Will Smith’s Unexpected Pick for Best Film Ever

Will Smith’s journey from chart-topping rapper to sitcom star, then to Hollywood heavyweight, has been anything but predictable. The bloke who started out as the ‘Fresh Prince’ has seen his fair share of highs and lows, from nabbing a Grammy at 21 for ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’ to nearly going broke that same year. He only took the TV gig that made him a household name because he was strapped for cash. Once he’d outgrown the small screen, Smith didn’t muck about—he quickly became one of the biggest names in the business, sometimes even outshining Tom Cruise, depending on the day.

Of course, things have been a bit rocky lately, thanks to that infamous Oscars moment. Still, Smith’s knack for surprising people hasn’t faded, and that extends to his taste in films. He never set out to be just a musician or an actor—he wanted to be a superstar, plain and simple. By the mid-90s, he’d well and truly made it. Eddie Murphy may have paved the way for Black actors in blockbuster leads, but Smith took it further, becoming the only actor to headline eight straight films that each pulled in over $100 million in the States. Between 1995 and 2013, 16 out of his 18 starring roles smashed the nine-figure mark worldwide.

Formative Influences and Early Inspiration

Smith’s drive to break into the mainstream can be traced back to his first viewing of Star Wars. Like heaps of other kids in 1977, George Lucas’ sci-fi epic blew his mind. It was a game-changer for him, but surprisingly, it’s not the film he holds dearest. He’s said that Star Wars and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video were the most influential bits of entertainment he’d ever seen as a youngster. Still, when it comes to his biggest influence on screen, Smith points to a true icon from Hollywood’s golden era.

“In terms of film,” he shared with the Cannes Film Festival. “Probably Humphrey Bogart.”

He went on,

“The amount of movies he made. The film that I’ve studied most is Casablanca. That’s close to being a perfect movie. Even with the quick ending.”

A Surprising Favourite

Despite his admiration for Bogart and Casablanca, Smith’s top pick is something else entirely. The honour goes to a 1957 war epic directed by one of cinema’s most respected filmmakers—a film that scooped up seven Oscars out of eight nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Smith didn’t hesitate to name it:

“The Bridge Over the River Kwai is my favourite movie,” he declared.

It’s a left-field choice from a bloke who’s made his name starring in effects-heavy blockbusters, but Smith reckons this classic stands as the pinnacle of what film can achieve.