funny, on target and never overshadowed by the film’s rampant special effects.
“Six Degrees of Separation” (1993) — This is the movie where he proved to everyone he could act.
“Bad Boys II” (2003) — Most critics turn up their noses at the high-testosterone movies, but I enjoy Smith’s non-stop banter with Martin Lawrence.
“Ali” (2001) — He more than deserved the Oscar nomination he got for playing the boxing champ.
Why do you like Will Smith? Would you go see him in any movie he’s in? And what’s your favorite Will Smith movie?
Permalink | Comments (35) | Categories: Bob Longino
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By Aurora
December 17, 2007 8:05 AM | Link to this
Will Smith is just as cute as can be. I love him, and will see just about anything he does…..
He was so good in The Pursuit of Happyness….
By Hey
December 17, 2007 8:12 AM | Link to this
I’m SO incredibly jealous of Jada! That’s all I got to say ‘bout that….
By sharon
December 17, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
He’s not the “biggest celebrity”, but he is one of the biggest and the most likeable. Will Smith seems to pick a lot of fun movies. I loved him in I Robot, Pursuit of Happyness and Bad Boys 1&2. I thought he was a poor choice for Ali. His Men in Black video is on of my favorites of all time. He is very versatile.
By Camille
December 17, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this
I remember when Will Smith was just the “Fresh Prince” (with DJ Jazzy Jeff). His acting career then started with the television show The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire The show comes on Nick at Night, and I still love to watch it even now. However, you can definitely see how his acting capabilities have significantly grown. Since I’ve started watching the reruns on Nick at Night, I notice how terrible his acting was in the first couple of years of the show (I do say that very lovingly). Independence Day is one of my favorite all time movies, and I still notice the difference between his acting skills then and now. In the Pursuit of Happyness, he did such an excellent job!! I am so proud of him, as if he were my own son. He has definitely grown into his acting career.
By Huh?
December 17, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this
Will Smith? You’ve go to be kidding. He’s not even in the top twenty. Just another example of no talent being over-marketed.
By Alvin
December 17, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
Yes in my opinion,and his personality really has a lot of my respect.He is more than just talented.
By Alvin
December 17, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
Yes in my opinion,and his personality really has a lot of my respect.He is more than just talented.
By M
December 17, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
He gets to play in great movies that help him look better. The only movie I saw, in part, because he was in it was Bad Boys. I expected him and Martin to be funny together. Definitely not the biggest celebrity, but to definitely be respected. Favorite movie, not sure; maybe Independence Day.
By ron
December 17, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
Biggest celeb?No.Rosie O’Donnell out weighs him,out girths him and has a bigger mouth.He’s only taller than her.
By BlackGirl
December 17, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
What is the definition of the “biggest” celeb? It it means who’s making big dollars, then Will Smith is definitely in the top 10. It it means who’s on the front of the latest tabloid, well, he’ll never even make thel top 10. How often are black (not bi-racial) stars ever considered top celebrities? Rarely, if ever. Oh yeah, I know someone will mention Oprah, but can you think of anyone else?
By pj
December 17, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
I am a HUGE Will Smith fan. His growth over the years is certainly visible, and appreciated. I would go see just about anything with him in. I had no interest in seeing I Am Legend, but went anyway, to support him. Although I would not consider this his best movie, it was entertaining and engaging. His personableness and humility are big factors in being so likable.
By queenbee
December 17, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
will smith has learned his craft well… i like watcing him with his family and i give props to jada who i suspect help keeps him fully engaged…when you work hard you SHOULD reap the rewards…
By Weather Man
December 17, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
I LIKE TURTLES!!!
By Weather Man
December 17, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
I LIKE TURTLES!!!
By Weather Man
December 17, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
I LIKE TURTLES!!!
By vanessa
December 17, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
I will say that Jada is a lucky gal-she said in someone’s high school book that she planned to marry a superstar and she has. My fave move is Bad Boys II
By jack
December 17, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Will is one of the best. You could see right off in “Fresh Prince” that he had talent, and it seemed soooo easy for him. Seems like a Real Good Person. Independance Day, by a nose.
