Jada Pinkett Smith Reveals Her Favorite Role of Will Smith’s Career Although ‘The Critics Weren’t That Kind’

Jada Pinkett Smith supports her husband, Will Smith, in every role he takes on, whether it turns into a hit movie or not. However, over their 23 years of marriage and two years of dating, Jada has one favorite role. She typically doesn’t get upset about what the critics say about her husband’s movies, but this time she did. 

Will Smith is ‘one of the most powerful actors in Hollywood’

Since 1992, Will Smith has appeared in over 35 films and produced almost 20 more that he wasn’t featured in. He is still one of his generation’s most successful actors and continues to pursue both blockbuster hits and smaller projects. 

In 1995, Smith starred in Bad Boys alongside Martin Lawrence and immediately began dominating the box office. Fans began to look forward to his movies, which were generally released every summer — Independence Day, Men in Black, Enemy of the State, Ali. 

He became the only actor to have eight films consecutively gross over $100 million in the domestic box office, beginning with Men in Black II in 2002. In the early 2000s, every movie that Smith starred in was a hit; Bad Boys II, I Robot, Shark Tale, Hitch, The Pursuit of Happyness, I am Legend and Hancock. Although the last film received poor reviews from critics, it became his eighth consecutive $100 million hit, with a worldwide total of over $624 million, according to IndieWire. 

Jada Pinkett Smith revealed her favorite role of Will Smith’s on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’

After Hancock, Will didn’t have hits every single year anymore, but he continued to dominate. He garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Concussion in 2015. The following year, he starred in Suicide Squad, which grossed over $745 million worldwide. 

In 2019, Will beat all of his records by starring as the Genie in the live-action adaptation of the 1992 Disney movie Aladdin. The film is Will’s highest grossing ever, with a worldwide box office total of over $1 billion.

“I was so happy, I was, specifically because the critics weren’t that kind,” Jada revealed her thoughts on Aladdin on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Kimmel was surprised that Jada was upset about what the critics were saying about the film. 

“Can I tell you? It’s probably my favorite role of his,” Jada told the talk show host. “Absolutely.”

What did the critics say about ‘Aladdin?’

While it didn’t bother Will that Aladdin received some terrible reviews from critics, it did get to Jada. 

“A threadbare magic-carpet ride to nowhere special, with Will Smith as a blue genie,” the New York Times wrote about the film.

Jada made Will go to a local movie theater to watch Aladdin when it came out so she could show him how much people loved the film. 

“Smith, faced with the impossible task of living up to Robin Williams’ iconic voice performance, easily makes the role his own,” wrote The Hollywood Reporter. “His infectious personality shines throughout, and he even manages to infuse his martini-swilling Genie with moving emotional moments.”

The reviews were mixed, but overall the movie was a worldwide success and will remain Jada’s favorite role of her husband’s 30-year career.