Will Smith’s most famous on-screen roles

Will Smith is one of the Hollywood heavyweights and has starred in a lot of movies. While not every film he has been in has been a hit (looking at you After Earth), he definitely has been responsible for some iconic on-screen performances.

Let’s take a look at some of Will Smith’s most famous on-screen roles. If you haven’t seen any of the films below, you should!

Mike Lowrey – Bad Boys

Will Smith’s character in Bad Boys is a tough-talking, hard-edged Miami police officer who with his partner Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) isn’t afraid not to do things by the book. This is a buddy-cop movie for the modern generation, and the chemistry between Smith and Lawrence is certainly the selling point.

Robert Neville – I Am Legend

One of Will Smith’s most memorable roles is undoubtedly his portrayal of Robert Neville in I Am Legend. In the movie, Robert is the last living person in New York City after an apocalyptic event caused a zombie-like plague to turn people into mutants. Smith spends a lot of the movie by himself, and the strength of his acting carries it forward.

James Edwards – Men in Black

Will Smith plays James Edwards in Men in Black, an NYPD cop who is suddenly recruited into a secret agency that tracks and polices alien activity on Earth. This is an iconic ‘fish out of water’ tale where Smith plays a character who is entirely relatable when confronted with the truth about extra-terrestrials.

James Gardner – Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith’s portrayal of downtrodden salesman Chris Gardner in Pursuit of Happyness is one of his most praised dramatic roles. Acting alongside his son Jaden Smith, this story is based on the autobiographical story of entrepreneur Chris Gardner, although it takes a few liberties with the story.