Can someone explain why Will Smith has lost a lot of his popularity?

[Clark-Kent]

This looks like it could be a really good performance.

 

[Teelie]

He has a lot of problems from a star perspective. Bad film choices, bad press, whatever has gone on with his kids. But his biggest problem is we now live in a franchise world, and he doesn't have a legit franchise.

Men In Black could be a legit franchise, there is an attempt to make Independence Day a franchise. He has Bad Boys coming back for a third. So he has options there.

 

[warhorse78]

Men In Black could be a legit franchise, there is an attempt to make Independence Day a franchise. He has Bad Boys coming back for a third. So he has options there.

I agree. People have been screaming for a Bad Boys 3. I think that would be his best bet.

 

[Lily Adler]

He's a Scientologist. He's chosen to do bad movies, one of which was considered one of the worst films in recent memory. He tried to force Jayden on the populace as a star. And don't forget his daughter:

 

[Warhammer]

I'd say the nepotism and After Earth played a good chunk.

But one thing I don't think anyone said is that the landscape of Hollywood had changed. There aren't any "movie stars" in this era. Nobody sees a film because of one actor these days. Will Smith is the last true movie star as of 2015 until the landscape changes again.

 

[Lily Adler]

I still watch films when I see Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Jennifer Lawrence, Tom Hardy, or Christian Bale attached cause I'm guaranteed it would be good 90% of the time.

 

[Warhammer]

I still watch films when I see Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Jennifer Lawrence, Tom Hardy, or Christian Bale attached cause I'm guaranteed it would be good 90% of the time.

Yeah, but their films don't become blockbusters simply because they starred in it. Not one of those actors. Will Smith made a romantic comedy gross over 100 million dollars like it was nothing simply because he starred in it. He was the last actor to have that kind of star power.

 

[The Batman]

But one thing I don't think anyone said is that the landscape of Hollywood had changed. There aren't any "movie stars" in this era. Nobody sees a film because of one actor these days. Will Smith is the last true movie star as of 2015 until the landscape changes again.

This. His kids saying dumb stuff is not a major problem. And Will's had some bombs in the past. He hasn't declined, its just that star vehicles are no longer a thing. Will Smith needs to latch on to a new character that can spawn a franchise, which I'm sure is part of the reason he's playing Deadshot.

 

[Lily Adler]

Hitch was successful because the star power of Kevin James and Eva Mendes, not just Will Smith...

Spoiler

kidding.

 

[Warhammer]

Gosh, I wish Will Smith would have accepted the role of Django. It would have been a Travolta-esque career revitlization.

 

[jokesonm3]

Well I for one am glad that Will Smith's checking his ego at the door for an ensemble like the Suicide Squad.

And yeah he would have been a great Django.

 

[Stevie2020]

The double whammy of not being in anything good in years and lots of media focus on his family

Yes, definitely this. And he probably turned down one or two roles that he shouldn't have. And he's pushing 50 which can force some career re-defining. But he's hardly a "has been", although for someone who once had the nickname of "Mr. July", he probably peaked out for that phase of his career. (that is the blockbuster-opening phase)

He probably won't dominate Suicide Squad -- that'll probably be Leto and Robbie and possibly Viola Davis. However, he might do very well in Concussion and add to his "serious dramatic actor" cred.

Individual stardom is not the same as it was then, it's more about the franchise brand over the star brand. I don't know how much Smith gets paid these days, but RDJ has been on top of the pay list for a few years now and that's more about the Marvel brand than the Downey brand.

Also it's a problem when the personal life becomes more interesting than the work. (Scientology, rumored "open marriage/swinging", those kids and their careers, etc.)

His third act might be quite strong (producing, acting choices, directing maybe) but his super-blockbuster movie-star days are probably over.

Then-again, look at Tom Cruise who was thought on the decline just a few years ago and now he's milking every minute of action-star time he has left.

 

[Boy Scout]

I did not know Smith was a Scientologist...

 

[Stevie2020]

I did not know Smith was a Scientologist...

Here's a list that's 3 years old of famous Scientologists. Leah Remini is recently quite vocal about her rejection of Scientoloty and Will Smith is possibly a Scientologist by association, lol. Who knows?

Google away...

 

[warhorse78]

Gosh, I wish Will Smith would have accepted the role of Django. It would have been a Travolta-esque career revitlization.

Yeah, I bet he's kicking his own ass now for rejecting that role, for the most stupidest reasons too.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Very few stars from the 90's can still pull in crowds.

Times have changed and star power has gone the way of the dodo.

Plus the combination of nepotism, Jayden, scientology in the film After Earth pretty much single handidly killed any remaining star power he had. You can only push people so far.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Gosh, I wish Will Smith would have accepted the role of Django. It would have been a Travolta-esque career revitlization.

I don't think most people want to see Will Smith slaughter whites in a slave revenge fantasy.

Plus Jamie Foxx disappeared in the role far better than Smith possibly could.

 

[Lencho01]

Because he's Black!

 

[jokesonm3]

Because he's Black!

 

[Lencho01]

Yeah, I said it.

 

[Reek]

Because he is a terrible actor who has tried to force his children down our throats...

and he's simply not funny. He needs to do Bad Boys 3 then retire from life.

 

[terry78]

Because he is a terrible actor who has tried to force his children down our throats...

and he's simply not funny. He needs to do Bad Boys 3 then retire from life.

Jesus, did he kick your puppy or something?

 

[random_havoc]

He's a Scientologist. He's chosen to do bad movies, one of which was considered one of the worst films in recent memory. He tried to force Jayden on the populace as a star. And don't forget his daughter:

This for me.
Between the Scientology, nepotism and hours kids lack of reality, he seems to have lost all touch with what's normal, which is a big part of what made him appealing back in the day.

 

[terry78]

A lot of actors have a rep for being kinda eccentric, but I guess it depends on if you like them or not.

 

[jokesonm3]

Yeah, I said it.

Well.........ok then.