Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#73
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
Will Smith represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 33 years in, and Will is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
Will Smith appears in 47 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without Will. The Pursuit of Happyness is the clearest case: a film rated 8.0 by our editors, where the performance carries weight the script only implies.
The recognisable elements are versatility, transformation, quiet performance. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same instrument, tuned differently for science fiction, comedy, adventure. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Sam Wrench, Bilall Fallah, Antoine Fuqua and others, Will Smith helped set a standard other performers now audition against. Awards bodies have been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) as Chris Gardner · Emancipation (2022) as Peter · King Richard (2021) as Richard Williams
Career snapshot
Ranked #73 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
47
1993–2026
Career length
33 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
8.0
The Pursuit of Happyness
Average Nutevio score
6.5
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
10.0
The Artist
Most frequent director
Barry Sonnenfeld
4 films together
Longest collaboration
4×
With Barry Sonnenfeld
Most common genre
Comedy
18 titles
Average runtime
1h 52m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
7.0
out of 10
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio metric
Cultural impact and legacy, measured separately from craft — how far the work travelled once it left the cinema.
Nutevio Influence Score
6.6
out of 10
A quieter influence — felt inside the films rather than across the industry.
How far the work travelled past the people who saw it first.
What survives once the release-week conversation has burned off.
Institutional acknowledgement, weighted but never decisive.
Years of chosen, relevant work rather than years merely employed.
Statuettes, read as evidence rather than verdict.
Roles named without needing the film named alongside them.
Directors who wrote parts because this performer existed.
The reading other performers now have to answer.
Actor DNA
A fingerprint derived from the roles themselves — register, range and the kind of film they carry.
The shape of a career
Every performance plotted in time. Hover a point to read the title behind it.
Peak years
Where the scores, the awards and the sheer volume of work agree with each other.
Best decade
2000s
6.8 average MV
The 2000s are where the work and the material meet. Hancock, I Am Legend, The Pursuit of Happyness — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
2000s
6.8
Across 11 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
2020s
7.1
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
1990s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. Wild Wild West, Enemy of the State, Men in Black.
Most productive era
2020s
15 films
The busiest stretch of the catalogue — volume that reads as appetite rather than availability.
Range, mapped
Genres down the side, decades across the top. Warmer cells mean stronger titles.
| Genre | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 6.82 films | 7.06 films | 6.55 films | 7.23 films |
| Action | 6.85 films | 6.65 films | 6.46 films | 7.32 films |
| Thriller | 7.02 films | 7.41 film | 6.32 films | 7.21 film |
| Comedy | 6.55 films | 6.55 films | 6.65 films | 6.83 films |
| Crime | 7.01 film | 6.81 film | 7.01 film | 7.32 films |
| Romance | — | 6.53 films | 6.65 films | — |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Paul.
Highest rated performance · Career peak
8.0 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer. Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Most recent film
2026Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
The current state of the argument, as Self (archive footage) (uncredited).
Our order
Every performance in the catalogue, ordered by Nutevio Score.
Every title
Filter by genre or decade, and compare any two titles side by side.
47 of 47 films
as Peter
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
as Richard Williams
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green
as Lance Sterling (voice)
Directed by Troy Quane
as Robert Neville
Directed by Francis Lawrence
From the library
Every movie and TV credit stored for this name in the Nutevio catalogue — filter by media, role or sort by rating.
Loading credits…
The defining work
#1
Chris Gardner
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Performance score8.5
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Chris Gardner gives Will Smith a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Peter
Emancipation (2022)
Performance score8.1
Emancipation asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Peter is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Richard Williams
King Richard (2021)
Performance score8.1
King Richard asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Richard Williams is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Lance Sterling (voice)
Spies in Disguise (2019)
Performance score8.1
Spies in Disguise asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Lance Sterling (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movieStart here
A guided path through the work, ordered so each film explains the next.
Best entry point
as Chris Gardner
Start here. The Pursuit of Happyness is the clearest statement of what Will Smith does — accessible, 117 minutes, and rated 8.0 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet Will at the most legible performance, then move forward in time so each film reads as a response to the one before it rather than a repetition of it.
I Am Legend (2007)
Keeps the drama register of The Pursuit of Happyness but asks for a colder reading of it.
