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, a BAFTA, and four Grammys. Smith's films have collectively earned over $10 billion globally, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's most commercially successful actors.
1997: "Big Willie Style" Release
As of 2013, Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style (1997) is among the best-selling rap albums of all time.
1998: Trey's appearance in Will Smith's music video
In 1998, Trey appeared in his father's music video for the single "Just the Two of Us".
2005: Honorary César Award and Tony Nomination
In 2005, Will Smith received the honorary César Award and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical for Fela!.
2008: Donation to Barack Obama's Campaign
In 2008, Will Smith donated $4,600 to the presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama.
December 2009: Nobel Peace Prize Concert Host
In December 2009, Will Smith and his wife hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, celebrating Obama's winning of the prize.
2013: "Big Willie Style" Success
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: Christian Faith and Bennet Omalu
In 2015, Will Smith said in an interview with The Christian Post that his Christian faith, instilled in him by his grandmother, helped him portray Bennet Omalu in Concussion.
2016: Starring in Suicide Squad and Collateral Beauty
In 2016, Will Smith played Deadshot in Suicide Squad, a film that received negative reviews despite its financial success. Later that year, he also starred in Collateral Beauty, playing an advertising executive dealing with depression.
December 22, 2017: Release of Bright on Netflix
On December 22, 2017, Bright, starring Will Smith, was released on Netflix. Despite being Netflix's most expensive film to date, it received negative reviews from critics.
2017: Release of "Get Lit" and Launch of YouTube Channel
In 2017, Will Smith released the song "Get Lit" with Jazzy Jeff and launched his own YouTube channel.
2017: "Bright" Record
Will Smith's film Bright (2017), broke the record at the time for the most-viewed Netflix film ever for its first week.
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. The jump was insured by Lloyd's of London for $200 million and raised money for the charity Global Citizen.
May 24, 2019: Release of Aladdin and Feature on Logic's Song
On May 24, 2019, the live-action adaptation of Disney's Aladdin, starring Will Smith as the Genie, was released. Also in 2019, Smith was featured on Logic's song "Don't Be Afraid To Be Different".
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, Gemini Man, starring Will Smith, was released. The film was a box office failure and received negative reviews.
2019: Starring in Spies in Disguise and Investment in Gen.G
In 2019, Will Smith voiced Lance Sterling in the animated film Spies in Disguise and invested in esports organization Gen.G.
June 2020: "Emancipation" Deal
In June 2020, Will Smith's action thriller drama Emancipation (2022) was sold to Apple Studios for $120 million, making it the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.
June 2020: Announcement of Starring Role in Emancipation
In June 2020, it was announced that Will Smith would star in Emancipation, a film about a runaway slave.
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: Portrayal of Richard Williams and Awards
In 2021, Will Smith portrayed Richard Williams in the film King Richard, winning several awards for his performance.
2021: Awards for King Richard
In 2021, Will Smith received multiple awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard. He also received a producer nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2021: Emmy Nomination for Cobra Kai
In 2021, Will Smith was nominated as a producer of Cobra Kai for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
February 7, 2022: Announcement of Pole to Pole Series
On February 7, 2022, National Geographic announced that Will Smith would star in the series Pole to Pole, streaming on Disney+.
December 2022: Release and Reception of Emancipation
In December 2022, Emancipation was released to mixed reviews and was a commercial failure, partly attributed to the controversy surrounding Will Smith.
2022: Academy Award Win and Chris Rock Incident
In 2022, Will Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor for King Richard and slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, leading to intense debate about his public image and legacy. The incident impacted his perception and career.
2022: Sale of Emancipation
Will Smith's action thriller drama Emancipation (2022) was sold to Apple Studios for $120 million in June 2020, which made it the largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.
September 2023: Collaboration with Joyner Lucas on Joint Album
In September 2023, it was reported that Will Smith and Joyner Lucas would be 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, and a sequel to I Am Legend.
June 27, 2024: Announcement of New Solo Single "You Can Make It"
On June 27, 2024, Will Smith announced his first solo single in nearly 20 years, "You Can Make It", which was released the following day.
July 24, 2024: Signing 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 Single "Work of Art"
On July 26, 2024, Will Smith released the single "Work of Art", featuring his son Jaden and Russ.
September 2024: Departure from Sugar Bandits
In September 2024, Will Smith exited the project Sugar Bandits due to scheduling conflicts but remained as a producer.
2024: Confirmation of New Music Coming
In 2024, Will Smith confirmed new music was coming, stating it's his most personal music, with Teddy Swims confirming he recorded music with Will for the upcoming project.
March 23, 2025: Performance at the 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
In 2025, Will Smith announced his fifth studio album, Based on a True Story, which was released on March 28, 2025. The album consists of 14 tracks, including five previously released singles and nine new songs.
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