History Trivia / AfterEarth

* StillbornFranchise: In March 2018, it was revealed that the film was intended to be the first installment of a new franchise. Pitched to the studio by Creator/WillSmith, the intention was to launch a multimedia franchise titled ''1000 AE''. Plans were originally for a sequel, a live action television series, an animated television series, webisodes, mobisodes, a video game, consumer products, theme-park attractions, documentaries, comics, an educational program collaboration in partnership with NASA, cologne and perfume lines, and a social media platform. Though Smith wanted ''AE'' to be an immersive experience for the audience, the movie ultimately was poorly received and lost money at the box office. All plans for a continuation were abandoned.

* Won Jaden Smith and Will Smith the Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Actor and Worst Supporting Actor, respectively.

** Creator/WillSmith [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ called the film]] [[MyGreatestFailure "[his] most painful failure"]] (even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'') because he brought his son into it, and said that he planned to learn from the failure and focus on making films for reasons other than box office returns. He later wrote in his 2021 memoir ''Will'' that he "coached [Jaden] into the worst public mauling he'd ever experienced", and that Jaden even sought emancipation after the film's failure due to "[losing] his trust in [Will's] leadership". He eventually changed his mind and the two patched things up, but Will wrote that he's still haunted to have had such a negative effect on his son's life.

** Creator/WillSmith [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ called the film]] [[MyGreatestFailure "[his] most painful failure"]] (even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'') because he brought his son into it, and said that he planned to learn from the failure and focus on making films for reasons other than box office returns. He later wrote in his 2021 memoir ''Will'' that he "coached [Jaden] into the worst public mauling he'd ever experienced", and that Jaden even sought emancipation after the film's failure due to him "[losing] his trust in [Will's] leadership". He eventually changed his mind and the two patched things up, but Will wrote that he's still haunted to have had such a negative effect on his son's life.

* OldShame:
** Creator/WillSmith [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ called the film]] [[MyGreatestFailure "[his] most painful failure"]] (even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'') because he brought his son into it, and said that he planned to learn from the failure and focus on making films for reasons other than box office returns. He later wrote in his 2021 memoir ''Will'' that he "coached [Jaden] into the worst public mauling he'd ever experienced", and that Jaden even sought emancipation after the film's failure due to him "[losing] his trust in [Will's] leadership". He eventually changed his mind and the two patched things up, but Will wrote that he's still haunted to have had such a negative effect on his son's life.
** Creator/MNightShyamalan [[https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/m-night-shyamalan-glass-bad-reviews-1202059607/ admitted]] in 2019 that he regretted directing the film.

** Creator/WillSmith [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ called the film]] [[MyGreatestFailure "[his] most painful failure"]] (even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'') because he brought his son into it, and said that he planned to learn from the failure and focus on making films for reasons other than box office returns. He later wrote in his 2021 memoir ''Will'' that Jaden even sought emancipation after the film's failure because the pressure was too much for him. He eventually changed his mind and the two patched things up, but Will stated that he's still haunted that he had such a negative effect on his son's life.

** Creator/WillSmith [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ called the film]] [[MyGreatestFailure "[his] most painful failure"]], even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'', because he brought his son into it. He said that he planned to learn from the failure and focus on making films for reasons other than box office returns. According to his memoir, Jaden even sought emancipation after the film's failure because the pressure was too much for him. He eventually changed his mind and the two patched things up, but Will says he's still haunted that he had such a negative effect on his son's life.

Won Jaden Smith and Will Smith the Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Actor and Worst Supporting Actor, respectively.

** Creator/WillSmith [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ called the film]] [[MyGreatestFailure "my most painful failure"]], even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'', because he brought his kid into it. He said that he learned from it and that he plans to focus on making movies for reasons other than box office returns. According to his memoir, Jaden even sought emancipation after the film's failure because the pressure was just too much for him. He eventually changed his mind and the two patched things up, but Will says he's still haunted that he had such a negative effect on his son's life.
** Creator/MNightShyamalan [[https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/m-night-shyamalan-glass-bad-reviews-1202059607/ admitted]] that he regretted directing the film.

