Will Smith scored a comeback hit with the release of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” this weekend.
The fourth installment of the action comedy series starring Smith and Martin Lawrence opened to an estimated $56 million at the U.S. box office.
This marks Smith’s biggest box office success since the infamous incident where he slapped Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony. In the aftermath, Smith received a 10-year ban from the Oscars and faced intense public backlash.
Heading into its opening weekend, expectations were mixed for “Ride or Die.” The summer moviegoing season has struggled so far, with several potential blockbusters underperforming. There were also questions around Smith’s star power and appeal to audiences post-slap.
However, the $56 million debut exceeded tracking projections and landed very close to the $62.5 million opening of the previous “Bad Boys” film in 2020. It’s being viewed as a much-needed win for Hollywood after a string of disappointing releases lately.
In his first major movie release since the Oscars incident, the 55-year-old Smith avoided directly addressing the slap scandal during the promotional tour.
Instead, he focused his efforts on an extensive global marketing blitz, making surprise appearances and attending premieres everywhere from Los Angeles to Saudi Arabia.
While reviews were mixed, audiences responded positively, giving the film an “A-” CinemaScore grade. The $56 million opening has reignited hopes for a rebound at the summer box office following an underwhelming start.
This report has information obtained from The Associated Press