It has now been about three-and-a-half years since Will Smith‘s slap was heard around the world, and his career certainly took a hit. What was once a name attached to Hollywood’s biggest projects is still a relevant feature in some theatrical successes, such as 2024’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die, but there’s an unquestionable shift in the direction of Smith’s fame. Nevertheless, his films are still proving popular on streaming, even if the man himself is now rarely in theaters.
With that in mind, Smith fans are in for a treat next month, as his sci-fi team-up with son Jaden Smith is officially joining Starz on December 1. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan and written by Gary Whitta, the science-fiction action film After Earth faced enormous backlash upon arrival in 2013, earning just 11% from critics and 36% from audiences on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The critics’ consensus on the site reads, “After Earth is a dull, ploddingly paced exercise in sentimental sci-fi — and the latest setback for director M. Night Shyamalan’s once-promising career.” For Collider, Matt Goldeberg reviewed the movie at the time, calling it “serviceable and forgettable.” After Earth’s synopsis reads:
“People were forced to leave Earth a millennium ago to establish a new home on Nova Prime. Now, Gen. Cypher Raige (Will Smith) heads Nova Prime’s most-prominent family. Cypher’s teenage son, Kitai (Jaden Smith), feels enormous pressure to follow in his father’s legendary footsteps — which strains their relationship. Cypher and Kitai set out on a trip to mend their bond, but when their craft crashes on Earth’s hostile surface, each must trust the other greatly — or perish.”
Did ‘After Earth’ at Least Perform Well at the Box Office?
Often, even the most despised of theatrical releases can find some financial success. Although After Earth outperformed many of the films around it at the 2013 box office, its bloated budget would leave it struggling to find salvation in any area. Reportedly made for $130 million, the film only returned $243 million at the global box office. Split between $60 million in domestic revenue and a further $183 million from overseas markets, there’s no doubt that such poor reviews will have affected what felt like a sure-fire hit that combined Shyamalan and the Smiths.
After Earth will soon stream on Starz. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
Release Date
May 31, 2013
Runtime
100 minutes