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Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Will Smith has ascended to become a Hollywood icon. As he celebrates his 56th birthday, we reflect on the remarkable legacy he has built in the film industry.

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Where the Day Takes You (1992) - His big screen started with Where the Day Takes You, an indie drama about teenage runaways in which Smith was the least-known star. But critics certainly took notice of his on-screen charisma. (Photo: Courtesy Cinetel Films)

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Six Degrees of Separation (1993) - Smith further proved his dramatic chops in this uptown drama, in which he plays a well-read con artist who has a knack for talking his way into Upper East Side penthouses. The actor also surprised viewers by playing a gay character, demonstrating how far he'll go to get into character. (Photo: Courtesy MGM)

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Bad Boys (1995) - It's the film that transformed Smith from TV star to box office gold! This buddy-cop comedy, which co-stars Martin Lawrence, kicked off the Fresh Prince's legendary eight-picture #1 streak and made him the prince of summer blockbusters. (Photo: Courtesy Jerry Bruckheimer Films)

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Independence Day (1996) - When this disaster-action-sci-fi-comedy mash-up debuted in July, it became clear to Hollywood and the world that Bad Boys wasn't just beginner's luck. The film grossed close to $1 billion worldwide and is among the biggest money-makers of all time. (Photo: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox)

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Men in Black (1997) - Smith scored a three-peat with this sci-fi comedy from cult director Barry Sonnenfeld. He also reignited his rap game by performing the film's title song. MiB earned overwhelmingly positive reviews, proving that popcorn flicks can win over even the harshest critics. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Ali (2001) - After spending the '90s securing his post as the Blockbuster Boy, Smith kicked off the millenium by showing his serious side. His uncanny turn as legendary boxer Muhammad Ali reminded people of his dramatic acting chops and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Men in Black II (2002) - It's hard to imagine studios could wait five years to get back into the lucrative MiB business, but their patience was worth it. The film's half-billion dollar gross worldwide proved that fans hadn't abandoned lovable Agent J. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Bad Boys II (2003) - Smith kept the hits coming with this sequel to 1995's Bad Boys. This installment of the Michael Bay franchise was a financial success, earning a quarter-billion dollars worldwide. As for Smith, despite the eight year gap between the two films, he looked as though he had hardly aged a day. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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I, Robot (2004) - This futuristic sci-fi actioner combined Smith's blockbuster appeal with his skill for drama. Though it was a diversion from his typically feel-good summer flicks, it was another box office winner for the on-fire star. (Photo: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox)

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Hitch (2005) - Finally! After a decade of fighting aliens, robots and everything in between, we got to see Smith's softer side in this romantic comedy, about a playboy matchmaker who falls in love, co-starring Eva Mendes. The film was a critical and commercial smash, making Smith one of the few A-list actors who could transcend genres. (Photo: Courtesy Sony Pictures)

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The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) - Just when we thought he was getting comfortable collecting those eight-figure paychecks for summer tentpole films, Smith surprised us again with his moving performance as a dad trying to reinvent himself for the sake of his son (played by Jaden Smith) in this real-life based drama. The actor earned his second Oscar nod. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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I Am Legend (2007) - We know he can carry a film, but in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, Smith had to do it all by himself. The actor gave a riveting performance with no co-star to lean on for most of this visually groundbreaking film. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Hancock (2007) - After getting accustomed to seeing him clean cut and looking sharp, both on-screen and off, audiences were shocked to see a disheveled, surly Smith as alcoholic superhero John Hancock. Once again, the Philly native showed his range. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Seven Pounds (2008) - This gut-wrenching drama didn't break box office records like many of Smith's other films, but it did keep his "serious actor" skills sharp. And the healthy $170 million gross showed that Smith doesn't need guns or visual effects to draw in his core fans. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Men in Black 3 (2012) - After a four-year hiatus from the big screen, Smith returned with the second sequel to his 1995 smash. The film made a massive $654 million at the box office. (Photo: Courtesy Amblin Entertainment)

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After Earth (2013) - In 2013, Will Smith starred alongside his son, Jaden Smith, in the science fiction film "After Earth." The movie was directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

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Suicide Squad (2016) - Will Smith played the character Deadshot in the DC Extended Universe film Suicide Squad. The movie featured a team of antiheroes and villains.

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King Richard (2021): The biopic on Serena and Venus Williams's father, Richard Williams, was a massive success. In 2022, 30 years after his first film, Will Smith won the best actor Oscar. Happy birthday, Will Smith!

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Emancipation (2022): Will Smith, who also co-produced, portrays a runaway slave journeying to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the 1860s, following President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which aimed to end slavery in the secessionist Confederate states. His powerful performance earned him the award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards.

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Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024): Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunited for the fourth installment of the Bad Boys series, and it’s no surprise that the film quickly became the tenth-highest-grossing movie of 2024.

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