Will Smith's 8 Best Movies, Ranked

Ranked by movie.guru score, one role each. Fighter pilot, alien cop, date doctor, Genie. The man has range and a very good agent.

Number one has no aliens, no explosions and his best performance here.

1. 8
   Seven Pounds (2008)5.3

   The most earnest Will Smith ever got, for better and worse.

   As a mysterious IRS agent with a secret plan, he plays every scene close to tears. 7.6 on IMDb from 328,715 votes. The 123 minutes are slow on purpose, and you feel it.
2. 7
   I Am Legend (2007)5.8

   He acts opposite mannequins and a dog, and wins.

   As Robert Neville, the last man in New York, he carries 101 minutes nearly solo. Rotten Tomatoes says 68%. It's basically a one-man play with a $150 million budget.
3. 6
   Aladdin (2019)6.2

   The Genie works best as a smooth-talking wingman.

   As the Genie, he basically plays Hitch with wishes and has a blast doing it. $1.05 billion worldwide. Critics rank it above 37% of notable movies, and families didn't care.
4. 5
   Hitch (2005)5.8

   Kevin James steals it, and Will Smith lets him.

   As date doctor Alex Hitchens, he's smooth for 118 minutes. $371.6 million worldwide and an A from opening crowds. The dating advice aged badly. The dance lessons did not.
5. 4
   I, Robot (2004)5.9

   Will Smith versus a tunnel full of robots is peak popcorn.

   As Del Spooner, a Chicago cop who distrusts robots, he's pure swagger. 623,523 IMDb voters give it a 7.1, and audiences rank it above 71% of notable movies.
6. 3
   Independence Day (1996)7.0

   The role that turned him into Mr. July.

   As fighter pilot Steven Hiller, he steals a 145 minute movie from the President. $817.4 million worldwide on a reported $75 million. The science is nonsense. The fun is real.
7. 2
   Men in Black (1997)7.4

   His best comedy, and it's done in 98 minutes.

   As Agent J, the new guy next to a stone-faced Tommy Lee Jones, he's perfect. 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, $589.4 million worldwide. The sequels never figured out how.
8. 1
   The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)7.4

   His most human role, and the one that sticks.

   As Chris Gardner, a broke single dad chasing a stockbroker internship, he never begs for sympathy. Audiences rank it above 93% of notable movies, critics 53%. The script pushes hard. He doesn't.

$8,064 says you've tried a dance move from number five at a wedding and blamed the DJ.

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