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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

  • TV Series
  • 1990–1996
  • TV-PG
  • 22m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
139K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
820
31
Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
30 years later, we're bringing the Banks family back together. Join Will and Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Alfonso Ribeiro and DJ Jazzy Jeff, for a funny and heartfelt night full of music and dancing in honor of the show that ran for six seasons and 148 episodes.
Play trailer2:24
10 Videos
99+ Photos
Comedy

A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.

  • Creators
    • Andy Borowitz
    • Susan Borowitz
  • Stars
    • Will Smith
    • James Avery
    • Alfonso Ribeiro
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    139K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    820
    31
    • Creators
      • Andy Borowitz
      • Susan Borowitz
    • Stars
      • Will Smith
      • James Avery
      • Alfonso Ribeiro
    • 166User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 15 wins & 27 nominations total

    Episodes148

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos10

    The Rise of Will Smith
    Clip 3:44
    Watch The Rise of Will Smith
    Geoffrey Comebacks
    Clip 4:40
    Watch Geoffrey Comebacks
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Honeymoon
    Clip 1:32
    Watch The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Honeymoon
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Ew
    Clip 1:52
    Watch The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Ew
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Come Home
    Clip 2:17
    Watch The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Come Home
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Manager
    Clip 2:17
    Watch The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Manager
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:24
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Season 5
    Trailer 1:32
    Watch The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Season 5
    Streaming Wars! Who Will Win Your Attention?
    Video 3:55
    Watch Streaming Wars! Who Will Win Your Attention?
    8-Bit Show Opening
    Video 0:51
    Watch 8-Bit Show Opening

    Photos425

    James Avery and Janet Hubert in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and Milton Berle in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and Isiah Thomas in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and Chris Rock in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Joseph Marcell in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Joseph Marcell in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and James Avery in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    James Avery and Janet Hubert in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and Joseph Marcell in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Alfonso Ribeiro in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Will Smith
    Will Smith
    • Will Smith…
    James Avery
    James Avery
    • Philip Banks…
    Alfonso Ribeiro
    Alfonso Ribeiro
    • Carlton Banks…
    Tatyana Ali
    Tatyana Ali
    • Ashley Banks…
    Karyn Parsons
    Karyn Parsons
    • Hilary Banks…
    Joseph Marcell
    Joseph Marcell
    • Geoffrey Butler…
    Daphne Reid
    Daphne Reid
    • Vivian Banks…
    Janet Hubert
    Janet Hubert
    • Vivian Banks
    Ross Bagley
    Ross Bagley
    • Nicky Banks…
    DJ Jazzy Jeff
    DJ Jazzy Jeff
    • Jazz
    Nia Long
    Nia Long
    • Lisa Wilkes…
    Vernee Watson
    Vernee Watson
    • Viola 'Vy' Smith
    Tyra Banks
    Tyra Banks
    • Jackie Ames
    Beverly Jackson
    • Nurse Avner…
    Jenifer Lewis
    Jenifer Lewis
    • Aunt Helen
    John Petlock
    • Henry Furth…
    Virginia Capers
    Virginia Capers
    • Hattie Banks
    Jim Meskimen
    Jim Meskimen
    • Werner…
    • Creators
      • Andy Borowitz
      • Susan Borowitz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite portraying himself as a charismatic, self-confident playboy, Will Smith has said that he was a shy, awkward teen who was very insecure about approaching and dating girls.
    • Goofs
      In many early episodes, Will Smith visibly mouths his co-stars' words before his lines come up.
    • Quotes

      [Will's father came back into town, and then lied to Will about being around more and left. Phillip is trying to comfort him]

      Will: Hey, you no what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. You know, ain't like I'm still five years old, you know? Ain't like I'm gonna be sitting every night asking my mom 'when's daddy coming home?' You know? Who needs him? Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned it, didn't I? And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil?

      Phillip Banks: Yeah, you did.

      Will: Got to do my first date without him, right? I learned how to ride, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him; he never even sent me a damn card. The hell with him!

      [pause]

      Will: I didn't need him then, I won't need him now.

      Phillip Banks: Will...

      Will: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? I'm gonna get through college without him, I'm gonna get a great job without him, I'm gonna marry me a beautiful honey and I'm having a whole bunch of kids. I'm gonna be a better father than he ever was. And I sure as hell don't need him for that, 'cause there ain't a damn thing he can teach me about how to love my kids!

      [long pause; he's crying]

      Will: How come he don't want me, man?

    • Crazy credits
      Janet Hubert-Whitten was credited simply as Janet Hubert during the first three episodes. During that time, the theme song was its full uncut version. From episode 4 onward the theme song was reduced by one verse and the "-Whitten" was added to Janet's credit.
    • Connections
      Featured in Late Night with David Letterman: Episode dated 7 September 1990 (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
      Written by Will Smith (as The Fresh Prince) and DJ Jazzy Jeff (uncredited)

      Performed by Will Smith (as The Fresh Prince)

      in association with A Touch of Jazz, Inc.

