There was a time when Will Smith was the best bet in the blockbuster business. His films consistently generated surpluses at the box office. Those who knew the star in their ranks could consider themselves lucky. With After Earth, Will Smith lost the Nimbus as cinema’s cash cow once and for all. Today the sci-fi blockbuster is on TV. We explain what After Earth is about, why the film went under, and how it impacted Will Smith’s career.
Will Smith and Jaden Smith: This is the father and son story of After Earth
Since the earth is no longer habitable, mankind has turned to the Search for a new home go and found them on the planet Nova Prime. Many years later, General Cypher Raige (Will Smith) has to make an emergency landing with his son Kitai (Jaden Smith) due to an asteroid shower – on Earth of all places, as it later turns out.
After Earth cost $130 million and Will Smith his reputation
After Earth was a risky business. The sci-fi film was not based on an established brand. Will Smith’s face and that of his son Jaden had to be enough to draw a sufficiently large audience into the cinema halls. With this recipe, After Earth would have had to recoup at least 130 million US dollars production budget plus about the same amount in marketing costs to end up in the black (rather more). According to Box Office Mojo, After Earth only reached $243 million. A brutal blow to Will Smith’s neck and his self-image, which was already crumbling at the time.
Will Smith’s one-time Hollywood record – and how After Earth shattered it
Between 2002 and 2008, Will Smith set a record that has not been matched to this day: he is the only actor to have 8 movies in a row $100 million made at the US box office. He started 8 times in a row in 1st place the North American cinema charts. That’s how he became the king of Hollywood.
These are the eight films with which Smith equaled the two records:
In 2008, the winning streak got its first dent with the melodrama Sieben Leben, which by Smith standards was only passable at the box office. With Men in Black 3, Smith achieved another expected success in 2012.
With the start of After Earth in 2013, almost exactly 10 years ago, a steady downward trend began. Other flops followed, such as Focus and Hidden Beauty. He reorganized himself and his brand. Today, Smith has cemented himself as a movie star. He chooses his roles more carefully (King Richard) and more pragmatically (Bad Boys For Life). Will Smith flops are now rarer again. Mainly because there are fewer movies with Will Smith.
More on Will Smith:
When and where is After Earth on TV?
After Earth is on VOX today at 11 p.m. The repeat will follow on April 1 at 10:50 p.m. You can also stream the film on Netflix.
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