Hollywood isn't exactly a family business. We typically perceive it more as a "claw your way to the top" industry, trampling whoever gets in your way. Still though, there are times someone puts forth the effort to ensure someone else has a chance, but it's always controversial when that person is a family member. This especially comes to mind with the very high profile Smith family. The upcoming M. Night Shyamalan film After Earth will feature Will Smith, with his son being portrayed by... his son. Allegation of nepotism fly everywhere, which is strange considering this type of thing has been happening for years. So today on WhatCulture, we'll be taking a look back at a few various examples of movie stars keeping it in the family, and see how well it worked out for them....
6. Will Smith and Jaden Smith
Might as well start here, eh?
The Movie(s): Casting aside the upcoming After Earth, Will and Jaden have appeared in one movie together so far, 2006's The Pursuit of Happyness. It told the story of real-life Chris Gardner, as he wound up becoming homeless and struggling to find a job to support himself and his son.
Did It Work?: Pretty much. Aside from some criticism of perhaps showing Gardner in too positive of a light (he kind of neglected his son a lot, who was only two years old at the time), the movie was a great success, earning over $300 million at the box office, and Will Smith was nominated as Best Actor at the following year's Academy Awards, with much praise being for the natural chemistry between Will and Jaden.