will smith (13 posts)
Smith, Depp, DiCaprio Shake Their Moneymakers
Sipa via AP Images
Here's some news Will Smith can take to the bank, along with those eight-figure paychecks: The Hancock star is the top-paid actor in Hollywood, according to the latest figures from the number crunchers over at Forbes.com.
Based on salaries earned between June 1, 2007, through June 1, 2008, Smith bested all competitors, male or female, raking in an estimated $80 million for his big-screen efforts.
His nearest moneymaking rival is Johnny Depp, whose pirate's booty totaled $72 million.
Not bad for a year's work.
Hellboy, Hancock Hot; Meet Dave Not
Universal Pictures
Hellboy had a good weekend. Will Smith had an impressive one. Brendan Fraser had an okay one. Eddie Murphy didn't. Have any of the above.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army topped the Friday-Sunday box office with $35.9 million, according to Exhibitor Relations estimates today.
In its second weekend, Smith's Hancock slipped to No. 2, but definitively proved its bad reviews were no match for its star's appeal and moviegoers' taste. The superhero tale grossed another $33 million, and scored the modern box office's ultimate compliment—ticket sales fell less than 50 percent.
Fraser's Journey to the Center of the Earth, a 3-D remake of the classic Jules Verne adventure, opened in third, with $20.6 million.
Murphy's Meet Dave, meanwhile, looked like it was in for a brief, unpleasant run.
Will Smith's Superpowers Still Work, Hancock Scores
Sony Pictures
Will Smith did Hancock a solid.
Smith has star-powered the poorly reviewed superhero hybrid to a $66 million opening weekend, and a No. 1 finish, according to Exhibitor Relations estimates today.
WALL-E, last weekend's champ, stayed strong, grossing another $33.4 million, but finished a distant second.
Hancock goes down as Smith's seventh straight movie to open No. 1. If you count Shark Tale, the 2004 animated comedy, as a Smith movie, his streak stands at eight straight.
Overall, Hancock has grossed $107.3 million since "previewing" on Tuesday night and "opening" on Wednesday.
Beat Ben @ the Box Office: Big Willie Weekend
Frank Masi / Sony Pictures
It's that time of year: Will Smith season. And the the King of July 4th has another smash hit on his hands with Hancock, costarring Oscar winner Charlize Theron and funnyman Jason Bateman. This is the only major release at the box office over the holiday weekend, and every studio clears a path because, no doubt about it, he's the No. 1 movie star in the world.
In a summer of superheroes, you also have to admire actor-turned-director Peter Berg for bringing us an entirely new character, who doesn't have to cater to both fanboys and mass audiences, or worry about staying true to the source material.
So look for Hancock to bank $127 million over the five-day weekend. Smith goes all-out, and the guy even performed a 45-minute set at his own premiere. (I got a little emotional when he introduced DJ Jazzy Jeff and did "Summertime.")
Don't think Hancock can save the day at the box office this weekend? Then drop your numbers in the comments!
Will Smith Save The Last Action Hancock?
Frank Masi/Sony Pictures
The reviews aren't great. The genre's iffy. Will Smith's the star.
As far as box-office business goes, everything should be fine.
Big things were expected, per usual, of Smith, and his less-than-usual latest, Hancock, opening Wednesday.
"I think it's going to be another Will Smith gigantic opening weekend," says box-office expert Paul Dergarabedian of Media by Numbers.
Dergarabedian predicted Hancock could make $75-$80 million from Friday-Sunday, and expected the film to clear $100 million, easy, over its first five days, from Wednesday-Sunday. An opening of that size would lift Hancock, the tale of an unconventional superhero, right into the airpspace of Iron Man.
Will Smith's Cursive Combat with Cruise
Lisa O'Connor/ZUMAPress.com
They say the pen is mightier than the sword.
And in Hollywood, sometimes a Sharpie can be more important than the box office—at least when it comes to Will Smith and his pal Tom Cruise.
The Hancock star tells USA Today about the friendly stars' long-standing rivalry about who spends the most time signing his, well, John Hancock.
"It's hard to beat that dude," says Smith. "He has another gear. He did 2½ hours in France for Mission: Impossible on the red carpet. Now when I go to France, people will say, 'You know, Tom was out here for 2½ hours.' "
Despite such competitiveness between the Tinseltown titans, Smith is still protective of his friend...
Burning Q's: Budget Stars & the Vanishing Charlize
Marc Susset-Lacroix/WireImage.com
With the economy hurting us average folks, are celebrities suffering, too? What kind of cutbacks are people in Hollywood making, if any?
—Mo
Fear not for Will Smith. He stands little chance of losing his Big Willie lifestyle. The giant undulating superpool, nestled deep inside his sprawling megacompound off the Mulholland Raceway, will still sparkle. And the one tennis court will remain as spotlessly maintained as the second tennis court right next to it.
