When people talk about the 2015 movie Focus, they usually aren't debating the intricacies of the plot or the cinematography of the Buenos Aires skyline. They’re talking about the electricity. That weird, unteachable "thing" that happens when two people just click in front of a camera. Margot Robbie and Will Smith Focus was more than just a slick heist flick; it became a cultural flashpoint that nearly swallowed the movie's actual release.
Honestly, the chemistry was so loud it started a tabloid fire that lasted for years.
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But if you look past the grainy paparazzi shots and the "are they or aren't they" headlines, there’s a much more interesting story about a veteran megastar trying to reinvent himself and a newcomer who was about to take over the world. It’s a movie about the art of the con, and in many ways, the production itself was a lesson in how Hollywood manages—and sometimes loses control of—its own narratives.
The Audition That Changed Everything
Margot Robbie didn't get the part because she was a "rising star." She got it because she was exhausted and didn't have time for Will Smith’s ego.
The story goes that Robbie was backpacking in Croatia when she got the call for the audition. It was a mess. She had to take a catamaran to the mainland, a bus to the airport, fly to France, and then hop a flight to New York. By the time she walked into the room, she hadn't slept in two days. Her luggage was lost. She was wearing shorts and sneakers.
Will Smith arrived late.
When he walked in and said, "Sorry I’m late, I’m coming from Queens," Robbie didn't bat an eye. She looked at one of the biggest stars on the planet and told him, "And I’m coming from an island off the coast of Croatia and I’m here on time."
Basically, she trash-talked him from minute one. Smith later admitted that her "complete fearlessness" was exactly what the movie needed. You can't fake that kind of dynamic. You either have the "belly" to stand up to a titan, or you don't.
Why the Margot Robbie and Will Smith Focus Chemistry Caused Such a Mess
Once the cameras started rolling, the "palpable" energy Smith described became a problem for their PR teams.
In late 2013, some photo booth pictures from the set's wrap party leaked. They showed Smith and Robbie "goofing around"—Robbie in lingerie (her costume) and Smith lifting his shirt. By the time those photos hit the tabloids, the narrative was already written: an affair was in full swing.
It didn't matter that the "photo booth" was actually commissioned by the production and sitting in the middle of a room full of crew members. It didn't matter that Robbie took to Twitter (now X) to call the rumors "ridiculous."
The public was obsessed.
This is where the movie’s title, Focus, becomes a bit ironic. Everyone was focused on the wrong thing. People weren't looking at the "Toledo Panic Button" or the complex "whiz mob" pickpocketing techniques taught by consultant Apollo Robbins. They were looking for any sign of a spark that went too far.
The Art of the Steal: Learning to be a Grifter
If you want to understand the actual work that went into the film, you have to look at Apollo Robbins. He’s the guy who once picked the pockets of President Jimmy Carter's Secret Service detail.
Smith and Robbie weren't just "acting" like thieves. They were trained to be them.
- Will Smith obsessed over the psychology. He wanted to know how a "predator" rationalizes stealing. He focused on "grift sense"—the ability to see the world through the victim's eyes.
- Margot Robbie was the physical powerhouse. Because of her background in dance, she picked up the sleight-of-hand movements instantly. There’s a scene where she performs nine consecutive "lifts" on the street. That wasn't camera trickery; that was her actually doing the work.
They had to learn how to manage "guilty knowledge." Robbins taught them that if you feel guilty about what you’re doing, the mark will "smell" it on you. You have to believe your own lie.
The Super Bowl Scene: A Masterclass in Misdirection
The movie's turning point happens at a high-stakes football game. If you haven't seen it, the "55" scene is arguably the best thing Will Smith has done in the last decade. It’s a sequence that involves escalating bets with a billionaire named Liyuan Tse (played by B.D. Wong).
It feels like a gambling movie, but it’s actually a psychological thriller.
The scene works because of the tension between Nicky (Smith) and Jess (Robbie). She thinks he's losing his mind and their entire bankroll. He’s playing a much deeper game. The "55" wasn't a lucky guess; it was a programmed response.
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This is where the film's theme—that everything is perception and reality doesn't matter—really hits home. Smith’s character argues that you don't have to be a loving husband; you just need your wife to perceive you as one. It’s a cynical, dark worldview that Smith plays with a surprising amount of "grown man-ness" (his words, not mine).
Box Office Reality vs. Tabloid Hype
Did Focus actually do well?
Kinda.
It made $158.8 million on a $50 million budget. In today's world, that’s a win. But in 2015, critics were lukewarm. It holds a 56% on Rotten Tomatoes. The main complaint? The plot had "too many twists." It tried so hard to outsmart the audience that it eventually felt a bit hollow.
But even the harshest critics agreed on one thing: the leads were magnetic.
Rolling Stone famously said, "Robbie is wow and then some." The movie proved she wasn't just "the girl from Wolf of Wall Street." She was a leading lady who could carry a film alongside an A-lister and often outshine him.
Legacy of the Duo: From Focus to Suicide Squad
The chemistry was so undeniable that Warner Bros. immediately doubled down. Before Focus even hit theaters, Smith and Robbie were cast as Deadshot and Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad.
That's the real measure of success in Hollywood. If the studio thinks your "vibe" is worth $175 million (the budget for Suicide Squad), you’ve won.
While they haven't worked together since 2016, the Margot Robbie and Will Smith Focus era remains a specific moment in time. It was the transition of Will Smith from the "goofy kid" of the 90s to a more mature, serious actor, and the launch of Margot Robbie into the stratosphere.
What You Can Learn From the "Focus" Era
If you’re looking back at this movie today, don't just watch it for the twists. Watch it for the lesson in attention.
- Watch the eyes. In the pickpocketing scenes, notice how they use their eyes to guide the mark’s attention away from their hands. It’s a literal lesson in how we get distracted in our daily lives.
- Perception is reality. Whether it’s a movie plot or a tabloid rumor, the "truth" is often less powerful than what people believe they saw.
- Confidence is the con. Robbie got the job by being confident enough to insult the star. In the movie, her character Jess survives by faking her way into rooms she doesn't belong in.
If you’re a fan of heist movies or just want to see two of the most charismatic people in Hollywood trade barbs, Focus is currently a top performer on streaming platforms for a reason. It’s stylish, it’s sexy, and it’s a reminder that even when a plot fumbles, star power can carry you to the finish line.
Next Steps for Fans: If you want to see more of this dynamic, re-watch the first Suicide Squad (2016) specifically for the bar scene—it’s the closest we get to a Focus sequel. For a deeper look at the actual "magic" used in the film, look up Apollo Robbins' TED Talk on the art of misdirection. It’ll change how you look at your own phone and wallet.