Two years after his infamous Oscars slap threatened to derail his career, Will Smith has delivered an undeniable hit with Bad Boys: Ride or Die, signaling the global superstar’s triumphant return to box office dominance. The fourth installment of Smith’s beloved buddy cop franchise opened to a powerful $104.6 million globally this weekend, including $56 million from North American theaters.
The robust debut for Ride or Die instantly ranks among Smith’s biggest blockbuster launches and provides a much-needed boost to Hollywood’s sluggish summer movie season. It marks the first time Smith has led a film to No.1 at the box office since the very same controversial awards show outburst that drew widespread condemnation.
While industry projections were cautious heading into the weekend, audiences enthusiastically showed up for Smith’s long-awaited reunion with co-star Martin Lawrence in one of his most iconic roles. The film’s domestic total already ranks as the year’s fourth-biggest opening.
“Ordinarily a $100 million opening is the gold standard, but in this marketplace it’s a total win for Will Smith and the industry,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “It shows that despite a lack of originality recently, this R-rated buddy cop formula was exactly what audiences wanted.”
The successful launch of Ride or Die provides a clear barometer that Smith’s global star power remains fully intact despite the fallout from his onstage altercation with Chris Rock in March 2022. While his subsequent drama Emancipation was largely overlooked, Sony went all-in promoting Smith as the driving force behind Ride or Die’s marketing blitz.
Smith’s action comedy prowess is undeniable, with a track record of smash hits like Bad Boys, Men in Black, and Independence Day cementing his status as a premier summer box office draw for decades. Audiences under 35 showed up in force for Ride or Die, with exit polls reflecting an A- CinemaScore and 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“They used to call him ‘Mr. Fourth of July’ – there was a time when you looked up summer movie season in the dictionary and his picture was there,” said Dergarabedian. “If you combine Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, and Bad Boys, you’re going to have a hit.”
While Ride or Die provided the industry with a much-needed jolt, the bigger question is whether Smith can replicate that mainstream appeal outside of his most bankable franchises. At 54, he’ll likely need to prove he can open original projects like his pre-slap days.
But for now, Hollywood is just breathing a sigh of relief that one of its most consistently bankable leading men has seemingly put the stain of the Oscars behind him. The success of Ride or Die stamps Smith’s comeback into the record books.
