I honestly feel that the incident at the Oscars is going to be arguably the biggest mistake in Will’s career in Hollywood, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all that moving forward, even after he’s long dead, that THIS particular incident will be all that he’s known for.
This quote reveals a sentiment shared by many industry insiders and fans alike about the impact of Will Smith’s controversial Oscars slap. Despite the predictions of a tarnished career, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, opened to impressive numbers, seemingly offering Smith a much-needed career revival.
Back on Top
The film secured a $56 million opening weekend, The movie is off to a strong start at the domestic box office
. Not only does this mark Will Smith’s sixth-highest U.S./Canada opening overall and his 18th No. 1 debut as a leading man, but it also reflects positively on Martin Lawrence. For Lawrence, the film ranks as his eighth No. 1 domestic opening.
Lawrence in the Limelight
The success is not only attributable to Smith’s draw but also thanks to Lawrence’s comedic prowess and strong performance. It’s because the pair decided to offload some of the Lowery-heavy plot bits and to let Lawrence do his thing, all while tapping into their predecessor’s contributions as a practical – not theoretical – influence. The focus clearly worked, as shown by their impressive box office numbers.
Fans Forgive
RelishMix noticed an upbeat word of mouth out there with fans forgiving Will Smith post Oscar slap saying, I’m glad Will Smith is back. His action movies never disappoint.
This suggests that despite past controversies, Smith still holds a significant place in fans’ hearts.
A Strong Marketing Push
Smith and Sony rolled out a global PR tour for Bad Boys: Ride or Die like D-day, covering three continents and ten cities. Events spanned from Dubai to Mexico City and featured red-carpet premieres which helped generate buzz and excitement around the release.
Surprise Appearances
The promotional efforts didn’t stop there. After one screening ended, Smith revealed to shocked moviegoers that he had been watching with them. A growing crowd seemed excited to see him, capturing photos and videos. One enthusiastic fan gave the movie a 10 out of 10
, highlighting just how well these marketing moves were received.
Ticket Sales Soar
Ticket sales figures reflect this enthusiasm. The fourthquel played through the night, with 32% of its gross earned after 8 PM showtimes per EntTelligence. Admissions for the Smith and Lawrence reteam were 3.9 million, repping 53% of the domestic foot traffic, with ticket-buyers citing both stars as major drawing points.
Tour De Force Promotions
The marketing blitz didn’t end on screens. The promotional campaign included exclusive studio sponsorships during the NBA Finals and partnerships with Spotify for soundtrack listening events such as Light Em Up
by Smith x Sean Paul and other custom promotional content like those with BET and Comedy Central.
A Winning Formula
Nostalgia played its part too. Fans reminisced about The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. One highlight was when Will recited Caz’s infamous ‘Evette’ rhyme alongside Caz himself during promotions for ‘Bad Boys,’ blending his historic cultural relevance with this latest endeavor.
Follow Us
