Sony Pictures’ Bad Boys: Ride or Die has electrified the beleaguered summer box office with an impressive domestic opening of $56 million and a global haul of $104.6 million, per hollywoodreporter.com. This unexpected success signals a potential career resurgence for Will Smith, two years after the infamous Oscars incident.
Reuniting Smith with co-star Martin Lawrence, Ride or Die is the fourth installment in Sony’s enduring franchise. The film earned an A- CinemaScore and generally positive reviews, bolstering its appeal. Significantly, 44% of the audience was between 18 and 34, indicating Smith’s continued draw among younger viewers. Black moviegoers constituted the largest demographic at 44%.
Ride or Die is the first summer film to surpass expectations, initially projected to open between $48 million and $50 million. It stands as the second-largest domestic opener of the season, trailing only Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes at $58 million.
Internationally, the film’s performance is equally promising, with $48.6 million from 58 markets, including a robust $19.3 million in Europe and franchise records in Latin America and the Middle East.
Costing $100 million to produce, Ride or Die follows Bad Boys for Life, which debuted to $62 million domestically in January 2022, eventually grossing $426 million globally. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the film features Smith and Lawrence reprising their roles as Miami cops embroiled in a drug cartel conspiracy.
This release marks Smith’s first major theatrical effort since the Oscars slap incident, subtly addressed in the film. His agents at CAA are reportedly exploring new projects, aiming to quickly announce his next film if Ride or Die sustains its momentum.
Sony Pictures Motion Group CEO Tom Rothman also celebrated success with The Garfield Movie, which secured the second box office spot, earning $10 million domestically and $15.3 million overseas, bringing its global total to $192.7 million.
Meanwhile, John Krasinski’s IF continues to perform well, placing third with $8 million domestically and $6.2 million overseas, for a global total of $160.7 million. Ishana Night Shyamalan’s The Watchers debuted in fourth place with $7 million, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes rounded out the top five with $5.4 million, growing its global total to $359.8 million, the highest of the summer so far.
- Featured image: Martin Lawrence Will Smith in ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’/Frank Masi/Sony Pictures
