Editing Will Smith (section)

===1998–2007: Leading man status===
[[File:Will Smith (32335923807).jpg|thumb|upright|Smith in 1999]]

In 1998, Smith starred with [[Gene Hackman]] in ''[[Enemy of the State (film)|Enemy of the State]]''.<ref name=tca/> The following year, he turned down the role of [[Neo (The Matrix)|Neo]] in ''[[The Matrix]]'' in favor of ''[[Wild Wild West]]'' (1999). Despite the disappointment of ''Wild Wild West'', Smith said that he has no regrets about his decision, asserting that [[Keanu Reeves]]'s performance as Neo was superior to what Smith himself would have achieved,<ref>{{cite magazine|url= http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/smith%20has%20no%20matrix%20regrets|title= Smith has no Matrix Regrets|magazine= Contactmusic.com|access-date= June 23, 2010|archive-date= April 23, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090423051404/http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/smith%20has%20no%20matrix%20regrets|url-status= live}}</ref> although in interviews subsequent to the release of ''Wild Wild West'', he said that he "made a mistake on ''Wild Wild West''. That could have been better".<ref>O'Toole, Lesley. "Will Smith: The Total Film Interview", ''Total Film'', February 2009, Issue 151, pp. 120–125, Future Publishing Ltd., London, England.</ref>

Smith's second album was again supported by the release of a film theme song as the lead single: "[[Wild Wild West (Will Smith song)|Wild Wild West]]", featuring [[Dru Hill]] and [[Kool Moe Dee]], topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA.<ref name="RIAA"/><ref name="US100"/> The album, ''[[Willennium]]'', reached number five on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.<ref name="US200"/><ref name="RIAA"/> "[[Will 2K]]", the second single from the album, reached number 25 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="US100"/> Before the end of 1999, a video album was released featuring Smith's seven music videos released to date,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-will-smith-music-video-collection-mw0000255053 |title=The Will Smith Music Video Collection – Will Smith: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Phares |first=Heather |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118055724/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-will-smith-music-video-collection-mw0000255053 |url-status=live }}</ref> which reached number 25 on the [[UK Video Charts|UK Music Video Chart]].<ref name="UKvideo">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19991219/13/ |title=19 December 1999 – 25 December 1999 |work=Official Music Video Chart Top 50 Archive |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603211839/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/19991219/13/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The same year, he was also featured on ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'' co-star [[Tatyana Ali]]'s single "[[Boy You Knock Me Out]]", which reached number three on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and topped the [[UK R&B Singles and Albums Charts|UK R&B Singles Chart]].<ref name="UK"/><ref name="UKtatyana">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-singles-chart/19990207/114/ |title=07 February 1999 – 12 February 1999 |work=Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40 Archive |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-date=May 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523131920/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-singles-chart/19990207/114/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Smith portrayed heavyweight boxer [[Muhammad Ali]] in the 2001 biopic ''[[Ali (film)|Ali]]''. For his performance, he was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]], and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor&nbsp;– Motion Picture Drama]].<ref name=GG>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/person/will-smith |title=Will Smith |publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=September 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220043654/http://www.goldenglobes.com/person/will-smith |archive-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2002 |title=The 74th Academy Awards |date=December 4, 2015 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |access-date=October 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001230532/http://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2002 |archive-date=October 1, 2016}}</ref> In 2002, following a four-year musical hiatus, Smith returned with his third album ''[[Born to Reign]]'', which reached number 13 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA.<ref name="US200"/><ref name="RIAA"/> The album's lead single was the theme song from Smith's film ''[[Men in Black II]]'', called "[[Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)]]", which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="UK"/> Later in the year, Smith's first compilation album ''[[Greatest Hits (Will Smith album)|Greatest Hits]]'' was released, featuring songs from his three solo albums and those produced with DJ Jazzy Jeff.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-mw0000229942 |title=Greatest Hits – Will Smith: Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414103833/http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-mw0000229942 |url-status=live }}</ref>

