Every Movie Where Will Smith Plays a Cop

The incredibly talentedWill Smith has been a formidable force in Hollywood films and TV ever since The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Though his career has taken a different direction after the 2022 Academy Awards incident, Will Smith has still proven himself to be an "actor" of all trades.

From spindly and humorous, to strong and confident roles, Will Smith effortlessly takes on a range of characters with his immense charm. Arguably, some of Smith's best performances are when he embodies cops and other law enforcers. Here, he is able to show off his brilliant comedic delivery, dramatic acting, as well as fast-paced stunts and action sequences. Even in the most abysmal or simply underrated movies, Will Smith always remains wildly captivating and entertaining despite any circumstance.

12 Gemini Man (2019)

Directed by the masterful Ang Lee, Gemini Man, unfortunately, is one of his worst and least creative movies to date. Though it contains some impressive special effects, specifically a fully de-aged Will Smith, it's not enough to save it from its flaws. Similarly, the film barely surpassed its own budget, making it fall very short of being a box-office hit.

Release Date

October 2, 2019

Runtime

117

In Gemini Man, Will Smith stars as Henry Brogan, an assassin tasked with killing an operative who is after him. However, Brogan finds out that this young operative can mimic and predict his every move. Discovering that the enemy is a younger clone of himself, the film takes a haunting turn. Regardless of the quality of the film, Will Smith still does an amazing job of, again, playing an adept hero caught up in very dangerous situations.

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11 Bright (2017)

David Ayer, who was also involved in The Fast and The Furious, Training Day, and Suicide Squad, creates another uniquely strange film that combines the nightlife and crime of L.A. with fantastical creatures, like fairies and orcs. Though the film tries to be a social commentary on prejudice, the overall goofiness of the premise and dialogue takes away from any attempt at serious storytelling. Again, however, it's difficult for any Will Smith movie to be boring.

Release Date

December 22, 2017

Runtime

117

Studio

Netflix

In Bright, Will Smith plays LAPD officer Daryl Ward who is forced to partner with Nick Jakoby, who is played by Joel Edgerton. Together, they are tasked with protecting a young girl and her relic. If the relic is taken, it means almost imminent doom for the rest of the world. Though undoubtedly unique, the film falls flat in delivering any sort of message about racism and prejudice.

10 Men in Black II (2002)

Directed again by Barry Sonnenfield, the sequel to the massively successful Men in Black is far less impressive than the original and even its third sequel. Though it is still pretty humorous and maintains some of the trademark, icky special effects and grotesque bug-like aliens, the film lacks any real substance. However, this doesn't make the film any less exciting for fans looking for a fun time with the beloved agent duo.

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent J and Agent K return to their roles in a recycled mash-up of new and old plotlines. The film follows the two as they uncover an unregistered alien disguised as a lingerie model. She holds the MIB building hostage, and Agent J is forced to turn to Agent K to help save the MIB program. The film is still as fast-paced and action-packed as the original, making Men in Black II an entertaining addition to the franchise, despite its critical reception.

9 Spies in Disguise (2019)

Directed by animators Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, the animated film Spies in Disguise is a heartwarming take on your standard action film. Though critically well-received, the film was a major box-office disappointment. Without much support, this film remains a more forgotten, but nonetheless impressive, role that Will Smith has taken on.

Release Date

December 4, 2019

Runtime

102

Studio

Fox Animation

In the film, Will Smith takes on another very cool and collected role as Lance Sterling, a world-famous spy. He is forced to partner up with a young scientist played by Tom Holland in order to save the world. Unintentionally, Holland's character, Walter Beckett, turns Lance Stirling into a pigeon. The film's unconventional premise alongside a convincing and humorous performance by Will Smith makes Spies in Disguise a very loveable movie, despite its lack of success upon release. Even in voice-acting roles like Spies in Disguise and Shark Tale, Will Smith is able to carry out his famous charm throughout the duration of the film.

8 Bad Boys (1995)

Directed by Michael Bay, Bad Boys has become a classic action, thriller, and comedy hybrid. The premise of the film matches perfectly with Michael Bay's exciting and fast-paced style, prompting three more additions to the franchise. Will Smith stars as Mike Lowery, and Martin Lawrence stars as Marcus Burnett. The film's success has caused it to be one of the primary examples of a well-done buddy cop film.

Release Date

July 18, 2003

Runtime

147

Studio

Columbia Pictures

In Bad Boys, the Miami detective duo have 72 hours to bust a drug operation before Internal Affairs shut them down. After the detectives find out someone they know is affected personally by this drug trafficking, they work even harder to catch the culprits before the deadline.

Bad Boys shows off Will Smith's range in a very dramatic and impressive way, as he had just starred as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air prior to filming. Suddenly, Will Smith is a tough and suave cop who can handle almost any danger thrown at him.

7 I, Robot (2004)

Directed by the creator of The Crow, Alex Proyas creates another captivating and intense thriller with I, Robot. The film stars Will Smith as Detective Del Spooner as he navigates a life where robots are now commonly used in service positions. Titled after Isaac Asimov's collection of short stories that track the progression of a hypothetical robotic revolution, the film is a surprising balance between philosophical questions and action sequences.

Release Date

July 15, 2004

Runtime

114

The sci-fi film follows Del Spooner while investigating the murder of a robotics scientist. Spooner already has a strong dislike for the advancement of robots, after his life is saved by a robot over a 12-year-old girl. His investigation reveals that the robots might be planning to enslave the human race. The thrilling concept and delivery of this film make it an underrated addition to Will Smith's filmography. The film itself carries the same haunting essence that Proyas's The Crow has as well.

