Will Smith is ready to step back into the world of action movies, but in a surprising move, his return film will not release in theaters. Consigning Smith’s next film to a direct-to-streaming release is a big mistake for a number of reasons.
Why releasing a Will Smith movie directly to streaming is a poor choice
A recent report revealed that Smith is set to star in the upcoming action-thriller Supermax. The upcoming movie, which will be directed by David Gordon Green, follows the story of two FBI agents investigating a murder that has taken place inside the world’s most secure prison. The film’s remaining cast is unknown, but Deadline notes the film will be a “streaming play” and not a theatrical release.
This decision is unusual. Supermax is a rare non-franchise studio movie for the Oscar-winning actor, and something fans will likely be excited to see. Although Smith has not starred in many projects recently, he remains one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood. His films have grossed over billion worldwide, making him one of the most successful and bankable stars in all of Hollywood.
For Amazon MGM Studios, this should be an obvious choice for a theater release. Even if the film is poorly received, it will likely make money due to Smith’s star power. For those who might disagree, we only need to look at Smith’s last movie, 2024’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die, as an example. While the movie was part of a beloved franchise, it took home $400 million, a huge profit from its 0 million budget. Even a Smith-led movie that is largely considered a failure, 2019’s Gemini Man, still made over its budget at the box office, showing that Smith’s star power is often enough to carry a project.
Some may still point to Smith’s infamous incident at the Oscars in 2022, when he slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, as a potential reason why studios might feel caution about putting Smith-led movies back in theaters. While likely not the case, that shouldn’t even be a factor, as the main motive for all studios is profits. The bottom line is that Smith is still a highly bankable star who should not have his movies go direct-to-streaming.
