‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ saves Will Smith’s career, bringing in over $100 million worldwide

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have released their newest film in the Bad Boys franchise, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” The release of the fourth installment comes two years after Smith made headlines in 2022 for slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars, stirring controversy.

For Smith, the movie has been seen as his comeback, serving as a test to gauge his ability to attract audiences post-controversy. Prior to the release, an industry insider said the Bad Boys franchise was a safe bet for Smith’s resurgence, showcasing his talent and financial success. The insider emphasized that one mistake does not diminish Smith’s ambitious career trajectory.

True to form, the movie has been a huge success at the box office. Released on June 7, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, opened in 3,885 theaters, including all premium large format and IMAX theaters, Forbes reported.

The movie has generated impressive box office numbers given its $100 million production budget. According to Variety, it has grossed $104.6 million globally, including $48.6 million internationally. Its predecessor, “Bad Boys for Life,” earned $62.5 million in its 2020 debut and $204 million domestically.

In the meantime, the movie is yet to be released in Italy (June 13), Japan (June 21), or China (June 22).

Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which maintains a balance of action and comedy, takes fans on the journey of characters Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence), playing the roles of Miami detectives. They are then tasked with uncovering a scheme against their late police captain, Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano).

“This movie, in really beautiful ways, is the culmination of all three,” Smith said during an interview with Hot 97. “For fans who have been down from the first one, I promise you there’s a moment in this movie where you stand up out of your seat and throw your hands in the air with the level of perfection of the call-back that we have. It’s as good as it’s ever been done. It is incredible. I am hyped for people to see it.”