1999 Will Smith Song From Box Office Flop Named Worst No.1 Hit of the 90s

The 1990's were quite the decade for Will Smith. Starting with his hit TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, he completed the transition from rapper to A-list actor, starring in blockbusters like "Independence Day" and "Men in Black." Despite all his success in the decade, the 90s ended on a sour note for Smith with the movie "Wild Wild West." $170 million was spent on the movie's production, and it only grossed $222.1 million, marking Will Smith's first box-office flop.

While the movie wasn't particularly successful, Smith was able to score a No.1 hit, which carries the same name. "Wild Wild West", the song, spent one week in the No.1 spot and spent 17 weeks on the charts. While the song differs from the movie in that it was a commercial success, they are similar in their reception.

The movie scored an abysmal 16% on Rotten Tomatoes, which called it "bombastic, manic, and largely laugh-free." The song isn't getting much love either, with Grunge ranking it as the worst No.1 hit of the 90's. Grunge slams Smith's overuse of samples, with Kool Moe Dee's vocals and a sample from Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" dominating the track.

"There's nothing original in 'Wild Wild West' the song, and it's even sloppier than the movie to which it's tied," said Grunge.

Will Smith Could Have Been Neo?

While Smith spent 1998 filming "Wild Wild West", he could've instead been the star of a critically acclaimed film. Before Keanu Reeves was cast in the iconic role, Smith was supposed to play Neo in "The Matrix." He wasn't sold on the pitch for the movie, and he didn't want to start in too many science fiction roles early in his career. Reeves took the role instead and cemented his reputation as an A-lister, saying the movie "changed his life."

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 5:30 AM.