2003 saw Smith return for ''[[Bad Boys II]]'', the sequel to the 1995 film ''Bad Boys''; the film follows detectives Burnett and Lowrey investigating the flow of [[MDMA|ecstasy]] into Miami. Despite receiving generally negative reviews, the film was a box-office success, grossing $270&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref name="Bad Boys Mojo"/> In the following year, he starred in the science fiction film ''[[I, Robot (film)|I, Robot]]'' and the animated film ''[[Shark Tale]]''; both films were box office successes despite mixed reviews. Smith's latest album ''[[Lost and Found (Will Smith album)|Lost and Found]]'' was released in 2005, peaking at number six on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="US200"/> Lead single "[[Switch (Will Smith song)|Switch]]" reached the top ten of both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="UK"/><ref name="US100"/> In 2005, Smith was entered into the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' for attending three premieres in a 24-hour time span.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a19424/will-smith-in-guinness-book-of-records.html|title=Will Smith in Guinness Book of Records|website=Digital Spy|date=February 23, 2005|first=Daniel|last=Saney|access-date=May 3, 2008|archive-date=May 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501222620/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a19424/will-smith-in-guinness-book-of-records.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Smith and his son [[Jaden Smith|Jaden]] played father and son in the 2006 biographical drama ''[[The Pursuit of Happyness]]''. In the film, Smith portrays [[Chris Gardner]]. Smith first became interested in making a film about Gardner after seeing him on ''[[20/20 (U.S. TV series)|20/20]]'' and connected with him during production. The film, along with Smith's performance, received praise.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/15/movies/15happ.html|title=Climbing Out of the Gutter With a 5-Year-Old in Tow|date=December 15, 2006|first=Manohla|last=Dargis|newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 23, 2017|archive-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917124845/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/15/movies/15happ.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/pursuitofhappyness/|title=Pursuit of Happiness|first=Adam R.|last=Holz|publisher=Plugged In|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=July 13, 2015|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150713073014/http://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/pursuitofhappyness/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Will Smith 2011.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Smith hosting the 2011 Walmart Shareholders Meeting]]

On December 10, 2007, Smith was honored at [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]] on [[Hollywood Boulevard]]. Smith left an imprint of his hands and feet outside the theater in front of many fans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hhworlds.com/f11/12-11-07-will-smith-immortalized-grauman-s-chinese-theater-9841.html#post102972 |title=Will Smith Immortalized at Grauman's Chinese Theater |publisher=HHWorlds.com |access-date=June 23, 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117055805/http://www.hhworlds.com/f11/12-11-07-will-smith-immortalized-grauman-s-chinese-theater-9841.html#post102972 |archive-date=January 17, 2010 }}</ref> Later that month, Smith starred in the film ''[[I Am Legend (film)|I Am Legend]]'', released on December 14, 2007. Alongside marginally positive reviews,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_am_legend/ |title=I Am Legend |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=December 14, 2007 |access-date=June 23, 2010 |archive-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421052019/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_am_legend |url-status=live }}</ref> its opening was the largest ever for a film released in the United States during December. Smith himself has said that he considers the film to be "aggressively unique".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Will Smith: He is a legend |url=http://www.stv.tv/content/out/film/videointerviews/display.html?id=opencms:/out/films/video_interviews/will_smith_i_am_legend_interview| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010221635/http://www.stv.tv/content/out/film/videointerviews/display.html?id=opencms:/out/films/video_interviews/will_smith_i_am_legend_interview | archive-date=October 10, 2008 }}</ref> A reviewer said that the film's commercial success "cemented [Smith's] standing as the number one box office draw in Hollywood".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/1697664 |title=Box Office Guru Wrapup: Will Smith Rescues Industry With Explosive Opening For I Am Legend |first=Gitesh |last=Pandya |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=December 16, 2007 |access-date=December 17, 2007 |archive-date=January 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118183544/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/1697664/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 1, 2008, ''[[TV Guide]]'' reported that Smith was selected as one of America's top ten most fascinating people of 2008 for a [[Barbara Walters]] [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] special that aired on December 4, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barbara Walters Gets Up Close with 2008's Most Fascinating People |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/Barbara-Walters-Special-1000398/ |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>