Sony’s “Bad Boys 4” has stormed the box office, delivering a massive opening weekend that has reinvigorated the summer movie season. The film, officially titled “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” raked in an impressive $56 million domestically and $104.6 million globally, surpassing expectations and marking a significant milestone for Will Smith’s career.
This latest installment reunites Smith with Martin Lawrence, continuing their roles as Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The film has received generally positive reviews and an A- CinemaScore in North America. Notably, 44 percent of the audience was between the ages of 18 and 34, indicating Smith’s enduring appeal among younger viewers. Additionally, Black moviegoers comprised the largest segment of the audience, also at 44 percent.
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is the first film of the summer to significantly exceed tracking estimates, which had projected an opening in the $48 million to $50 million range. It now stands as the second biggest domestic launch of the season, trailing only “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” which debuted with $58 million.
Internationally, the film’s performance has been equally strong, grossing $48.6 million across 60 markets. It achieved notable success in Europe, where it earned $19.3 million, and set franchise records in Latin America and the Middle East.
The film’s $100 million budget is a follow-up to “Bad Boys for Life,” which opened to $62 million domestically in January 2022 and went on to earn $426 million globally before the pandemic shuttered theaters. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, with a script by Chris Bremner and Will Beall.
This release marks Will Smith’s first major theatrical push since the controversial incident at the 2022 Oscars, where he slapped Chris Rock during the live telecast. The film subtly addresses this event, and Smith’s agents at CAA have been actively exploring new projects for the actor, hoping to announce his next film soon, contingent on the success of “Ride or Die.”
Sony Pictures Motion Group CEO Tom Rothman is undoubtedly pleased with the film’s performance. The studio also secured the second spot at the box office with “The Garfield Movie,” which earned an additional $10 million domestically and $15.3 million overseas, bringing its global total to nearly $200 million against a $60 million budget.
John Krasinski’s fantasy comedy “IF,” starring Ryan Reynolds, continues to show strong staying power, placing third domestically with $8 million and adding another $6.2 million overseas for a global total of $160.7 million.
Ishana Night Shyamalan’s “The Watchers,” produced by her father M. Night Shyamalan, opened in fourth place with $7 million. Meanwhile, Disney and 20th Century’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” rounded out the top five, earning $5.4 million and bringing its global total to $359.8 million, the highest of the summer so far.
The success of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is a significant win for Sony and a promising sign for Will Smith’s career resurgence. The film’s strong performance both domestically and internationally underscores the enduring popularity of the “Bad Boys” franchise and Smith’s star power.
