All Men in Black Movies in Order

The first film is still a joy to watch. Will Smith is at his funniest as the young, inexperienced Agent J, while Tommy Lee Jones is the perfect deadpan counterpart as Agent K. The humor is sharp, the aliens are originally designed and the tone is light but believable. It manages to combine science fiction and comedy without becoming silly.

The second film mostly feels like a rerun. Agent J is now the veteran and has to bring the retired, memory-wiped Agent K back into the field. The humor is less sharp, the story less surprising and the new villain (Lara Flynn Boyle) makes little impression. Still, the chemistry between Smith and Jones holds up, and there are enough charming moments.

After a disappointing second film, Men in Black 3 recaptured some of the magic. The time travel theme adds an extra layer, and Josh Brolin is a revelation as the young Agent K, not just imitating Tommy Lee Jones convincingly but adding something of his own. Visually appealing, funny at the right moments and even emotionally resonant at the end.

A fresh start, that was the idea: new actors, a new setting, new opportunities. And to be fair, Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson do their best. But without Smith and Jones' magic, without humor that really lands and with a messy script, the film mostly feels empty. Pretty images and fun gadgets, but no soul. In the end, it's the original that keeps proving how fun it can be to save the world without anyone noticing.