Will Smith has reclaimed his box office dominance with the release of ‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die,’ reuniting on-screen with Martin Lawrence. This marks Smith’s first film since the controversial Oscar night incident in 2022.
The fourth installment of the ‘Bad Boys’ franchise has garnered impressive numbers, earning $56 million domestically and an additional $48.6 million internationally, totaling $104.6 million globally, according to Variety.
‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’ now boasts the second-highest opening weekend in the franchise, just behind 2020’s ‘Bad Boys for Life.’
This film is Smith’s first acting role since the altercation with Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, an event that industry experts believed might have affected his fan base and career opportunities.
On that notable night, Smith won his first Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Richard Williams in ‘King Richard.’ The New York Post noted the Academy’s strict anti-violence policy, which initially raised concerns that Smith could be stripped of his award.
An insider commented, “It’s basically assault. Everyone was just so shocked in the room, it was so uncomfortable. I think Will would not want to give his Oscar back, but who knows what will happen now.”
Smith preemptively resigned from the Academy before any disciplinary action was decided, retaining his Oscar and remaining eligible for future awards, as reported by Variety.
Despite the controversy, Smith has continued to engage his audience, sharing behind-the-scenes footage of action scenes from ‘Bad Boys 4’ earlier this month.
Your favorite Bad Boys are officially back and badder than ever. #BadBoys: Ride Or Die is NOW PLAYING exclusively in theaters. Beat the heat and get tickets to summer’s biggest movie: https://t.co/PbPRaNC8mV pic.twitter.com/ZtWmERMWAG
— Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (@BadBoys) June 7, 2024
