Editing Will Smith (section)

===1993–1997: Solo music and film breakthrough===
Smith's first major roles were in the drama ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|Six Degrees of Separation]]'' (1993) and the action film ''[[Bad Boys (1995 film)|Bad Boys]]'' (1995) in which he starred opposite [[Martin Lawrence]]. The latter film was commercially successful, grossing $141.4 million worldwide.<ref name="Bad Boys Mojo">{{cite web |title = Bad Boys (1995) |url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=badboys.htm |work = [[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher = [[IMDb]] |access-date = August 12, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100730100826/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=badboys.htm| archive-date=July 30, 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> However, critical reception was generally mixed.<ref>{{cite web |title = Bad Boys (1995) |url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1062483-bad_boys/ |work = [[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date = April 7, 1995 |publisher = [[Flixster]] |access-date = August 12, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100731014227/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1062483-bad_boys/#trailers| archive-date=July 31, 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, Smith starred as part of an ensemble cast in [[Roland Emmerich]]'s ''[[Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day]]''. The film was a massive blockbuster, becoming the second highest-grossing film in history at the time and establishing Smith as a prime box office draw.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=independenceday.htm |title=Independence Day |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=July 24, 2011 |archive-date=September 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923135752/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=independenceday.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the summer of 1997, he starred alongside [[Tommy Lee Jones]] in the hit ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'', playing [[Agent J]]. The film was released on July 2 by [[Columbia Pictures]] and grossed over $589.3&nbsp;million worldwide against a $90&nbsp;million budget, becoming the year's third highest-grossing film, with an estimated 54,616,700 tickets sold in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=meninblack.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|title=Men in Black|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=May 30, 2016|date=May 30, 2016|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804115921/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=meninblack.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It received positive reviews, with critics praising its humor and Jones's and Smith's performances.

During the summer of 1997, Smith also began his solo music career with the release of "[[Men in Black (song)|Men in Black]]", the theme song for the film, which topped singles charts in several regions across the world, including the UK.<ref name="UK">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3466/will-smith/ |title=Will Smith Full Official Chart History |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-date=March 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331184829/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3466/will-smith/ |url-status=live }}</ref> "Men in Black" (and second single "[[Just Cruisin']]{{thin space}}") was later included on Smith's debut solo album ''[[Big Willie Style]]'', which reached the top ten of the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and was certified nine times platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref name="US200">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/431377/will-smith/chart?f=305 |title=Billboard 200: Will Smith Chart History |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-date=August 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811202107/http://www.billboard.com/artist/431377/will-smith/chart?f=305 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RIAA">{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Will+Smith#search_section |title=Gold & Platinum Artist Search "Will Smith" |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-date=April 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418063308/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Will+Smith#search_section |url-status=live }}</ref> The third single from the album, "[[Gettin' Jiggy wit It]]", became Smith's first [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] number one when it was released in 1998.<ref name="US100">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/431377/will-smith/chart?f=379 |title=The Hot 100: Will Smith Chart History |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-date=August 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811202132/http://www.billboard.com/artist/431377/will-smith/chart?f=379 |url-status=live }}</ref>