6 Bad Boys II (2003)

The infamous director, Michael Bay, returned to direct the sequel to his original franchise. Though his work may be synonymous with cheesy dialogue, risqué women, and intense pyrotechnics, audiences credit the success of Bad Boys to his chaotic aesthetic. Many current fans of the franchise believe that his role in the films provided the authenticity that the newer films have been lacking in. The majority of Bad Boys fans agree that the sequel is the best in the franchise, despite its very low critical ratings.

The film definitely has one of the most exciting premises in the entire franchise. The duo, Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett, track down the Cuban dealer and mobster, Johnny Tapia. The situation becomes much bigger than just bad ecstasy, when it's revealed that there is an entire war going on between Tapia, Russian, and Haitian mobsters. Filled to the brim with intense action and harrowing moments, Bad Boys II pushes Will Smith's potential and shows just how capable he is.

5 Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

Bad Boys: Ride or Die, directed again by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, was Will Smith's first big film release since "the slap." Despite the controversy, Will Smith still keeps up the charisma and charm that he has always had. Though not quite as strong as other iterations, the film's action sequences and chemistry between Smith and Lawrence never fail to entertain.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the fourth installment in the action-comedy film series starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The series centers on hard-boiled Miami detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett, who take on dangerous drug kingpins and thwart dangerous schemes as they attempt to stop the circulation of illicit drugs in their city. This time, Miami's finest are the ones on the run.

In this addition to the Bad Boys franchise, the duo returns yet again. This time, they try to save the reputation of Conrad Howard, their late police captain. The framing scheme reveals itself to be a refreshing political twist within the franchise, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die consistently delivers the classic humor between the duo that has been beloved since the original film.

Many critical reviews of the film praise the directors and Will Smith for still creating excitement within a decades-long run of the franchise. However, many also agree that this film does feel like it should be a natural end to the tired franchise.

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4 Independence Day (1996)

Directed by Roland Emmerich, who is also known for doomsday films like The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day is an equally devastating take on an alien invasion. Starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, the film unites an unlikely group of heroes who fight back against the invasion and save the rest of humanity. With gripping performances and spectacular visuals, Independence Day is one of the most famous sci-fi films to come out of the '90s.

Roland Emmerich's iconic 1996 sci-fi disaster movie Independence Day chronicles the attack of a hostile race of aliens against planet Earth. When extraterrestrial aircraft occupy Earth without warning, the forces of humanity quickly band together to stop them. At the behest of President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), US Marine pilot Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and satellite engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) organize humanity's last-ditch counterattack against the technologically-advanced alien mothership. 

Release Date

June 25, 1996

Runtime

2h 25m

Studio(s)

20th Century

In the film, Will Smith stars as Captain Steven Hiller, a confident, funny, and fearless fighter pilot who ends up aiding in downing alien spacecraft and saving the world. Alongside Stevin Hiller, Jeff Goldblum plays David Levinson, a satellite engineer and a scientific genius. Together, they end up saving the world from complete annihilation. This is arguably one of Will Smith's best roles, as he combines his ability to be extremely empathetic, humorous, and most importantly, heroic, in his roles.

3 Men in Black 3 (2012)

Director Barry Sonnenfeld returned once again to create another addition to the immensely popular Men in Black franchise. With the new addition of time travel in this film, Men in Black 3 is an exciting and surprisingly heartwarming finale to the original trilogy.

Release Date

May 23, 2012

Runtime

107

In this film, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return as Agent J and K. However, the intergalactic criminal named Boris "The Animal" escapes from imprisonment and instead travels back in time to the 1960s to target and kill a young Agent K. Agent J travels back in time as well to save him from his demise. The addition of the younger Agent K, played by Josh Brolin, strengthens the bond between the two characters, and the film ends up being an incredible addition to the lore between the agents.

2 Bad Boys for Life (2020)

The third installment of the Bad Boys franchise sees the return of Will Smith as his beloved character, Mike Lowrey. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, many critics noted its "over-the-top" and "soulless" action. But on the other hand, many critics and audience members believe that this film completely revitalized the franchise with its impressive action sequences, stakes, and charisma. The film successfully captures the atmosphere and essence of the original Bad Boys film, but with much more spectacular digital effects and the lore that has built up over the franchise.

Release Date

January 15, 2020

Runtime

124

Studio

Columbia Pictures (Sony)

The film stars Will Smith as Miami detective, Mike Lowrey. Martin Lawrence's role as Marcus Burnett also makes a return to the franchise. The two become wrapped in an assassination plot, as the wife and son of the man Mike Lowrey imprisoned are now after him. This exciting and dangerous addition to the franchise once again proves how talented Will Smith is, especially when he's put into law enforcement roles.

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1 Men in Black (1997)

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, Men in Black 3 was and is still a staple of the sci-fi/comedy genre. More notably, Men in Black solidified Will Smith's stardom for years after, and his role as James Edwards has become one of his most iconic.

Release Date

July 2, 1997

Runtime

98

The film follows former NYPD officer, James Edwards as he is now under the moniker of Agent J in the Men in Black program investigating extraterrestrial activity that's found on Earth. James is partnered with the impassive Agent K, who is played by Tommy Lee Jones. The unlikely duo fight off insect-like alien terrorists as they attempt to take over the Earth. The brilliant chemistry and humor that Will Smith brought to the film as James Edwards cannot be understated. The film was so successful, that there have been three sequels that try to replicate the originality and charm of the original film.