http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17888452/site/newsweek/

Will Smith #1?They have to be kidding!I like Will,but there's no way he can be above Johnny....Johnny starred in the biggest film of the year,how can he not be number 1?Not to mention all the awards he received last year....he can beat Will any time of the day... :P

Will Smith #1 yeah right! :rolleyes: You gatta be kidding me! :angry:

They have to be joking!


Yvonne in LA B)

"Will Smith is the only thing in this business—the only thing—that represents a guaranteed opening weekend." He may be even bigger than that. "Let's put it this way," says one studio head, "there's Will Smith, and then there are the mortals."


What's this guy smokin'? :ciggy

I like Will Smith but most powerful? No way!!! I think that Johnny has more power than anyone making movies today. An idiot would tell you that.

Nicci :captainjack

"Most powerful actor on the planet" !!!??? :angry:

Boy did they get that wrong!

Awwww.....I like Will! I believe that he, Johnny and most other actors who have any sense shrug off "lists" like these, not to be taken seriously. Will Smith has opened so many "blockbuster" films (Independence Day, Men In Black, I Robot, animated films, etc.) and has tried his hand at romantic comedies and dramas, so he's quite versatile. He's a devoted family man and never comes off as anything other than a nice guy. He shares those most admirable traits with our JD!

I posted this on Deppography where a similar discussion was underway. I think it's a great distinction that Johnny was recognized at #2 since he's the only one of the top 5 to turn his back on the Hollywood game. I also think Will totally deserves the #1 ranking.

Will Smith doesn't make small indie type movies. Pursuit of Happyness was the closest he's come. He doesn't make as many movies which also tilts the balance in his favor as far as strong opening averages go. Johnny mixes his offerings, throwing in a Libertine for every Pirates or 2 he does.

To look at it differently, with 28 films counted by BoxofficeMojo, Johnny has a lifetime domestic gross of $1.65 million with an average of $59 million per film, average opening of $24.6 million (including the $135 million for P2). With 16 films Will Smith's lifetime gross is $1.97 million for an average of $123 million and an average opening of $33.6 million. In the past 10 years, Johnny has had only 4 films surpass $100 million. Since P1 he's had 5 films that grossed less than $60 million. Smith, on the other hand, had only two out of 11 movies that grossed less than $100 million, none of them in the past 5 years.

While that doesn't speak to quality, Smith got as many academy award nominations as Johnny. He's a talented and smart guy who also overcame the stigma that tv series bestows on some. He has got a great family life, obviously adoring his wife and kids. I'm tremendously impressed with what he has accomplished. While I'm not a particular fan of his, I think it's great that he is the one to whom Johnny came in second. It's a huge distinction for Johnny in that Will plays the Hollywood game very well and Johnny shuns it.

Power in Hollywood does depend on box office- it's a number's game. I think the above post makes some good points. Smith doesn't do as many films as Johnny and especially starting out, he went for the big buck movies. It wasn't until Pursuit of Happyness and maybe Ali, that he took on roles that let him stretch more as an actor. As for head to head acting ability, I still think he has a way to go to reach Johnny's level. I do know he has claimed in the past to be an admirer of Johnny, so I do give him credit for starting to take on different roles. I just think the article was a little overblown in that it mainly focused on money. I would pick Johnny over Smith as far as "acting" goes anyday.

Have to agree with you, Herestoyou!

Johnny hasn't gotten where he is today without playing the Hollywood game, he just plays according to his own interpretation of the game's rules. He's a very smart, articulate and assute business man who just follows his own heart and mind when it comes to project choices. Johnny's trying every aspect of this art and craft, small art house films, huge blockbusters and now a musical. All actors can't say the same thing. Johnny never chooses the easy, tried and true path. And that's why I respect him and choose his films every time. He puts his name and credibility as an actor on the line with every choice he makes.

Well I typed a reply here but I must not have submitted. I lost it lol

Anyway, here, here Karen I totally agree.

I found 5 more of Johhny Depp movies yesterday, which I purchased. That now makes my total of owning 19 movies. Only 3 movies I have not seen but still looking.

I like Will Smith also but nobody can beat Johhny Depp.

The discussion of Depp vs Smith was quite interesting. I enjoy both actors and look forward to their future projects and I applaud the fact that both actors are fantastic fathers. I will always see a Depp movie before a Smith movie. B)

It will be interesting to see how the public reacts to Sweeny Todd and Shantaram...I think a lot of new Johnny fans will go expecting to see Captain Jack and be absolutely floored...

I don't know how well I can articulate this, but for me the difference between Will Smith and Johnny is that when I go see a Johnny Depp movie, I don't see Johnny playing a character, I see the character. I have to admit that, early in my fandom, I watched movies with Johnny in them and not realized a character was played by Johnny until the credits rolled...

Captain Jack isn't Johnny, he's Captain Jack.

Roux isn't Johnny, he's Roux. (you get the picture...)

Yes - Jack Sparrow is the character that caused me to become a more active Johnny fan, but the fandom was there long before CJS and will continue long after CJS sails into the sunset.

In Will Smith movies, I see Will Smith playing a character. I enjoy the movies, but I don't ever forget that it is Will. I watch Will Smith movies once and that's it - I can (and do) watch Johnny's movies again and again and "forget" that it is Johnny every time I watch.

I am a Johnny fan not only because of the way he acts, but because of the man and father he is and (like Karen says) the fact that he is willing to play the Hollywood game - according to his own rules.

The fact that he is :upinsmoke doesn't hurt either :D

And that is why Johnny is number one on MY list! And as far as I'm concerned, my list is really the only list that counts! And, from what I know about Johnny, he cares more about the lists of each individual fan rather than what the "numbers" have to say.

Well said irish1967.

like others interviewed for this story, asked for anonymity to prevent offending other stars. "Will Smith is the only thing in this business—the only thing—that represents a guaranteed opening weekend." He may be even bigger than that. "Let's put it this way," says one studio head, "there's Will Smith, and then there are the mortals."


WHAT??!!! :angry: :upinsmoke EVERYONE KNOWS THAT JOHNNY HAS ALWAYS BEEN CALLED A GOD. IN A FIGURE OF SPEECH. NOW IM ALL FOR WILL BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME MISTAKE SOMEONE COUNTED WRONG :unsure: . :huh: JOHNNY COULDENT BE BEHIND "WILL SMITH". HE'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.
wait till p3 comes out. we'll see whos #1 then.
:teamdepp

Now none of that "only thing that guarantees an opening weekend is Will Smith" makes sense. Has WS ever had an opening weekend where his movie made a record $134 million? HELLO? Sounds like someone may have a chip on the old shoulder. I think that Johnny's opening weekends in the past few years have been pretty dang good

Nicci :captainjack

This story was featured on E! News tonight...showed several clips of Johnny (none that we haven't seen before).

Thanks for letting us know Susan!