As one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, it’s no surprise that Smith returned for several sequels to some of his most popular films. While classics like I am a legend and I, robot are still clamoring for subsequent Smith films, other series like Bad Boys and Men in black have been turned into their own popular franchises. It wasn’t just Smith’s biggest films that received sequels, as he also took time to appear in cameos in everything from Hindi-language Bollywood films to classic comedy sequels like Anchor 2: The Legend Continues.
Some of Will Smith’s best films have received sequels, and his incredible on-screen charisma, unique comedic talents, and action hero bravado have left viewers wanting more. Although the Oscar winner has excelled in unique dramas like The search for happiness, Concussionand King RichardSmith is also willing to embrace big-budget sequels that stir viewers’ nostalgia for times gone by. With a vast and varied career spanning countless genres, Smith’s sequel resume included some forgettable lows, but also several surprising highs..
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Student of the Year 2 (2019)
Will Smith as himself
Many may not be aware that among Will Smith’s acclaimed filmography of blockbuster classics, beloved sequels, and lauded dramas is also an appearance in one of the lowest-rated Indian films of all time. With a dismal 6% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Student of the Year 2 it was a sequence that didn’t need to be made and featured a brief appearance by Smith. Student of the Year 2 told the story of a student who tries to overcome bullies and his academic, personal and romantic problems while trying to win the coveted Student of the Year trophy at his college.
With a poor story and weak performances, it was surprising to see Smith appear in this Hindi language as he was seen dancing in “The Jawaani Song”. Smith actually appeared in the film as part of her reality show Will Smith’s wish listas one of her goals was to appear in a Bollywood production (via NDTV.) While it may have seemed like a fun idea, much like the documentary series that inspired Smith’s participation, Student of the Year 2 was poorly received.
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Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
Will Smith as Jeff Bullington
While the original Anchor was a hilarious Will Ferrell comedy that introduced the world to 1970s news anchor Ron Burgundy, the joke had already worn thin by the time a sequel was finally made nearly ten years later. Anchor 2: The Legend Continues failed to add anything new to this cult comedy series and it was mostly a worse rehash of many of the jokes from the previous film. While Anchor 2 maintained the spirit of the first film and had some genuinely funny moments, it lacked the same endlessly quotable appeal of what came before.
Perhaps the most blatant example of Anchor 2 disappointingly reliving past glories was the epic fight between rival news stations, which was essentially replayed again with even more celebrity cameos. One of the rival anchors was Will Smith as an ESPN anchor with other guest appearances including Kanye West with MTV, Sacha Baron Cohen with the BBC and Liam Neeson with the History Channel as the news story, told much later. While this sequence was funny, it was also too long and was just a repeat of what had already happened in Presenter: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
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Men in Black II (2002)
Will Smith as Agent J
Men in black was a defining film that helped transform Will Smith from a popular rapper and comedy star into a bona fide Hollywood movie star. As a blockbuster hit, it’s no surprise that Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have teamed up once again to play Agent J and Agent K in yet another sci-fi crime adventure. The problem was that Men in Black II The creativity of the first film was lacking and while it had stunning visuals, it simply didn’t live up to the expectations of the original.
Men in Black II focused on Agent K’s erased memory and changed the dynamic between its two main protagonists as J reintroduced him into his secret alien-based organization, which seemed to simply rehash the same plot point from the first film. The love story between J and Laura Vasquez (Rosario Dawson) also felt overly rushed and unconvincing. While Men in Black II would have been a great opportunity to expand this franchise’s lore, this lackluster sequel was happy to simply offer viewers more of the same.
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Bad Boys II (2003)
Will Smith as Det. Lieutenant Mike Lowrey
Comedy duo Will Smith and Martin Lawrence were truly a match made in heaven, and the pair struck gold with their incredible chemistry in Bad Boys. With that in mind, it was logical to turn Michael Bay’s film into an ongoing series, as detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett return for yet another adventure in Bad Boys II. With Bay still in the director’s chair, this sequel had plenty of laughs, bigger explosions, and more hilarious and witty banter from the duo.
While Bad Boys II received negative reviews upon release, looking back it featured many of the Bad Boys greatest moments. From the interrogation of Marcus’ daughter Reggie’s new boyfriend to the epic highway chase scene, Bad Boys II it delivered more of Bay’s big-budget action movie carnage and was a crowd pleaser. Although it would take 17 years for another sequel to finally be released, those who love 2000s action films will have a lot of nostalgia for Bad Boys II.
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Men in Black 3 (2012)
Will Smith as Agent J
Men in Black 3 was the perfect antidote to the lackluster sequel that was Men in Black II. Instead of simply repeating the same jokes and sequences that made the first film such a success, Men in Black 3 brought new ideas to the table and presented a clever time travel script which added depth and nuance to its characters’ backstories. With Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones back once again, Men in Black 3 gambled and also included Josh Brolin as a younger version of Agent K in the 1960s.
As one of the rare examples of a Hollywood makeover that worked perfectly, Men in Black 3 it recaptured the creative magic of the original, and ten years after the previous installment, it was a welcome return to form. Although Frank the Pug’s absence was deeply felt, the ingenious plot and emotional climax of Men in Black 3 it was a firm showcase of the best of this franchise. As it is a series that did not always live up to its potential, the artistic and commercial success of Men in Black 3 showed why Smith should make more sequels.
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Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
Will Smith as Det. Lieutenant Mike Lowrey
The room Bad Boys the film was another exciting installment in the adventures of Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, who made a welcome return in the legacy sequel Bad Boys for Life. By delving into the history of the franchise and having a narrative focused on clearing the name of the duo’s late captain, Conrad Howard, Bad Boys: Ride or Die it felt like a worthy successor to everything that came before. Once again, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence proved their cinematic magic together with an episode that will certainly please longtime lovers of this series.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die upped the ante even more than the previous films and proved that there was still plenty more high-octane energy left in the franchise. As Mike’s relationship with his estranged son was explored and Marcus leaned into his more spiritual side, Bad Boys: Ride or Die poignant sentimentality balanced with the series’ unique comedic style. Like a chaotic, well-made Hollywood blockbuster, Bad Boys: Ride or Die it was a perfect piece of escapist fun.
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Bad Boys For Life (2020)
Will Smith as Det. Lieutenant Mike Lowrey
Bad Boys for Life was the long-awaited return of Bad Boys franchise and the first film in the series not to have Michael Bay as director. Released in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, this slice of early 2000s blockbuster nostalgia was exactly what audiences wanted as Hollywood entered an era of production shutdowns and direct-to-streaming releases. With a special appearance from Bay signaling him to pass the torch to new directors Adil & Bilall, Bad Boys for Life not only did it reunite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence after 17 years, but it also stood out as an excellent action film in its own right.
With Smith and Lawrence’s innate on-screen chemistry firmly intact, it was exciting to see how Bad Boys for Life updated the series for a new generation of viewers. With a healthy mix of comedy and drama, it was a pleasure to spend more time with Mike and Marcus. It’s no surprise that the franchise continued with a fourth film, and the duo even hinted that they would like to do more Bad Boys movies (via electronic warfare). Although not all Smith the sequel lived up to the legacy of the original, Bad Boys for Life got it right.
Sources: NDTV, electronic warfare