Spies in Disguise (2019)
A deliberate change of key after I Am Legend — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
King Richard (2021)
A deliberate change of key after Spies in Disguise — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Emancipation (2022)
Keeps the drama register of King Richard but asks for a colder reading of it.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Barry Sonnenfeld
Director
4 films together
Notably Men in Black
Michael Bay
Director
2 films together
Notably Bad Boys
David Ayer
Director
2 films together
Notably Bright
Bilall Fallah
Director
2 films together
Notably Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Richard Benjamin
Director
1 film together
Notably Made in America
Roland Emmerich
Director
1 film together
Notably Independence Day
Tony Scott
Director
1 film together
Notably Enemy of the State
Robert Redford
Director
1 film together
Notably The Legend of Bagger Vance
Michael Mann
Director
1 film together
Notably Ali
Kevin Smith
Director
1 film together
Notably Jersey Girl
Alex Proyas
Director
1 film together
Notably I, Robot
Bibo Bergeron
Director
1 film together
Notably Shark Tale
Andy Tennant
Director
1 film together
Notably Hitch
Gabriele Muccino
Director
1 film together
Notably The Pursuit of Happyness
Francis Lawrence
Director
1 film together
Notably I Am Legend
Peter Berg
Director
1 film together
Notably Hancock
M. Night Shyamalan
Director
1 film together
Notably After Earth
Adam McKay
Director
1 film together
Notably Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Akiva Goldsman
Director
1 film together
Notably Winter's Tale
Peter Landesman
Director
1 film together
Notably Concussion
Glenn Ficarra
Director
1 film together
Notably Focus
David Frankel
Director
1 film together
Notably Collateral Beauty
Ang Lee
Director
1 film together
Notably Gemini Man
Guy Ritchie
Director
1 film together
Notably Aladdin
Troy Quane
Director
1 film together
Notably Spies in Disguise
Bryce Dallas Howard
Director
1 film together
Notably Dads
Matthew Akers
Director
1 film together
Notably David Blaine: Ascension
Jay Karas
Director
1 film together
Notably Feeding America Comedy Festival
Nas
Director
1 film together
Notably You're Watching Video Music Box
Reinaldo Marcus Green
Director
1 film together
Notably King Richard
Antoine Fuqua
Director
1 film together
Notably Emancipation
Sam Wrench
Director
1 film together
Notably Andrea Bocelli - The Celebration：30th Anniversary
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Barry Sonnenfeld
Director
4 films together · 6.5 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 4 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Men in BlackBilall Fallah
Director
2 films together · 7.3 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Bad Boys: Ride or DieMichael Bay
Director
2 films together · 6.9 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Bad BoysDavid Ayer
Director
2 films together · 6.2 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
BrightGabriele Muccino
Director
1 film together · 8.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Pursuit of HappynessAntoine Fuqua
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
EmancipationReinaldo Marcus Green
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
King RichardTroy Quane
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Spies in DisguiseFrancis Lawrence
Director
1 film together · 7.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
I Am LegendGuy Ritchie
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
AladdinDavid Frankel
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Collateral BeautyPeter Landesman
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
ConcussionAlex Proyas
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
I, RobotTony Scott
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Enemy of the StateRoland Emmerich
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Independence DayGlenn Ficarra
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
FocusSam Wrench
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Andrea Bocelli - The Celebration：30th AnniversaryAndy Tennant
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
HitchMichael Mann
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
AliRobert Redford
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Legend of Bagger VanceBryce Dallas Howard
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
DadsPeter Berg
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
HancockAng Lee
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Gemini ManAkiva Goldsman
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Winter's TaleNas
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
You're Watching Video Music BoxMatthew Akers
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
David Blaine: AscensionAdam McKay
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Anchorman 2: The Legend ContinuesKevin Smith
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Jersey GirlJay Karas
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Feeding America Comedy FestivalBibo Bergeron
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Shark TaleRichard Benjamin
Director
1 film together · 5.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Made in AmericaM. Night Shyamalan
Director
1 film together · 5.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
After EarthSix degrees
Follow the thread outward — director, film, co-star, and the film after that.
Recognition
27 wins · 3 nominations
1 win · 3 nominations · latest 2022
as Actor
as Actor
as Actor
as Actor
1 win · latest 2021
as Actor
4 wins · latest 1999
as Actor
as Actor
as Actor
as Actor
2 wins · latest 2005
as Actor
as Actor
2 wins · latest 2008
as Actor
as Actor
2 wins · latest 1999
as Actor
as Actor
2 wins · latest 2000
as Actor
as Actor
1 win · latest 1999
as Actor
1 win · latest 1999
as Actor
1 win · latest 2006
as Actor
1 win · latest 1999
as Actor
1 win · latest 2013
as Actor
1 win · latest 1998
as Actor
1 win · latest 1997
as Actor
1 win · latest 1998
as Actor
1 win · latest 1997
as Actor
1 win · latest 2009
as Actor
1 win · latest 2007
as Actor
1 win
as Actor
1 win
as Actor
Categories of our own
Six editorial categories we apply to every performer we cover.
Most rewatchable
The Pursuit of Happyness
as Chris Gardner
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
King Richard
as Richard Williams
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
The Pursuit of Happyness
as Chris Gardner
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
as ESPN Reporter
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
The Pursuit of Happyness
as Chris Gardner
If the career had to be argued in a single scene, our editors would pick one from this film and rest the case.
In their films' words
“You can build a whole film around a performer who knows when not to speak. Will Smith has known it for a long time.”
Head to head
Put two careers on the same scale and see where the argument actually sits.
Ours alone
Recognitions handed out by this desk, on criteria no awards body uses.
Career Achievement
Awarded
33 years of relevant work — not merely a long career, but a long career of choices.
Modern Classic Performer
Awarded
Defining performances delivered inside the last twenty-five years, in films already being taught rather than merely remembered.
Comedy Legend
Awarded
18 catalogue titles in comedy, each one a reference point for the films that followed.
Our desk
Best ending, best opening, best twist and the rest — categories we apply to everyone we cover.
Best ending
The Pursuit of Happyness
as Chris Gardner
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
Bad Boys for Life
as Mike
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
King Richard
as Richard Williams
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
Six Degrees of Separation
as Paul
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Spies in Disguise
as Lance Sterling (voice)
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Spies in Disguise
as Lance Sterling (voice)
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
Spies in Disguise
as Lance Sterling (voice)
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
Student of the Year 2
as Self
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
If you like this performer
Matt Damon
Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Michael Caine
Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Tom Hanks
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Bonnie Hunt
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Robert De Niro
Works with the same directors — shared collaborators
Al Pacino
Works with the same directors — shared collaborators
Have your say
Community
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Reference
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