Will Smith began his acting career as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, but he became a true movie star after appearing in sci-fi blockbusters such as Independence Day and the Men in Black franchise. He's the uncommon actor who can command the screen in every situation, whether it's flying military operations against alien spaceships, midwifing a cute alien squid, or simply chatting with his beloved German shepherd.
Here is a list of some of Will Smith's sci-fi films over the years.
1. The film Men in Black (1997)
Men in Black by Barry Sonnenfeld set the standard for sci-fi comedies with its zany, inventive premise: Aliens roam among us while agents in suits erase our memories of their presence.
2. I Am Legend (2007)
Smith flees hordes of desperate humanoids against the backdrop of an abandoned Washington Square Park. With the exception of his pet dog, Smith is the only person visible on screen for the majority of the first act. His portrayal is nothing short of fascinating, whether he is stalking deer through city streets or setting up mannequins in a video store to imitate human contact.
3. Independence Day (1996)
Independence Day is a two-and-a-half-hour spectacle. Gigantic, city-sized spaceships hover above key cities all across the world, forcing humanity to band together to repel the alien invaders — but not before we see classic sights of New York, Los Angeles, and even the White House itself being destroyed in spectacular fashion. Smith rose to fame in this part, and for good reason: he's immensely engaging as hotshot pilot Captain Hiller, trading fun, light barbs with Jeff Goldblum's David Levinson and dead aliens alike.
4. I, Robot (2004 film)
I, Robot begins with a fascinating premise: in a future where personal robots are becoming commonplace, a major roboticist appears to commit suicide and leaves an alarming message for robot-hating detective Detective Spooner, played by Smith at the peak of his action-hero powers. However, don't anticipate a faithful version of Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics; aside from an homage to the author's Three Laws of Robotics, it bears no relation to the book of the same name.
5. Men in Black II (2002)
Men in Black II, like so many sequels, boosted the special effects budget. This time, Smith's Agent J takes on the role of an experienced teacher, while Tommy Lee Jones' Agent K strives to recover his neutralized memories in order to battle a shapeshifting alien (Lara Flynn Boyle) who has adopted the form of a lingerie model.
