Will Smith needs to prove that he is still one of the most powerful Hollywood stars when Focus, his new heist romance with Margot Robbie, hits theaters.
Reports of the star’s demise as a bankable leading man appear to be premature.
Warner’s film should open to $21 million when it debuts in 3,323 locations, capturing the top spot in what is shaping up to be an otherwise lackluster week at the box office.
“Focus” cost $50.1 million to produce and is leaning heavily on Smith’s charisma in TV spots and posters.
At 46, the actor is definitely at a career crossroads, but his recent rap as a faltering box office draw is unearned.
“After Earth,” Will Smith’s star vehicle, bombed with $60.5 million domestic on a $130 million budget, but it did do $183.3 million overseas, where Smith remains popular.
In 2012, “Men in Black 3,” made $624 million worldwide on a $225 million budget, 2008’s “Seven Pounds” with $168 million worldwide on a $55 million budget.
“Hancock,” in the same year, grossed $624.4 million on a $150 million budget.
“He’s in the pantheon of actors and leading men that can open a movie,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “When you raise the bar as high as he has, all of the sudden when you have a movie that doesn’t do well, it’s ‘Houston, we have a problem.’ This guy can still open a movie.”
Smith has himself partly to blame for the skepticism. His comments that box office isn’t as important to him as it once was have only fed the perception that his power is waning.
Movie Stars: Smith, Will–Still Globally Popular Star?
Is Will Smith still a globally bankable star?
Will Smith needs to prove that he is still one of the most powerful Hollywood stars when Focus, his new heist romance with Margot Robbie, hits theaters.
Reports of the star’s demise as a bankable leading man appear to be premature.
Warner’s film should open to $21 million when it debuts in 3,323 locations, capturing the top spot in what is shaping up to be an otherwise lackluster week at the box office.
“Focus” cost $50.1 million to produce and is leaning heavily on Smith’s charisma in TV spots and posters.
At 46, the actor is definitely at a career crossroads, but his recent rap as a faltering box office draw is unearned.
“After Earth,” Will Smith’s star vehicle, bombed with $60.5 million domestic on a $130 million budget, but it did do $183.3 million overseas, where Smith remains popular.
In 2012, “Men in Black 3,” made $624 million worldwide on a $225 million budget, 2008’s “Seven Pounds” with $168 million worldwide on a $55 million budget.
“Hancock,” in the same year, grossed $624.4 million on a $150 million budget.
“He’s in the pantheon of actors and leading men that can open a movie,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “When you raise the bar as high as he has, all of the sudden when you have a movie that doesn’t do well, it’s ‘Houston, we have a problem.’ This guy can still open a movie.”
Smith has himself partly to blame for the skepticism. His comments that box office isn’t as important to him as it once was have only fed the perception that his power is waning.