Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Will Smith
Discover the career path of Will Smith, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Will Smith is a highly successful American actor, rapper, and film producer. He has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and four Grammy Awards. Smith's films have generated over $10 billion globally, establishing him as one of Hollywood's most commercially successful and influential figures.
1997: Debut solo album Big Willie Style
In 1997, Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style was released and became one of the best-selling rap albums of all time.
2005: Honorary César Award and Tony Award nomination for Fela!
In 2005, Will Smith received the honorary César Award. That same year, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical for Fela!.
2008: Donation to Barack Obama's presidential campaign
In 2008, Will Smith donated $4,600 to the presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama.
2012: Support for legalizing same-sex marriage
In 2012, Will Smith publicly stated his support for legalizing same-sex marriage.
2013: Big Willie Style as one of the best-selling rap albums of all time.
As of 2013, Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style (1997) remains among the best-selling rap albums of all time.
February 27, 2015: Release of Focus
On February 27, 2015, the romance drama Focus, starring Will Smith opposite Margot Robbie, was released. Smith played Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con artist.
2015: Portrayal of Bennet Omalu in Concussion
In 2015, Will Smith credited his Christian faith, instilled by his grandmother, for helping him accurately portray Bennet Omalu in Concussion. He described his grandmother as his spiritual teacher.
2016: Suicide Squad and Collateral Beauty releases, and father's death
In 2016, Will Smith played Deadshot in Suicide Squad, which was financially successful but received negative reviews. He also starred in Collateral Beauty, which had the lowest box office opening of his career and was critically panned. Additionally, in 2016, Smith's father passed away from cancer.
December 22, 2017: Bright's Release on Netflix
On December 22, 2017, Will Smith's film Bright was distributed via Netflix. Despite being Netflix's most expensive film to date, it was met with critical disappointment.
2017: Release of "Get Lit" and YouTube channel launch
In 2017, Will Smith released the song "Get Lit" with Jazzy Jeff and launched his YouTube channel.
2017: Film Bright broke record for most-viewed Netflix film
In 2017, Will Smith's film Bright broke the record for the most-viewed Netflix film ever for its first week.
2018: 50th birthday bungee jump in the Grand Canyon
In 2018, Will Smith celebrated his 50th birthday by performing a bungee jump from a helicopter in the Grand Canyon, raising money for the charity Global Citizen.
May 24, 2019: Release of Aladdin and participation in soundtracks
On May 24, 2019, Will Smith's role as the Genie in the live-action adaptation of Disney's Aladdin was released. He also recorded singles for the soundtrack. The film became his highest-grossing film.
July 2019: YouTube Channel Growth
As of July 2019, Will Smith's YouTube channel had over 6 million subscribers and 294 million total views.
October 11, 2019: Release of Gemini Man
On October 11, 2019, Will Smith's film Gemini Man was released. The film was a box office bomb and received negative reviews.
2019: Starring in Spies in Disguise and Investment in Gen.G
In 2019, Will Smith starred in the animated film Spies in Disguise. Also in 2019, Smith and Keisuke Honda led a $46 million investment round in esports organization Gen.G.
June 2020: Emancipation film sold to Apple Studios for $120 million
In June 2020, Will Smith's action thriller drama Emancipation was sold to Apple Studios for $120 million, making it the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.
June 2020: Announcement of starring in Emancipation
In June 2020, it was announced that Will Smith would star in Emancipation, directed by Antoine Fuqua.
November 9, 2021: Publication of Memoir Will
On November 9, 2021, Will Smith's memoir Will, co-written with Mark Manson, was published and promoted with a tour.
2021: Pulling Emancipation production from Georgia
In 2021, Will Smith announced that production of his upcoming film, Emancipation, was being pulled from the U.S. state of Georgia due to the Election Integrity Act of 2021, which they viewed as a restrictive voting law.
2021: Portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard and awards
In 2021, Will Smith portrayed Richard Williams in the film King Richard. For his performance, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.
2021: Awards for King Richard and producer nomination for Cobra Kai
In 2021, Will Smith won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard, also winning a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Award in the same category. He also received a producer nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for Cobra Kai.
February 7, 2022: Announcement of Pole to Pole series
On February 7, 2022, National Geographic announced that Will Smith would star in a series titled Pole to Pole, which will stream on Disney+.
March 27, 2022: Slapping incident at the 94th Academy Awards
During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Smith later apologized after public backlash and won the Best Actor award. The Academy initiated an investigation.
April 1, 2022: Resignation from the Academy
On April 1, 2022, Will Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following the slapping incident at the Oscars.
April 8, 2022: Academy bans Smith from Oscars for 10 years
On April 8, 2022, the Academy announced its decision to ban Will Smith from future Oscars galas and associated events for 10 years following the slapping incident. Several film projects were put on hold.
December 2022: Release of Emancipation and commercial failure
In December 2022, Emancipation was released to mixed reviews and was a commercial failure, partially attributed to the controversy surrounding Will Smith.
2022: Academy Award win and slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars
In 2022, Will Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor for King Richard. The same night he slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, leading to intense debate about his public image and legacy.
2022: Emancipation released
In 2022, Will Smith's movie Emancipation was released.
September 2023: Collaboration with Joyner Lucas on a joint album
In September 2023, it was reported that Joyner Lucas and Will Smith were working together on a joint album.
2023: Announcement of Bad Boys: Ride or Die and I Am Legend sequel
In 2023, it was announced that Will Smith would co-star in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth installment in the Bad Boys film series. Smith is set to co-star with Michael B. Jordan in a sequel to I Am Legend.
June 27, 2024: Announcement of first solo single in nearly 20 years
On June 27, 2024, Will Smith announced the release of his first solo single in nearly 20 years, "You Can Make It," which came out the following day.
July 24, 2024: New distribution deal with SLANG
On July 24, 2024, it was announced that Will Smith had signed a new distribution deal with SLANG, a newly formed independent label.
July 26, 2024: Release of "Work of Art"
On July 26, 2024, Will Smith released another single "Work of Art", featuring his son Jaden and Russ.
September 2024: Exit from Sugar Bandits project
In September 2024, Will Smith exited the crime thriller Sugar Bandits due to scheduling conflicts but remains involved as a producer.
2024: New music coming in 2024
In 2024, Will Smith confirmed new music coming in an interview and that it is the most personal music he had ever done, with Teddy Swims confirming he recorded music with Will for the upcoming project.
March 23, 2025: Performance at the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League final
On March 23, 2025, Will Smith performed at the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League final at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
March 28, 2025: Release of Based on a True Story album
On March 28, 2025, Will Smith released his fifth studio album, Based on a True Story, which consists of 14 tracks, including five previously released singles and nine new songs.
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