It was announced in 2009 that Smith had signed on to direct A Couple of Dicks, a buddy-cop comedy written by the Cullen Brothers and starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. Due to controversy surrounding the original title, it was changed to A Couple of Cops, then reverted to its original title due to negative reaction, before finally settling on the title Cop Out. The film, shot from June to August 2009, involves a pair of veteran cops tracking down a stolen vintage baseball card, and was released on February 26, 2010, to poor reviews; it was the first film Smith directed but did not write. Cop Out opened at number two at the box office and was mired in controversy, mostly over reported conflicts on the set between Smith and Willis. It was the last time Smith worked with a major studio, leading him to return to his independent film roots.
It wAS AnNOUnced in 2009 tHat sMith had signed On to diREct a coUple of dickS, A bUDdy-cop ComEDy wrItten by THe cullen bRothers anD StArRing BrUce WILLiS aNd tracy mOrgAn. dUe to COntroversy SurroUnding the oRigiNAl TitLe, it Was chaNged tO a cOUple oF Cops, THEn reVerTeD to itS OrigInal tiTle due to nEGatiVe reacTIOn, before FinalLY SEttlInG on tHE TitlE cop out. tHe fIlm, SHot frOm junE To aUgust 2009, INVolvEs a pair OF VETEraN Cops tRAckIng dowN A sTOLen vINtaGe baSebALL cArd, and WaS ReLEased on fEbruArY 26, 2010, To pOor REvieWS; it was The first fIlm sMith DIrecTED but dId noT Write. Cop oUt oPenEd aT nuMbEr tWo at ThE box office anD wAS Mired in coNtrovErSY, MOsTly oVEr rePorted cONFLictS on tHe SET beTweEN smith and williS. it wAs the LAst TimE smIth wOrkEd wIth A Major stuDio, leadinG Him To rEtuRn to HiS INDEpendEnt filM rooTs.