Laugh at My Pain Tour (2011)
The moment Kevin Hart went from comedian to superstar may have been when his Laugh at My Pain tour earned more than $15 million in ticket sales. He played in 90 cities and broke Eddie Murphy’s two-day ticket sales record — no African-American comedian had grossed $1.1 million until Hart. Hart released a film about the tour that included him performing at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre, where the record was broken.
The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards (2012)
Hart joined the ranks of Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Fallon as the host of MTV’s always controversial Video Music Awards. While his performance fell somewhat flat and the ratings tanked that year, roughly 6.1 million viewers still meant performing on biggest stage to that point. His promos are of some historical interest since they were used as an official coming out of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West as a couple.
‘Think Like a Man’ (2012)
Think Like A Man, loosely based on Steve Harvey’s book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man, was an ensemble romantic comedy featuring Taraji P. Henson, Terrance J, Meagan Good and Gabrielle Union. Hart ended up stealing the film, though, with a hyperactive performance as a recent divorcée purposely avoiding the romantic weeds he sees all his friends wading through. It knocked The Hunger Games from atop the box office charts and ended up making more than $96 million.
‘Real Husbands of Hollywood’ (2013)
Kevin Hart co-created Real Husbands of Hollywood, an openly scripted parody of the Real Housewives franchise. The show, now entering its fourth season, has been a ratings powerhouse for BET.
‘Let Me Explain’ (2013)
His latest stand-up film, 2013’s Let Me Explain, sees Hart’s humor getting a bit darker after dealing with various personal life struggles. The set, filmed in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden audience, shows just how much progress the comedian made in only a few years. Hart’s humor here remains personal as he exhumes the dour days of his divorce.
Vibe Magazine Cover (2014)
Kevin Hart and Drake traded off for the January 2014 cover of Vibe’s Race Issue. On his, Hart appeared between a white woman’s legs with the headline “Kevin Hart Has White Power.” The controversial image kicked off a year of the comedian and actor making headlines.
‘Ride Along’ (2014)
This reluctant buddy cop film — starring a gruff Ice Cube and Hart unafraid to play goofball — made $134 million, outselling 2014 comedies like Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Dumb and Dumber To. Ice Cube sneers, Hart screams a lot, but the duo understood how to play off their own strengths — all of which will likely be seen again the upcoming sequel.
A Second ‘Saturday Night Live’ Hosting Gig (2015)
There is a certain level of having “made it” to be a host of SNL. And while the Wild N’ Out veteran shined in his 2013 debut, his 2015 return featured a memorable sketch about the gentrification of Bushwick and was one of the season’s highest rated episodes.
‘The Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber’ (2015)
Pop star Justin Bieber’s roast was a special case of celebrity roasting — no surprise, it was Comedy Central’s highest rated roast since Charlie Sheen’s — so the celebrity needed someone special to act as the master of ceremonies. Host Kevin Hart delivered scripted material and improv with aplomb, and no one seemed to be having more fun watching Bieber get burnt.
MTV Movie Awards — Comedic Genius Award (2015)
Following a massive movie presence in 2015, where he led four films, Hart was rewarded with a special achievement trophy at the 2015 MTV Movie Awards: the inaugural Comedic Genius Award. While accepting the special tub of golden popcorn, Hart brought his kids to stand by his side. “You all wonder why I work so hard,” he said in his speech. “My kids are with me because this is why. I do it all for them, and I’m trying to leave a legacy behind so that when it’s all said and done, the last name Hart means something.”
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