Will Smith: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

2. Chris Gardner - The Pursuit of Happyness

Today the thought of a Will-Jaden team-up is enough to make you want to burn all of Hollywood to the ground, but back in 2006 it was only something you’d maybe commit first-degree arson for. So, not great, but you'd take it.

The Pursuit of Happyness was a rather big surprise then. It looked to be Smith the Elder forcibly trying to show how sensitive he was now he’s a father, but is actually a really rather affecting film about the power of the human spirit entirely anchored by the father-son performance. In stark contrast to his public persona, you can totally buy Smith as a struggling man with a dream and are won over almost immediately. The ending is the absolute definition of feel-good.