But the Industry is also getting mighty sick of $20 million salaries for stars who, in the end, may not attract the crowds. Here's how they're trimming fat...
Even Will Smith's Kid Is Cool
AP Photo/Evan Agostini
Young Jaden Smith hasn't even broken into double digits agewise—he's 9 years old—and already the dude is smoother than most guys will be ever.
Check The Pursuit of Happyness star hanging with the Clique Girlz at the premiere of Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, and try not to think about what you were doing at 9.
Burning Q's: Hubbard Buddies & Premiere Snacks
Lisa O'Connor/ZUMAPress.com
Does an association with Scientology weaken an actor's star power? Aren't there elements of Scientology in the new school that Will Smith is helping build? Hasn't he denied involvement with Scientology?
—Emerald Arts, Australia
In order of your asking: (1) No, unless he/she starts yapping about it and jumping on couches, in which case, yes. (2) Yes. Per Fox News, the New Village Academy in Calabasas, Calif., which is getting $1 million from Will Smith, plans to implement several teaching techniques first developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. (3) Right. Smith's rep has said the actor is not a Scientologist. But then again, Smith has said he has studied elements of it through Tom Cruise.
Now go ahead and digest all that while I move on to more of your Burning Q's!
Burning Q's: Nick's Chicks & Overpaid Hotties
Jennifer Buhl, PacificCoastNews.com
—Tweety
Honestly, wouldn't you rather share with the class? He was briefly engaged to Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks and also boasts previous affairs with Kim Kardashian and Christina Milian. Onward with more of your Burning Questions, eh?
So Angelina finally confirmed that she was having twins. But if celebs make their minions sign confidentiality agreements, how did every gossip outlet already know this?
—Carrie
Rate-a-Trailer: Will Smith's Been Drinking in Hancock
We like Will Smith when he's doing sci-fi, but we love it when he's doing the funny. Looks like he's pulling off both in this just out trailer for summer flick Hancock, about a down-and-out superhero working on his comeback.
What do you think? Is there room for Smith in a summer packed with jokers, hulks and iron men? Can there ever be enough Jason Bateman in the world? Sound off in the comments.
Burning Q's: Why Will and The Hills Roll So Deep
Donato Sardella/WireImage.com
Why do the photogs follow around the reality stars from The Hills but not reality stars from other shows, like The Real World? What's so great about The Hills?
—Julia, Berea, Ohio
The Hills gets higher ratings for MTV than The Real World. It's MTV's highest-rated reality show. In fact, among ankle-biters ages 12-34, the season-three premiere was the highest-rated cable telecast of the year to date. And oh: That stripper from this season's Real World doesn't have a personal publicist. L.C. does.
Now that we settled that, seems you people have tons more Burning Q's to quench, so here we go!
What exactly determines how much an actor makes? Is it really, "the bigger the celebrity, the more money you make"?
—Ashley, Orlando, Fla.
THE BIG PICTURE
Dog Daze Rumors may swirl about Jess' romances, but no one'll ever question her devotion to pup Daisy
More PhotosTop 10 Stories
- Comic-Con: Hugh Jackman's Wolverine Surprise
- No Such Thing as Bad News for Dark Knight
- Pete Doherty Cops to Paparazzo Bustup, Gets Fined
- Stephanie Pratt: I Didn't Hook Up With L.C.'s Ex
- Miley Goes to the Birds
- Bale Stays Silencio in Barcelona
- Amy Adams' Enchanting Engagement
- Christian Bale, Wife "Solid" at Knight's Spain Premiere
- 50 Cent Quiere Taco Bell to Pay
- Mindy McCready in Crisis; Enters Rehab After O.D.
Hot Topics
Most Commented
- Mourning Golden Girl Getty; Emmy Winner Dead at 84 (182)
- Britney Agrees to Sole Custody for K-Fed (121)
- Brangelina Brood Checks Out (117)
- Nick Jonas and Selena Gomez's "Genuine Affection" (90)
- Hey Pervs, Miley's Not Starring in R-Rated Movie Anytime Soon (99)
- Brad Pitt Stewing Over Shutterbug Snaps (86)
- Natalie Portman Must Be in Love (80)
- Batman Bale Arrested for Alleged Assault (79)
- Springtime Comes Early for Kardashian (78)
- Khloe Kardashian Surrenders for Jail (75)
Fashion Police
Calling All Couture CopsAdore or abhor Brittny Gastineau's ghastly getup? Weigh in—it's YOU Write 'Em Up time!
More Photos
Shop
-
Sunset Tan, Season 1 DVD Just released! Catch up on all your favorite episodes.
-
The Soup "As Long As Bimbos Compete for Love" Tee Get new Soup tees while they're hot!