    User reviews166

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    The True Prince Of Bel-Air.......
    The Good= I like How this show did deal with some Heavy Handed Subjects. Such as Racism and Social Class just to name a couple.

    Then there are all of the other things that I Personally like about this show. To start off is all of the Fourth Wall Breaks not only those were always fun but I'm always a big fan of those. Sadly there is one Fourth Wall Break Moment that I'm not a particularly a fan of. Sure it was during the End Credit Roll but still. As I found it way Over The Top even for a 90's Sitcom End Credit Sequence. And the moment that I'm Referring to is when Will Smith Jokingly tells Carlton that in order to escape he was forced to kill the person that was holding him hostage. Which non of that really happened as a bit of a Pay Back for the events of the episode. And in response Carlton Literally Ran Around all over the place including All of the Sets that were in that episode and to even the Live Audience Area. Screaming 'No' Darth Vader Style all the way through non stop. And at one point Carlton was on the Floor Crawling on just his Hands. With his body sort of resembling a Disabled Frogs.

    Anyways moving on the Next thing I Really Love just wish there were a lot more moments like it. But I understand for obvious reasons why they do it very often in the show. And that would be that Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air does have Emotional Close To Tear Jerker, You Feel Like You Where Kick In The Heart Moments. Just wished the Final One just before the Show Ends didn't End With A Laugh Track when We'll Smith Both the Character and the Actor was fittingly be the one to turn off the Lights. It's too bad that could have been a really great moment.

    Anyways next that I enjoy seeing all of the Guest Stars that they had on the show through out the years or seasons. Sure some I don't recognize but most I do. I'm so Glad that this show eventually Launched not only Well Smith the Actor's Acting Career and his Celebrity Status at the same time. And I think my favourite type of humour is the Sarcastic Humour that the Character of Geoffrey always had on the show. As it is the only type of humour that I seem to get. And I also love the friendship between Well and Carlton as it really feels Grounded and how Real Cousins would probably act in real life. And unless I'm Missing anything else that should do it for the Positives.

    The Bad= As Funny and as Great as this show was I still have a few gripes with it a side from the ones I have mentioned in the Positive Section. Such as although I don't have any problems with them switching out the two Vivian Banks. It's that I felt that the First Vivian (Janet Hubert) was a much more Vivian Banks as with her version she played the type of woman and mother, and Professor Wife and Aunt you don't want to Mess With. While I felt that the Second Vivian Banks (Daphne Reid) is Kind and Soft and just about everything Opposite of what Janet's version of Viviane Banks was. Not that it's a big deal it's just given the choice I would rather prefer Janet Hubert's version, as I found her much entertaining to watch. Don't get me wrong Daphne is not an Actress or anything I enjoyed her version as well. But for whatever the reason Janet Hubert's version was just more memorable. It's just too bad that Janet Herbert had to leave the show for Behind The Scenes and Personal Issues. And while I'm on the subject I also wished did a little more with the Nicky Banks Character as I don't remember him being on the show very much, at least not as much as the other Banks Children. And when he just show up it just seems that he's just there to remind us that 'Oh Yeah Gave The Banks Kids A Baby Brother' and when he was in full episodes it just felt like he was just there for the Cuteness Factor.

    Anyways moving on then next I just like how many 'Fake Outs' there was during during the shows run. It's like they enjoy no not just enjoy but live to call you the audience a 'Sucker' as they often revers storylines or other that they have set up just so they could seemingly call it a 'Plot Twist'. Oh sure some of their decisions are understandable able but often then not they just do it for the 'Twist' thing that I was talking about earlier. Anyways moving on again before I forget. It's just unfortunate in the DVD Version they not only Combined the Two Parter Halloween episodes in season one in to just one episode, but also the Normal Opening was used in this episode. Where as that Particular Episode as I have said was Supposed to be a Two Part Episode but also the Opening was supposed to be The Full Uncut Version. Then next I understand why but I don't know the Hilary Banks Character just feels like the Rich 90's Bimbo Stereotype which includes the way she talks. They also start a lot of Great Storylines and Concepts and Ideas but choose to never fallow up or even if they they never really bring then to a satisfying conclusion. And in the later seasons they seem to not only Recycle Old Ideas and Concepts that they already had in the Earlier Seasons, but also make a big fat joke out of them in the process, sadly which includes the Racism. And unless I'm missing anything else that should do it.

    Final Thoughts= Still a lot Better than Bel-Air IMHO.
    helpful•22
    0
    • Honesticedragon69
    • Nov 18, 2022

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    FAQ1

    • How many times has Jazz been thrown out?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 10, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Prinz von Bel-Air
    • Filming locations
      • 251 N. Bristol Ave., Los Angeles, California, USA(establishing shots of the Banks' mansion)
    • Production companies
      • NBC Productions
      • Quincy Jones Entertainment
      • Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      22 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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