Will Smith and Margot Robbie’s ‘Focus’ Is Streaming on Netflix

Focus was the first time Will Smith and Margot Robbie worked together, and their chemistry was instantly recognizable. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa directed the 2015 film, now streaming on Netflix, which allows audiences to relive the undeniable chemistry between Smith and Robbie. The film follows Nicky (Smith), a maestro in the art of conning, who takes on an apprentice named Jess Barrett (Robbie) under his wing to teach her how to become a great con artist. They become romantically involved, and Nicky takes this as a sign to disappear, ending their relationship.

Three years later, they cross paths again when Nicky arrives in Buenos Aires for a new scheme, and the student has become the master, with Jess running a con of her own. This new con is Nicky’s most dangerous yet, especially with Jess caught in the middle. There’s romance, comedy, suspense, and a bit of action, drawing viewers in to see how the story unfolds. Now that Focus is streaming, new audiences can watch the two A-list stars in a film that surpasses David Ayer’s Suicide Squad on almost every level.

‘Focus’ Was Will Smith and Margot Robbie’s First Collaboration

Will Smith and Margot Robbie portrayed Deadshot and Harley Quinn in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, but before they partook in the DCEU as the iconic Batman villains, they starred in Focus (2015). Longtime DC fans found Ayer’s film divisive, but many praised Smith and Robbie’s performances and palpable chemistry as the film’s saving grace. In Focus, however, that chemistry was different because of the romantic connection between their characters and the opportunity they had to explore the intimacy between them. As actors, they know how to play off each other, and their scenes in the film demonstrate how one performance elevates the other. Smith and Robbie are the type of actors who command attention; no matter how many people are featured in a scene, the focus (no pun intended) is always on them.

The gambling scene, in particular, is notable, as you feel every emotion, from stress to panic to relief. In the scene, Nicky and Jess attend the Super Bowl, and Nicky starts betting against Mr. Liuyan (Wong), who happens to be in their box. Nicky loses $100,000, and just as he’s about to walk away from the con, Liuyan lures him back in. Nicky bets the $1.1 million in cash they have left, but he loses the money. Much to Jess’s shock, Nicky decides to double the bet and asks Jess to guess the player Liuyan picked. She realizes they rigged the bet in their favor when she spots Farhad (Martinez) in a jersey with the number 55 on it. She picks him, and it turns out to be the correct answer. They win their money back and come out ahead, doubling their original stake. It’s arguably one of the best scenes in Focus and an example of Smith and Robbie’s ability to elevate each other’s performances.

‘Focus’ Was a Divisive Film Upon Release

Aside from outstandingly subtle performances, there were problems with the film that both critics and fans agreed on. The first is the constant betrayals that occur in the movie. Since Focus revolves around several con artists, there were, of course, plenty of betrayals, but there was perhaps one twist too many for the critics and fans’ liking. Even with excellent performances from the two leads, critics still rated the film poorly on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Fans and critics also had a problem with the film’s structure. Without getting into heavy spoilers, critics felt that Ficarra and Requa, the co-directors and co-writers, didn’t know where else the film could go and therefore decided to recycle their ideas halfway through. However, despite its faults, Focus remains a film worth watching 10 years after its release, thanks to Smith and Robbie’s performances alone, which are enough to keep viewers invested.

Will We See Will Smith and Margot Robbie Reunite in the Future? We Hope So

It’s been almost a decade since Will Smith and Margot Robbie were paired together on a Hollywood project and graced our screens with their fiery chemistry. The last time the dynamic duo was on-screen together was in the equally divisive and critically disliked Suicide Squad. They were close to reuniting in the 2021 film The Suicide Squad, a sequel directed by James Gunn. Robbie reprised her role as Harley Quinn, and Smith was also reportedly set to reprise his role as Deadshot, but ultimately he didn’t due to a scheduling conflict (though doubts have been cast on that claim). Critics praised the sequel compared to its predecessor, awarding it a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, with Smith being the only thing missing.

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Smith and Robbie have yet to reunite on screen, but luckily, there’s still enough time for audiences to see them together again. Smith’s last project was Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), and he is reportedly reuniting with Michael Bay in a film titled Fast & Loose. Robbie has since worked on several DC projects, including Birds of Prey (2020), as well as other major Hollywood films, such as Barbie (2023). She’s also portraying Catherine Earnshaw in Emerald Fennell’s iteration of Wuthering Heights, set to premiere in 2026. Stream Focus on Netflix.