Get the latest gossip

Will Smith: People Don't Want to 'Leave Their Homes' to Go to Theaters

Will Smith pointed to how prestige TV has raised the bar for box office blockbusters in theaters.

Smith’s career has spanned from his personal favorite feature “The Pursuit of Happyness” to huge franchises like “Men in Black,” “Bad Boys,” and now an “I Am Legend” sequel. Smith said in 2021 that it’s too easy to get caught up in the competition of box office numbers, recalling how his obsession with the “I Am Legend” grosses was indicative of the “subtle sickness of material success” as a movie star. “I’m excited for 30 seconds, and then my mind drifts and I say to [producing partner] J [ames Lassiter], ‘Hey, why do you think we missed 80?’” Smith said during “The Oprah Conversation,” after “I Am Legend” had a $77 million opening weekend.

Get the Android app