Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die is a smash hit at the summer box office, possibly kicking off Will Smiths “road to redemption”.
The film earned $56 million at its US debut and $104.6 million at its global debut making it the highest debut for an R rated film since Oppenheimer. It is also Smiths sixth best US opening.
The $100 million film is the long awaited fourth instalment of the block buster buddy cop franchise that is Bad Boys. It reunites actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, two Miami cops who set out on a dangerous mission to clear their late police captains name when he somehow gets linked to a large drug cartel.
The film received an Audience Score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7/10 rating on IMDB, making it the highest rated Bad Boys film on the website.
The film is Smiths first theatrical release since his “career-ruining stunt” at the 2022 Oscars. When host Chris Rock made a poor joke about Smiths wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, he took to the stage to slap Rock across the face returning to his seat to shout more profanities at Rock.
The moment sparked outrage across the entertainment industry, resulting in Smiths departure from the Academy entirely. He also issued a formal apology across social media. Since this moment Smith has kept away from the theatres until the release of Bad Boys; Ride or Die this weekend.
Many have called the film and its success Will Smiths first step on the road to redemption, shooting the disgraced star back into the lime-light, for the right reasons this time. It is rumoured that Smiths agents at CAA, for the first time since the assault in 2022, have begun calling around to explore new productions for Smith to star in.
Bad Boys; Ride or Die wasn’t the only success from Sony this weekend as The Garfield Movie took the second spot in the box office earning $10 million domestically and a further $15.3 million globally.