* CreatorKiller: The film was a decent-sized blow to the theatrical career of screenwriter Gary Whitta, whose next job was early story for ''Film/RogueOne'' and otherwise has yet to get his next own screenplay into theaters.

* BoxOfficeBomb: In the US. Budget: $130 million. Box office: $60,522,097 (domestically), [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff $243,843,127 (worldwide)]]. However, compared to other Creator/WillSmith movies, most of which gross triple to quadruple their budgets, it's easy to see why this movie could still be considered a bomb worldwide.

** Creator/WillSmith [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ called the film]] [[MyGreatestFailure "my most painful failure"]], even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'', because he brought his kid into it. He said that he learned from it and that he plans to focus on making movies for reasons other than box office returns.

* MoneyDearBoy: Why Creator/MNightShyamalan did the film. Rumor has it that some scenes weren't even directed by him but Smith instead.

** [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ Will Smith]] called the film [[MyGreatestFailure "my most painful failure"]], even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'', because he brought his kid into it. He said that he learned from it and that he plans to focus on making movies for reasons other than box office returns.
** M. Night Shyamalan [[https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/m-night-shyamalan-glass-bad-reviews-1202059607/ admitted]] that he regretted directing the film.
* RealitySubtext: Several reviewers have noted the likely unintentional parallel between Cypher in the background pushing his son Kitai to perform in a situation he is ill-prepared for, and Will Smith having his son Jaden as the star in his pet project.
* StarDerailingRole: The movie is clearly designed as a vehicle for Jaden Smith; instead, the generally poor reaction to his performance and frequent allegations of {{nepotism}} in the script seem bound to hold him back for some time. Will Smith's career was also briefly stalled.

* StillbornFranchise: Smith hoped to launch a new franchise for his son with the film, but its abysmal performance killed any hope for that. Funnily enough, it was the [[Film/TheLastAirbender third]] of [[Film/{{Devil}} these]] in a row for Shyamalan.
* VanityProject: For Jaden Smith, complete with the theme that he will carry on his father's legacy.

----

* OldShame: [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ Will Smith]] called the film [[MyGreatestFailure "my most painful failure"]], even moreso than ''Film/WildWildWest'' because he brought his kid into it. He said that he learned from it and that he plans to focus on making movies for reasons other than box office returns.

* BoxOfficeBomb: In the US. Budget: $130 million. Box office: $60,522,097 (domestically), [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff $243,843,127 (worldwide)]]. However, compared to other Will Smith movies that usually pull 3–4x their budget, it's easy to see why this movie could still be considered a bomb worldwide.
* MoneyDearBoy: Why Shyamalan did the film. Rumor has it that some scenes weren't even directed by him but Smith instead.

* BoxOfficeBomb: In the U.S. Budget, $130 million. Box office, $60,522,097 (domestically), [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff $243,843,127 (worldwide).]] However, compared to other Will Smith movies that usually pull 3-4x their budget, it's easy to see why this movie could still be considered a bomb worldwide.

* StarDerailingRole: The movie is clearly designed as a vehicle for Jaden Smith; instead, the generally poor reaction to his performance and frequent allegations of nepotism in the script seem bound to hold him back for some time. Will Smith's career was also briefly stalled.

* BoxOfficeBomb: In the U.S. Budget, $130 million. Box office, $60,522,097 (domestically), [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff $243,843,127 (worldwide).]]

* StillbornFranchise: Smith hoped to launch a new franchise for his son with the film, but its abysmal performance killed any hope for that. Funnily enough, it was the [[Film/TheLastAirbender second of these in a row]] for Shyamalan.

* OldShame: [[http://variety.com/2015/film/news/will-smith-after-earth-comment-most-painful-failure-of-his-career-1201432773/ Will Smith]] called the film [[MyGreatestFailure "my most painful failure."]]

* StarDerailingRole: The movie is clearly designed as a vehicle for Jaden Smith; instead, the generally poor reaction to his performance and frequent allegations of nepotism in the script seem bound to hold him back for some time.