By Noelle
December 17, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
Will is not only multitalented but also seems to be very, very nice and a strong family man. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform at Live8 in his hometown of Philadelphia, and his was one of the few performances that brought the entire crowd together. Singing the “Fresh Price” theme song along with 750,000 other people? Priceless!
By DMV
December 17, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
He’s big now because he is in a big movie, flavor of the week. Picking him for the Wild Wild West role was just plain stupid, the same goes for I Robot. If you read the book, the guy in I Robot is white and Irish…duh. He has grown as an actor from television. He needs to distance himself from the freak Tom Cruise and back off the Scientology thing. I know he’s pals with Cruise but anything Cruise touches now is a flop. No star is so bright it can’t fade….overnight. Listening Will?
By GRANNY-62
December 17, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
In my opinion Will is great and funny. i fine i like Independance Day best then MEN IN BLACK.
By Marvin
December 17, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this
Men in Black II, especially his one-on-one with pug “Frank” early on.
By Smith hater
December 17, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
Will Smith is a terrible actor
He’s a one trick pony. He doesn’t play a cop, a pilot or the last man on earth. He plays the Fresh Prince in all his movies. The Fresh Prince as a cop, the Fresh Prince as a pilot, the Fresh Prince as the last man on earth. Johnny Depp’s weird, but at least he can make you believe he’s the person he’s portraying. Now it’s going to be the Fresh Prince as Mr. Miyagi in the remake of the Karate Kid. I guess DJ Jazzy Jeff will be Daniel-san.
By dranger
December 17, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
This is for BlackGirl. Besides Oprah and Will Smith have you heard of Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby, Laurence Fishburn, Forrest Whitaker, Martin Lawrence, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Serena Williams, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Michael Jackson (sorry about that one), Aretha Franklin, and many others that if you took the time you could probably could name. Not to mention people like Nelson Mandela, Reverend Al Bishop, Jesse Jackson, et.al.
By anastazia
December 17, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
Favorite Will Smith Movie? How the heck could you pick just one? If Will is in it - i love it!
By anastazia
December 17, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
to BlackGirl - I absolutely agree with dranger! Maybe you should stop and think about all of the wonderful african americans out there that have made wonderful movies and songs etc.
By CHA
December 17, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
Where can his Debut movie be bought? The one he did before “Six Degrees of Separation”??? And will Will make another album?
By hokie4life
December 17, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
wow blackgirl, are you sure you are black?
How can you not think that there are top black actors as well as non-black?
Thanks to those who posted to remind her…
By hokie4life
December 17, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
wow blackgirl, are you sure you are black?
How can you not think that there are not many top black actors as well as non-black?
Thanks to those who posted to remind her…
By DC
December 17, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
Pursuit of Happiness was his best movie so far. It had humor , sadness and showed how Will has matured as an actor and his son was also great in the movie.
By Whitney
December 17, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
Crack is Whack!
By Brent
December 17, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this
Pursuit of Happiness, and I am Legend. Both made you pull hard for him, and Legend you just wanted to cry at the end.
By David
December 17, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
Me like Men in Black!
By sab
December 18, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
to ron and huh jealousy and ignorance. the only thing rosie o’donnell is big in is stupidity and size.
By PineCone
December 21, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
His movies has actually made over $4.4billion not including “Legend”.
Regardless of anyone here thinking he is the top celeb or not is irrevelant. It’s what the media and the collective movie goers around the world think that matters. In terms of generating money he is at no.1 with $120mill. Hanks (or whoever) is at no.2 with $100mill. He has had 11 no.1s and 7 no.1s in succession. Although I am not his biggest fan, that makes him the biggest player in Hollywood in my books (And newsweek’s, cnn’s, abc’s etc)
By real good guy
December 26, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
Although I don’t think of him as a “great” or “heavyweight” actor, I agree with all the other comments and would add that he seems all that - personable, versatile, solid family man, positive person and very thoughtful in the way he conducts himself and his life. He had a strong upbringing and learned to dream big, and is a great role model for the rest of Hollywood. I also can see where he was coming from with the Hitler comment and how it was stupidly misconstrued. It really hurt him that people think he’s pro-Hitler because that’s so not what he was saying.