One half of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, rapper-turned-actor Will Smith burst onto the scene with his breakout role in the iconic sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and has never looked back. Starring in the likes of Independence Day and Enemy of the State during the early stages of his career, the American swiftly became a mainstay of blockbuster cinema, going on to earn Oscar nominations for his more dramatic roles in Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.

As of 2025, Smith is regrettably most widely ᴀssociated with his slapping scandal at the 94th Academy Awards, but the actor’s best movies underline his status as one of Hollywood’s most prolific and bankable stars in sharp relief. However, while much of the fanfare for Smith’s career is reserved for his most critically and commercially successful movies, the actor has starred in a number of notably underappreciated films over the years, breathing life into a line-up of criminally underrated characters along the way.

10

Hancock (2008)

Directed By Peter Berg

Gleefully subverting every superhero trope in the book, Peter Berg’s box-office hit Hancock saw Smith take on the role of the eponymous character. John Hancock is an alcoholic superhero suffering from amnesia; the movie chronicles his reluctant attempts to turn over a new leaf and become the pillar of society that humanity needs him to be. Hancock’s quality notably falls off around the halfway point of the movie, contributing to the film’s status as one of Smith’s more unsung bodies of work.

However, some thrilling action sequences and a wickedly satirical sense of humor softens the blow ᴀssociated with a middling final act. Traditionally one of Hollywood’s more likable leading men, Smith is on top form as he plays against type, whether he’s threatening to break his foot off in an old lady’s backside, throwing a beached whale back into the sea, or hurling a potty-mouthed child into the stratosphere just to teach him a lesson.

9

Independence Day (1996)

Directed By Roland Emmerich

One of Smith’s earliest blockbuster roles, 1996’s Independence Day chronicles a heroic fightback against a worldwide extra-terrestrial invasion. Turning in the highlight of the movie’s performances, the actor plays Captain Steven Hiller, a fighter pilot who finds himself thrust to the forefront of humanity’s daring counterattack after downing an alien ship in a thrilling dogfight.

The second most commercially successful movie of all time upon release, the financial returns for Roland Emmerich’s offering were sharply juxtaposed against a middling critical response. However, while Independence Day is decidedly not Citizen Kane in terms of cinematic quality, the film remains a thoroughly enjoyable crowd-pleaser, as it approaches its thirtieth birthday. Holding on to its status as cinema’s quintessential 4th of July movie, Independence Day rarely fails to entertain despite an array of clichéd characters and a relentless emphasis on American patriotism.

8

I, Robot (2004)

Directed By Alex Proyas

Widely regarded as one of the key movies that have defined Will Smith’s career to date, 2004’s I, Robot is a notoriously underappreciated entry in the actor’s filmography. Rubber-stamping Smith’s status as a sci-fi mainstay, Alex Proyas’ picture is set in the near future and depicts a dystopian reality where highly advanced robots form an integral part of society. The Fresh Prince star is tasked with the role of Del Spooner, a detective investigating a potential murder perpetrated by a robot named Sonny.

One of the 2000s’ better sci-fi entries, I, Robot is a far superior movie than its mediocre approval rating of 57% on Rotten Tomatoes would indicate. An intelligent thrill ride that boasts electric action sequences while simultaneously inviting deep introspective reflection, Proyas’ thought-invoking offering is contentiously the director’s finest film since The Crow.

7

Men In Black 3 (2012)

Directed By Barry Sonnenfeld

The conclusive entry in the original Men in Black trilogy, 2012’s Men in Black 3 quietly staked a claim to rival the original installment for the best movie in the franchise. Introducing Josh Brolin to play a younger version of Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K against the backdrop of a time-travel centric premise proved to be an inspired choice, with Smith also producing a lauded bow in his final appearance as the wisecracking Agent J.

J’s efforts to travel back in time to prevent K’s ᴀssᴀssination produced what is arguably the series’ most compelling adventure, aided by the usual array of wacky monsters, crackling dialogue, and thrilling action sequences. With 2019’s Men in Black: International receiving dismal reviews and tanking at the box office, it’s all been downhill for the storied franchise since Smith’s final appearance, underling the third movie’s status as one of his most underrated films.

6

Focus (2015)

Directed By Glenn Ficarra & John Requa

2015’s Focus saw Smith cast alongside Barbie star Margot Robbie as one half of the movie’s leading duo. A notable commercial success, the crime comedy-drama follows two romantically involved career con-artists who duly find themselves pitted against each other. However, the reviews for Glenn Ficarra and John Requa’s picture were mixed, with many critics arguing that the film was overly reliant on Smith and Robbie’s considerable combined star power.

