Will Smith's Post-COVID Comeback: Oscar, Blockbuster, and Controversy

As of October 2025, Will Smith's career has been a rollercoaster ride in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he earned widespread acclaim and his first Oscar for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the determined father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, in the film King Richard.

The following year, Smith delivered a powerful performance in the historical drama Emancipation, which was released in select cinemas in December 2022. However, the film did not have the scope to earn much at the box office. Despite this, Smith's versatility as an actor was on full display.

More recently, in 2024, Smith returned to his action-comedy roots with the blockbuster hit Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Exhibitors had initially doubted the film's success, but Smith proved his enduring global star power, as the movie exceeded expectations with a $56.5 million opening weekend and a worldwide gross of over $400 million.

While Smith's career has seen both critical acclaim and commercial success, it has also been marked by controversy. The 2022 Oscars incident, where he slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage after a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, drew massive global attention and sparked debates about celebrity behavior, accountability, and public image. Although this temporarily affected his reputation, Smith has continued to work on major projects, and his star power remains largely intact.