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 won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and four Grammy Awards. As of 2025, his films have generated over $9.5 billion worldwide, establishing him as one of Hollywood's most financially successful actors.
1992: Smith stars in debut film, Where the Day Takes You
After starring in his debut film Where the Day Takes You in 1992, Will Smith quickly became one of Hollywood's most successful and bankable stars.
1997: Big Willie Style release
In 1997, Will Smith released his debut solo album Big Willie Style which is among the best-selling rap albums of all time.
1998: Trey Smith Appeared in "Just the Two of Us" Music Video
In 1998, Will Smith's son Trey appeared in his father's music video for the single "Just the Two of Us".
2005: Smith receives honorary César Award and is nominated for a Tony Award
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: Smith donates to Barack Obama's presidential campaign
In 2008, Will Smith donated $4,600 to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
December 11, 2009: Smith hosts the Nobel Peace Prize Concert
On December 11, 2009, Will Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, celebrating Barack Obama's winning of the prize.
2012: Smith supports legalizing same-sex marriage
In 2012, Will Smith publicly stated his support for legalizing same-sex marriage.
2013: Big Willie Style recognized as a best-selling rap album
As of 2013, Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style (1997) is 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 and Margot Robbie, was released. Smith played Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con artist.
2015: Smith discusses the Influence of his Christian Faith on his Role in Concussion
In 2015, Will Smith discussed how his Christian faith, instilled by his grandmother, helped him portray Bennet Omalu in the movie Concussion. Smith said his grandmother was his spiritual teacher and a very spiritually certain person who was excited about going to heaven when she was dying.
2016: Smith starred in Suicide Squad and Collateral Beauty
In 2016, Will Smith played Deadshot in Suicide Squad, a role he chose over Independence Day: Resurgence. Also in 2016, Smith starred in Collateral Beauty. In 2016, Smith's father was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. Collateral Beauty marked the lowest box office opening of Will Smith's career.
December 22, 2017: Netflix released Bright
On December 22, 2017, Smith's film Bright was distributed via Netflix. It was the most expensive film for Netflix to date, but was met with critical disappointment.
2017: Smith released the song "Get Lit" and launched his YouTube channel
In 2017, Will Smith released the song "Get Lit" with Jazzy Jeff and launched his own YouTube channel.
2017: Bright release and record-breaking views on Netflix
In 2017, Will Smith starred as Daryl Ward in the film Bright, which broke the record at the time for the most-viewed Netflix film ever for its first week, and became the first major Hollywood film to skip theatrical release over streaming platform for simultaneous viewing by more than 100 million people worldwide.
2018: 50th Birthday Bungee Jump
In 2018, Will Smith celebrated his 50th birthday by performing a bungee jump from a helicopter in the Grand Canyon, raising money for Global Citizen.
May 24, 2019: Release of Aladdin
On May 24, 2019, the live-action adaptation of Disney's Aladdin, starring Will Smith as the Genie, was released. Aladdin grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
July 2019: YouTube Channel Success
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, Ang Lee's Gemini Man, starring Will Smith, 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 had a starring role in the animated film Spies in Disguise and led a $46 million investment round in esports organization Gen.G.
June 2020: Apple Studios Acquires Emancipation
In June 2020, Will Smith's film Emancipation (2022) was sold to Apple Studios for $120 million, making it the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.
June 2020: Smith to star in Emancipation
In June 2020, it was announced that Will Smith would star in Emancipation, directed by Antoine Fuqua.
November 9, 2021: Publication of Will
On November 9, 2021, Will Smith's memoir Will, co-written with Mark Manson, was published and promoted with a tour.
2021: Smith pulls 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 in response to the Election Integrity Act of 2021. He and director Antoine Fuqua released a joint statement saying they could not provide economic support to a government enacting regressive voting laws.
2021: Awards for King Richard
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: Smith wins multiple awards for King Richard and gets nominated for Emmy
In 2021, Will Smith won multiple awards including an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard. In 2021, he was also nominated as a producer of Cobra Kai for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
February 7, 2022: Announcement of Pole to Pole
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: The Slap at the 94th Academy Awards
During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Smith later won Best Actor for King Richard and apologized to the Academy. Smith was asked to leave but he refused.
April 1, 2022: Smith Resigned from the Academy
Following public backlash for the slap at the Academy Awards, Will Smith resigned from the Academy on April 1, 2022.
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 as a result of the slapping incident.
December 2022: Release of Emancipation and cancellation of Fast and Loose
In December 2022, Emancipation was released to mixed reviews and was a commercial failure. Also in December 2022, Netflix cancelled production on Fast and Loose due to the Oscar incident.
2022: Smith wins Academy Award for Best Actor
In 2022, Will Smith became the fifth black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard, after Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, and Forest Whitaker.
September 2023: Joint Album with Joyner Lucas
In September 2023, it was reported that Joyner Lucas and Will Smith would be working together on a joint album.
2023: Announcements for 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. Also in 2023, Smith is set to co-star with Michael B. Jordan in a sequel to I Am Legend.
June 27, 2024: Announcement of New Solo Single
On June 27, 2024, Will Smith announced on his Instagram that his first solo single in nearly 20 years was coming out the following day, "You Can Make It".
July 24, 2024: 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: Will Smith Exits Sugar Bandits
In September 2024, it was announced that Will Smith exited crime thriller Sugar Bandits due to scheduling conflicts with another undisclosed project. He will remain involved as a producer.
2024: Upcoming Music Announcement
In 2024, Will Smith confirmed new music coming and that it is the most personal music he had ever done.
March 23, 2025: Performance at 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: Reported Release Date for Based on a True Story
In 2025, Will Smith announced his fifth studio album, Based on a True Story, with reports indicating that it would be released on March 28, 2025. The album consists of 14 tracks, including five previously released singles and nine new songs.
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