Renowned filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson has crafted numerous poignant moments that have moved cinephiles to tears. While he is widely acclaimed for his stunning visual aesthetics, each of his cinematic works carries a deep emotional core, infusing the sensory pleasures of his films with a palpable essence. However, he was deeply moved by Will Smith’s film. 
Will Smith

Paul Thomas Anderson Cried Watching Will Smith’s Film

Paul Thomas Anderson disclosed the title of a time-travel film that moved him emotionally. It wasn’t classics like Back to the Future or Time Bandits, but surprisingly, it was Men in Black 3, released that same year. 
Paul Thomas Anderson
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and written by Etan Cohen (not to be confused with Ethan Coen), the movie revolves around Will Smith’s character, James Darrell Edwards II/Agent J, going back in time to prevent the assassination of his partner, Kevin Brown/Agent K, portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones. As per the series’ norm, the consequences of this murder attempt pose a significant threat to Earth’s safety.

Interestingly, it turns out that Men in Black III had an unexpectedly profound effect on Anderson, leaving him crying his “eyes out,” an aspect he candidly shared. In his words, “Did you catch ‘Men In Black III’? It was absolutely fantastic… The time-travel elements got me emotional, and I must admit, I’m a sucker for that kind of storytelling.”

Men in Black III was one of the most successful films commercially for Will Smith. However, the actors weren’t convinced about the franchise at first.

Steven Spielberg Convinced Will Smith For The Role

Will Smith shed light on how Steven Spielberg persuaded him to embrace a prominent role in Men in Black. In the most recent installment of Kevin Hart’s Hart to Heart series, the actor shared that he came perilously close to rejecting numerous roles throughout his career were it not for the influence of James Lassiter, his former manager and steadfast business collaborator.
Will Smith in Men in Black
The actor clarified that his initial reluctance to take on the role in the 1997 film stemmed from having recently wrapped up filming for Independence Day in 1996, and he was hesitant about appearing in two consecutive alien-themed movies. However, Spielberg, who held the executive producer role for Men in Black, was determined not to accept rejection. He personally reached out to Smith in an effort to persuade him to participate in the film.