Sony’s latest release, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” has revitalized the summer box office with an impressive domestic opening of $56 million and a global haul of $104.6 million. The film, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, exceeded expectations and provided a much-needed boost for the beleaguered movie industry.
This fourth installment directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, first weekend has already surpassed its $100 million production budget.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die reunites Smith and Lawrence as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The film’s plot revolves around their quest to clear their late captain’s name, leading them into dangerous confrontations with drug cartels.
The movie received positive reviews, earning an A- CinemaScore in North America. A notable 44% of the audience was aged between 18 and 34, indicating that Smith continues to resonate with younger viewers. The film also performed well across different demographics, with Black moviegoers comprising 44% of the audience.
Internationally, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” grossed $48.6 million from 60 markets, including a strong $19.3 million in Europe and record-breaking earnings in Latin America and the Middle East. This performance positions it as a promising contender for continued box office success.
The success of “Ride or Die” is a significant achievement for Sony and its CEO, Tom Rothman. The studio also secured the second spot at the box office with “The Garfield Movie,” which earned $10 million domestically and $15.3 million overseas, bringing its global total to nearly $200 million against a $60 million budget.
Meanwhile, John Krasinski’s fantasy comedy “IF,” starring Ryan Reynolds, maintained its momentum, placing third with $8 million domestically and $6.2 million internationally, for a global total of $160.7 million.
In fourth place, Ishana Night Shyamalan’s “The Watchers,” produced by her father M. Night Shyamalan, opened with a modest $7 million. The supernatural thriller also earned $4.7 million overseas, bringing its global start to $11.7 million.
Rounding out the top five, Disney and 20th Century’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” added $5.4 million domestically, pushing its global earnings to $359.8 million. Despite its strong performance, the film still trails behind its predecessors in the rebooted “Apes” series.
The solid debut of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is a positive sign for the movie industry, which has faced several underperforming blockbusters this season. With upcoming releases like Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and “A Quiet Place: Day One,” industry analysts remain hopeful for a robust summer box office. As Paul Dergarabedian, a senior analyst at Comscore, noted, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the overall success of the summer movie season.