Miami, Florida – If the early weekend projections hold true, Sony’s action-comedy “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is poised to inject some life back into the struggling summer box office with an estimated $53 million domestic opening. The film could also mark a potential career comeback for Will Smith following the controversy surrounding the Oscars incident, which appears to have been addressed in the movie.
“Bad Boys 4,” featuring the reunion of Smith and Martin Lawrence in the latest installment of Sony’s popular franchise, has received positive reviews and an A- CinemaScore rating, with black moviegoers comprising the largest segment of the audience at 44%.
The film surpassed expectations on Friday with an impressive $21.6 million, including $5.9 million from Thursday night previews. “Ride or Die” stands out as one of the summer’s first films to exceed initial tracking estimates and ranks as the second-highest opening behind “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”
Following the success of “Bad Boys for Life,” which earned $426 million globally before the pandemic forced theater closures, “Ride or Die” continues the story of Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett dealing with new challenges and a quest to clear their late captain’s name.
Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the film signifies Smith’s return to the big screen after the Oscars incident, prompting discussions about his future projects and potential collaborations in the industry.
Alongside the release of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” Ishana Night Shyamalan’s “The Watchers,” a supernatural thriller produced by M. Night Shyamalan, is also hitting theaters this weekend with an expected opening of $8-10 million.
As the box office continues to evolve and recover from the pandemic’s impact, the performance of these latest releases will provide valuable insights into the industry’s resilience and audience preferences. Stay tuned for more updates and developments in the world of entertainment.