This week, the former Fresh Prince turns the big 4-0. But he shouldn't feel too bad about that. While his former high school classmates were busy cramming for bar exams or pursuing useless art school degrees, Smith turned himself into a Hollywood institution. Not only has he managed to star in eight consecutive movies that grossed over $100 million, but his lifetime box-office domestic gross is over $2.45 billion. Let's look back at Smith's journey from bubblegum rapper to Mr. Fourth of July.

Photo by Dan Kitwood, Getty ImagesWillard Christopher Smith was born on September 25, 1968 in Philadelphia. Astrologically speaking, that day must have some serious pull in the house of fame. He shares a birthday with Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Barbara Walters, Heather Locklear and Christopher Reeve.

Photo by Kevin Mazur, WireImageSoon after Fresh Prince met DJ Jazzy Jeff at a house party, they were making beautiful -- and commercially viable -- music together. They won the first Grammy ever for Best Rap Performance in 1989 for "Parents Just Dont Understand." In 1991, they repeated their success with "Summertime."

Photo by MGM, Everett CollectionSIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION
U.S. Box Office: $6,311,061

Though he starred in six seasons of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," Smith first received critical cred with this film. In his first leading role, Big Willie played a con artist posing as the son of Sidney Poitier who wormed his way into the lives of a white, upper-class New York family.

Photo by Columbia/Kobal, WireImageBAD BOYS
U.S. Box Office: $65,807,024

Will Smith's first big action film almost didn't happen. The filmmakers originally had SNL alums Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz in mind for the lead roles.

Photo by 20th Century Fox/Kobal, WireImageINDEPENDENCE DAY
U.S. Box Office: $306,169,255

The movie that staked his claim on the 4th of July weekend. Smith hit box office pay dirt playing a cocky pilot who wasn't afraid of clocking a killer alien square in the kisser. He reportedly modeled his character, Capt. Steven Hiller, on that quintessential sci-fi icon, Han Solo.

Photo by Columbia Pictures, Everett CollectionMEN IN BLACK
U.S. Box Office: $250,147,615

Smith battles aliens once again on 4th of July weekend. While ID4 made him an even bigger star, MIB secured his standing as a box office draw.

Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures, Everett CollectionWILD WILD WEST
U.S. Box Office: $113,805,000

A rare career misstep for Big Willie. This film was savaged by the critics, swept the razzies, and, in spite of the 9-figure haul, flopped at the box office. In interviews, Smith has repeatedly said that his two biggest mistakes were starring in this stinker and turning down the role of Neo in the Matrix.

Photo by Columbia/Kobal, WireImageALI
U.S. Box Office: $58,183,966

Will Smith gained 35 pounds of pugilist muscle for this bio-pic about boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The punches on screen aren't pulled; director Michael Mann told Charles Shufford (playing George Forman) to hit Smith as hard as he could. The bruising experience paid off; Smith garnered his first Oscar nomination for his efforts.

Photo by Columbia Pictures/Kobal, WireImageMEN IN BLACK II
U.S. Box Office: $190,418,803

Smith squares off against extraterrestrial riff raff once again on the 4th of July, battling not bugs but Lara Flynn Boyle. This flick from the summer of '02 started Big Willie's record streak of consecutive $100 million blockbusters.

Photo by Columbia Pictures, Everett CollectionBAD BOYS II
U.S. Box Office: $134,608,444

Though this sprawling action flick raked in the dough, it also ticked off thousands of Florida commuters for shutting down the McArthur Causeway -- the main freeway into South Miami Beach -- to shoot the film's huge freeway chase scene.

Photo by 20th Century Fox/Kobal, WireImageI, ROBOT
U.S. Box Office: $144,801,023

For this film, very loosely based on short stories by sci-fi guru Isaac Asimov, Smith mixes up his winning July formula. Instead of fighting aliens, he's battled rampaging robots.

Photo by Columbia PicturesTHE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
U.S. Box Office: $163,566,549

Smith nabs a second Oscar nom with this rags to riches real life tale about Chris Gardner who went from being homeless and broke to being a millionaire broker. For the part, Smith learned how to solve the Rubik's cube in two minutes flat. But more notably, Smith's adorable co-star is his son Jaden Smith.

Photo by DreamWorks/Kobal, WireImageSHARK TALE
U.S. Box Office: $160,861,908

Lots of big-time star power (from De Niro to Zellweger) lent their voices to this animated fish tale, but it was arguably the draw of Will Smith's huge appeal -- oh, and maybe the success of a little movie called Finding Nemo -- that brought in the crowds to see this film.

Photo by Columbia PicturesHITCH
U.S. Box Office: $179,495,555

Following a sci-fi thriller, an animated fish tale, and an action flick, the former Fresh Prince tries his hand at a romantic comedy and scores big. The role of Sara Melas was first offered to "the most beautiful woman in the world" Aishwarya Rai and then to "Jenny from the block" Lopez but Eva Mendes eventually clinched it, in her breakout starring role.

Photo by Warner BrothersI AM LEGEND
U.S. Box Office: $256,386,216

Smith carried this movie single-handedly. With the exception of a dog and CGI monsters, it's him and him alone in nearly every frame of the film. It's also not only his 2nd largest grossing movie to date but his biggest weekend gross -- $77.2 million.

Photo by Columbia PicturesHANCOCK
U.S. Box Office: $227,946,274

For his fifth flick to open on the 4th, Big Willie battles not aliens but inner demons as Hancock, the titular foul-mouthed, alcoholic superhero. The movie had the third biggest opening in history for that coveted weekend after Transformers and Spider-Man 2.

Photo by Merrick Morton/Columbia PicturesSEVEN POUNDS
Release Date: December 19th, 2008

Smith gets dramatic again in his latest film, which he plays a suicidal IRS agent who falls for a woman (Rosario Dawson) with heart problems. The film reunites him with "Pursuit of Happyness" director Gabriele Muccino. Will this be another blockbuster for Big Willie or will this film end his run? Stay tuned.