The Karate Kid was released in 2010 as a remake of the original film of the same name from 1984. The story follows Dre Parker, a young boy from Detroit who moves to China to live. The character is portrayed by Jaden Smith, the son of the famous actor Will Smith. Upon its release, the film became a sensation, grossing nearly $360 million (over 9,000 billion VND). The success of the film also helped elevate Jaden Smith’s status to a highly regarded star in Hollywood during his teenage years.
Jaden Smith in The Karate Kid.
However, Jaden Smith’s career has developed in a direction that is completely opposite to public expectations. After 14 years, the 1998-born star has not landed any significant roles in films. Even the blockbuster After Earth, which he starred in alongside his father, was met with harsh criticism and resulted in him receiving the “Worst Actor” award at the Golden Raspberries, a title that no actor wishes to earn.
Due to his unexpectedly stagnant career, Jaden and Will Smith once faced a turbulent period when Jaden failed to follow his father’s guidance to achieve success. At the age of 15, Jaden decided to leave his father’s company to operate independently. The young actor also declared his right to make decisions about his own life without his father’s involvement.
In his autobiography, Will Smith revealed moments of reflection after the failure of After Earth: “Jaden did everything I encouraged him to do. The result was that I caused my son to face the biggest scandal of his life. We never discussed this, but I know that my son felt disappointed and lost faith in his father’s guidance.”
Jaden Smith at the Oscars.
