Few stars are as adept at getting fans talking as Dwayne Johnson. The actor – whose life is the subject of the sitcom Young Rock – is a master of social media. But he’s far from the only player who knows how to leverage his influence online. Will Smith has also become a major presence on Instagram and YouTube. But which star dominates the big screen? Let’s find out.
The two stars started their careers in two very different places
Although Johnson and Smith are among the most famous men in the world, their respective careers began light years from the cinemas. Johnson, of course, made a name for himself in professional wrestling as The Rock in the 1990s. And it wasn’t until his film debut in 2001. The return of the mummy that moviegoers began to sense what he was cooking: a film career.
Meanwhile, Smith first rose to fame about a decade before The Rock emerged in the ring. In 1987, Smith released his first studio album as the second half of hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. And in 1989, he and his partner Jeff Townes won the very first Grammy for Best Rap Performance. The following year, Smith made his acting debut on The prince of Bel-Air.
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Will Smith vs. Dwayne Johnson at the box office
With his hit TV show as a foundation, Smith got into the movies in the early 1990s. But his first big blockbuster didn’t land until 1995. Bad Boys. The following years brought successes such as Independence day and Men in black. Yet even though Smith ruled on the July 4th weekend before Johnson even made his film debut, The Rock has always outperformed the Fresh Prince.
According to The-Numbers.com, Johnson’s on-screen roles account for around $ 12.3 billion in global box office revenue. Smith’s filmography, on the other hand, peaks at $ 9.6 billion. Both stars have had their fair share of blockbusters and box office flops. However, Johnson has several different franchise roles in the mix that give him a distinct advantage over Smith.
In particular, Johnson’s seven greatest (live-action) hits are all part of the Fast and furious or Jumanji series. Notably, Johnson joined both franchises after their inception. Smith’s biggest profit is the 2019 Aladdin, followed by Suicide Squad and Men in black 3. His only consistent franchise currently is Bad Boys, as it came out Men in black after the third film.
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Dwayne Johnson or Will Smith for President?
It makes sense that Smith and Johnson each remain such big stars. After all, they share an inherent charisma and humor, which makes them perfect for action movies and popcorn comedies. But aside from their highly successful film careers, Smith and Johnson have something else in common.
Both actors have expressed an interest in politics. Johnson even jokingly announced his run for president on Saturday Night Live, with Tom Hanks as running mate. Rumors that he might in fact continue in politics have since subsided. However, Smith recently revealed that he could still run for office one day. It remains to be seen whether he will ever do so.