If you look at the trajectory of the public perception of his career, pay attention to the period right around when I am Legend came out and contrast it to the shortly after that period when Hancock and Seven Pounds came out. I feel that in late 2007, I Am Legend was quite well received and his star wattage was as high as it ever was. He had to carry the movie himself after all.
Then he was in the lukewarm Hancock, the poorly received Seven Pounds and then he took a long hiatus. In that hiatus, his kids' careers were pushed- Jaden film career. Willow with the singing. I think a lot of people actually wound up resenting his involvement in that push.
By the time he came back in 2012- Men In Black III, I noticed a clear difference in the way many people perceived him. Back in the late 90s through like 2007, Will could barely do any wrong (Wild Wild West notwithstanding). Not the case at all these days as far as many are concerned.
