Monday, March 18, 2024

Will Smith Admits That ‘Wild Wild West’ Was a Bad Career Move

will smith

*Will Smith is considered the most powerful actor in Hollywood. He is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office, eleven consecutive films gross over $150 million internationally, and eight consecutive films in which he starred that open at the number one spot in the domestic box office. But the one film that Will wishes he could bury and forget about forever is his 1999 steampunk western action-comedy film, “Wild Wild West.”

Speaking at the Cannes Lions session on June 21, the actor looked back at some of the personal flops in his career and blamed it on his urge to chase money.

READ RELATED STORY: Will Smith Posts Tribute to Muhammad Ali: ‘My Mentor & My Friend’

“I had so much success that I started to taste global blood and my focus shifted from my artistry to winning,” he told the Hollywood Reporter. “I wanted to win and be the biggest movie star, and what happened was there was a lag — around Wild Wild West time — I found myself promoting something because I wanted to win versus promoting something because I believed in it.”

Smith looks to “Wild Wild West” as a “personal low point.” The film co-starred Salma Hayek and Kevin Kline, and was a hit, generating $222 million worldwide. Smith believes a film like “Wild Wild West” wouldn’t even make it to production now due to how quick audience reaction resonates through social media.

“Smoke and mirrors in marketing and sales is over,” he said. “People are going to know really quickly and globally whether a product keeps its promises. I consider myself a marketer. My career has been strictly being able to sell my products globally, and it’s now in the hand of fans. I have to be in tune with their needs and not trick them into going to see Wild Wild West.”

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