Why Is Will Smith's Men In Black Trending 28 Years After Its Release

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3 days ago

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Originally released in 1997, Men in Black saw Smith alongside Tommy Lee Jones, both playing Agent J and Agent K.
Will Smith's iconic 1997 sci-fi comedy Men in Black is enjoying a surprising resurgence in popularity, nearly three decades after its debut on the big screen. The renewed interest in the beloved film comes at a time when the Oscar-winning actor continues his 26-date European tour. According to the reports, its 2002 sequel, Men in Black II has surged into the top 10 movies on US streaming platform Starz, months after also appearing in the top 10 on Peacock.
The resurgence in the popularity of the Men in Black franchise leads to a face-off with its contemporary hits like Flight Risk starring Mark Wahlberg, Tower Heist featuring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy and Kevin Hart's action-comedy Ride Along.
Originally released in 1997, Men in Black saw Smith alongside Tommy Lee Jones, both playing Agent J and Agent K—members of a secret government agency that monitors and regulates alien activity on Earth. The film was a runaway success, earning a stellar 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, three Academy Award nominations, with a massive collection of $589 million at the global box office.
Although the sequel Men in Black II didn't quite match the original's earnings, it still pulled in a respectable $441 million. The third instalment, Men in Black 3, released in 2012, outperformed its predecessor with a worldwide haul of $624 million. The 2019 reboot Men in Black: International, headlined by Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, struggled to make an impact and minted just $253 million.
Earlier this year, in March, Will teased the possibility of another Men in Black iteration. During an interview on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, he said, 'I told myself I was done with sequels. I was like, 'I've made enough sequels. I got some new things I want to make."
'This morning, an hour before I came down here, they just threw the bag for another man in Black. I was like, 'Ah, I'm supposed to be going on tour this summer," added the actor.
Will Smith, the father of three, is currently busy with a Europe tour where he is performing hits from his new album, Based on a True Story.
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