Against all expectations, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth entry in the long-running action cop series, has stormed the box office with one of the year’s most impressive openings. Despite the ongoing 2024 financial slump, highlighted by the Memorial Day failure of “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence film exceeded its $40 million domestic projection, opening with $56 million and amassing over $104 million globally in its first weekend. This achievement places it as the fifth best domestic opening of 2024, trailing behind “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” and “Dune: Part Two.”
While much of the buzz will focus on the film’s quality and Smith’s return to the spotlight after the infamous Oscars incident, several other factors contributed to the success of “Ride or Die.” From rare representation to the redemption of two filmmakers, the film’s triumph could signal positive changes in the industry. Here’s why it dominated the weekend and shattered those $40 million projections.
As of now, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” has grossed $62.7 million domestically. In its opening weekend, it surpassed the total domestic earnings of “Argylle,” “Madame Web,” and “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” Globally, it has earned about $114 million, a respectable figure for a typically slow box office period. However, it still trails behind “Furiosa,” “IF,” “The Fall Guy,” and “Challengers.” Industry experts will be closely monitoring its performance in the coming weeks, hoping it continues to draw audiences and achieve several hundred million in gross revenue, similar to “Bad Boys for Life.”
The simplest explanation for “Ride or Die’s” success is the lack of competition. As the summer box office season began, there were no major releases to challenge it. Smaller films like “Tuesday” and “I Used to Be Funny,” along with the re-release of the first two “Lord of the Rings” films, posed no significant threat. The only new release was “The Watchers,” which, as noted in reviews, suffered from poor writing. With no new challengers, “Ride or Die” easily outperformed recent holdovers like “The Garfield Movie” and “IF,” both targeting younger audiences. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” are grand-scale franchise films that attract their largest numbers on opening weekend, potentially deterring casual moviegoers unfamiliar with their universes.
“Bad Boys for Life” revived the franchise in 2020, proving its financial potential and showing that it could be better with stylistic updates. Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, known professionally as Adil and Bilall, brought a fresh perspective, reflecting Michael Bay’s growth as a director. The result was a $427 million haul and the series’ best-reviewed entry on Rotten Tomatoes, creating a new generation of “Bad Boys” fans for “Ride or Die.”
Longtime fans of the series, who have followed Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett since 1995, also contributed to the film’s success. The original “Bad Boys” was a financial hit, and despite the uneven sequel, the franchise has maintained a loyal fanbase. “Ride or Die” mines its own mythology for plot possibilities, appealing to both new and longtime fans.
Will Smith remains a significant box office draw. Despite the debate over whether franchise blockbusters have killed the concept of “movie stars,” Smith’s name still carries weight. “Ride or Die” is only his 22nd-highest grossing movie, but its opening weekend surge suggests it could climb higher. Smith’s career has been in flux since the Oscars incident, making “Ride or Die” a crucial moment for his return to Hollywood.
Positive reviews also played a role in the film’s success. With a 64% critics score and a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 54/100 on Metacritic, the film generated enough buzz to attract audiences. Critics praised Smith and Lawrence’s chemistry and the film’s value as a fun summer blockbuster. “Ride or Die” also received an A- from CinemaScore, a positive indicator of box office success.
“Ride or Die” captured the attention of a wider audience, particularly Black audiences, who made up 44% of its opening weekend viewers. This figure is significantly higher than other high-profile movies released this year. The film also attracted 18-34 year olds, who comprised 44% of the total opening weekend audience.
With the uncertainty surrounding the “Fast and Furious” franchise, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” filled a programming gap for fans of action-packed movies. The film’s tone, style, and audience expectations closely align with the “Fast and Furious” franchise, particularly its critical peak from “Fast and Furious 6” to “Furious 7.”
Directors Adil and Bilall also garnered support from fans of the scrapped “Batgirl” film. The controversial decision to cancel the project generated goodwill for the directors, who handled the situation with class. Many fans showed their support for Adil and Bilall by attending “Ride or Die.”
The film’s marketing, particularly its first trailer, perfectly conveyed its action-packed and comedic elements. The trailer showcased the franchise’s modern action sensibilities and Martin Lawrence’s comedic role, appealing to both new and longtime fans.