Fortunately, said star power is sufficient to distract from the majority of Focus’ more obvious flaws. Leveraging electric chemistry with his co-star to maximum effect, Smith oozes slick charisma throughout a top tier performance as seasoned con-man Ricky Spurgeon. Loaded with thrilling twists and turns, Focus’ gripping narrative and elaborate scams serve as the cherry on the cake for one of the actor’s most underrated offerings from the 2010s.

5

Bright (2017)

Directed By David Ayer

Smith’s second collaboration with Fury director David Ayer following 2016’s Suicide Squad, 2017’s Bright is one of the most successful Netflix original films of all time in terms of viewership. Depicting a world where humans co-exist alongside various mythological creatures, Bright stars Smith as Daryl Ward, a cop who is involuntarily partnered up with the first orc to serve as an LAPD police officer, Joel Edgerton’s Nick Jakoby.

An ambitious blend of mythology and social commentary, Bright falls considerably short of its lofty aspirations through an over reliance on buddy cop tropes. However, Ayer’s fan-favorite movie is a far cry from the irredeemable disaster that the vast majority of critics painted it as. Bright may be a mess, but it’s never dull, a state of affairs highlighted by the movie’s stellar viewing numbers. Throw in a typically ᴀssured bow from Smith, and this entertaining urban fantasy offering isn’t anywhere near as terrible as the reviews made it out to be.

4

The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000)

Directed By Robert Redford

Boasting a star-studded cast that includes Matt Damon and Charlize Theron alongside Will Smith, The Legend of Bagger Vance is contentiously one of the best golf movies of all time. Unfortunately, Robert Redford’s 2000 sports fantasy drama is more widely ᴀssociated with the controversy pertaining to the movie’s reliance on the “Magical Negro” stereotype. Popularized by Spike Lee, this term refers to a concerning film trope that relegates African Americans to mere supporting stock characters.

Accordingly, The Legend of Bagger Vance is justifiably bogged down by such troublesome accusations, a status quo that has likely contributed to the movie’s reputation as one of Smith’s lesser known films. However, while it’s impossible to escape the negative connotations of the film’s rhetoric and some of its more obvious creative shortcomings, Smith still produces an excellent turn as the тιтular magical caddie to partially redeem this firmly average sports offering.

3

Suicide Squad (2016)

Directed By David Ayer

Before the debut of James Gunn’s acclaimed 2021 standalone sequel The Suicide Squad, 2016’s Suicide Squad appeared to spell the end for the film’s eponymous rag-tag motley crew. Despite an impressive box-office return that saw the film land as the tenth-highest-grossing entry of the year and some glorious visuals that earned the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, David Ayer’s picture was mercilessly torn apart by critics to such an extent that the director completely disowned the final product.

With that being said, the film did still feature some notable silver linings. One of the many overlooked positives ᴀssociated with Ayer’s original outing is Will Smith’s impressive turn as the elite marksman and ᴀssᴀssin, ᴅᴇᴀᴅsH๏τ. Leveraging his natural charisma to the fullest extent, Smith’s gleefully unrestrained performance as the career criminal was head and shoulders above the majority of the cast, serving to partially compensate for this calamitous superhero flick.

2

Emancipation (2022)

Directed By Antoine Fuqua

Inspired by the horrific pH๏τo of the slave known as “Whipped Peter,” hopes were high for Antoine Fuqua’s historical thriller, Emancipation. Featuring Smith in the leading role of Peter, the 2022 movie follows the character’s desperate attempts to escape to freedom after Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. Regrettably, the film only received middling reviews, with many critics highlighting the movie’s purported liberties with historical events and facts.

It’s a crying shame, considering Emancipation boasts one of the better Smith performances in recent years. The actor utterly loses himself in bringing Peter to life, producing a stirring and visceral bow that helps elevate the movie above some of its more prevalent shortcomings. Emancipation was unfortunate enough to find itself caught up in the wake of Smith’s slapping scandal at the Oscars, a major factor in contributing to its status as one of his more underappreciated bodies of work.

1

Gemini Man (2019)

Directed By Ang Lee

On the surface, Ang Lee’s 2019 movie Gemini Man appeared to be little more than a cocktail of played out sci-fi action tropes. A major box office bomb, the film pitted Smith’s aging mercenary Henry Brogan against a younger clone of himself tasked with “retiring” him. Compounding the movie’s disastrous aura, Lee’s film received a slew of negative reviews, garnering a measly 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, reexamination of the movie reveals Gemini Man to arguably be one of Will Smith‘s most underrated movies. Questionable digital de-aging techniques aside, the actor produces a surprisingly evocative bow in bringing Brogan and “Junior” to life, carrying what is otherwise a generic action flick through his star power and natural screen presence. Throw in Lee’s trademark stunning visuals, and there’s a remarkably entertaining viewing experience to be found at the heart of this maligned offering.