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 accolades, including an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, and four Grammy Awards. Smith's films have collectively grossed over $10 billion globally, establishing him as one of Hollywood's most financially successful stars due to his work in both the film and music industries.
1997: Big Willie Style Release
As of 1997, Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style is among the best-selling rap albums of all time.
2008: Donated to Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2008, Will Smith donated $4,600 to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
2013: Cited as one of the most important rappers of all time
As of 2013, XXL has referred to Will Smith as "one of the most important rappers of all time".
February 27, 2015: Release of Focus
On February 27, 2015, Focus, a romance drama starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, was released. Smith played Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con artist.
2015: Talked About Christian Faith
In 2015, Will Smith credited his Christian faith, instilled by his grandmother, for his portrayal of Bennet Omalu in Concussion.
2016: Suicide Squad and Collateral Beauty
In 2016, Will Smith played Deadshot in Suicide Squad, a financial success but critically panned. He chose this role over Independence Day: Resurgence. Later that year, he starred in Collateral Beauty, which had the lowest box office opening of his career and also received negative reviews. His father also passed away in 2016 after being diagnosed with cancer.
December 22, 2017: Release of Bright on Netflix
On December 22, 2017, Will Smith's film Bright was released on Netflix. The urban fantasy film, directed by David Ayer, was the most expensive film for Netflix to date, but it was met with critical disappointment.
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 YouTube channel.
2017: Bright Broke Netflix Record
Will Smith's film Bright broke the record in 2017 at the time 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 Global Citizen.
May 24, 2019: Release of Aladdin
On May 24, 2019, Will Smith's film Aladdin was released. It grossed over $1 billion worldwide, becoming 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 Spies in Disguise and invested in esports organization Gen.G.
June 2020: Emancipation Sold to Apple Studios
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 Emancipation
In June 2020, it was announced that Will Smith would star in Emancipation.
November 9, 2021: Publication of Will
On November 9, 2021, Will Smith's memoir Will, co-written with Mark Manson, was published.
2021: Portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard
In 2021, Will Smith portrayed Richard Williams in the film King Richard, earning him 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: Won Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Award
In 2021, Will Smith won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard, a role that also won him a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild Award in the same category.
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: The Slap Incident at the Academy Awards
During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith later won Best Actor for King Richard and apologized to the Academy, but not to Rock, in his acceptance speech.
April 1, 2022: Resignation from the Academy
On April 1, 2022, Will Smith resigned from the Academy following the slapping incident at the Oscars.
April 8, 2022: Academy's Decision to Ban Smith
On April 8, 2022, the Academy announced its decision to ban Will Smith from future Oscars galas and associated events for 10 years.
December 2022: Release of Emancipation and Its Reception
In December 2022, Will Smith's film Emancipation was released to mixed reviews and was a commercial failure.
2022: Won Academy Award and Slapped Chris Rock
In 2022, Will Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor for King Richard but also slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, leading to intense debate about his public image and legacy.
2022: Emancipation release
Will Smith starred in the 2022 film "Emancipation".
September 2023: Collaboration on a 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: Announcement of Bad Boys: Ride or Die and Other Projects
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. He is also set to co-star with Michael B. Jordan in a sequel to I Am Legend, and is attached to star in the science fiction films Brilliance and Resistor.
June 27, 2024: Announcement of Solo Single "You Can Make It"
On June 27, 2024, Will Smith announced on his Instagram that his first solo single in nearly 20 years, "You Can Make It", would be released the following day.
July 24, 2024: Signing of 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 the single "Work of Art", featuring his son Jaden and Russ.
September 2024: Exit from Sugar Bandits
In September 2024, Will Smith exited the project Sugar Bandits due to scheduling conflicts.
2024: Confirmation of New Music
In 2024, Will Smith confirmed new music was coming and described it as his most personal music ever.
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.
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