Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die jolted the summer box office back to life with a domestic opening of $56 million and $104.6 million globally. The film reunites Will Smith and Martin Lawrence for the fourth outing in this long-running franchise.
Ride or Die earned an A- CinemaScore in North America alongside generally positive reviews. 44 percent of the audience was between 18 and 34, reflecting Smith’s following among younger viewers. Black moviegoers made up the largest demographic with 44 percent.
This fourth installment had an overseas start just as promising, grossing $48.6 million from 60 markets – 58 percent ahead of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in similar markets, including a strong $19.3 million in Europe and record numbers in Latin America and the Middle East.
The $100 million film, helmed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, follows Miami cops Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) investigating their late police captain’s entanglement with drug cartels.
This marks the first major theatrical venture for Smith since his controversial incident at the 2022 Oscars when he slapped Chris Rock live. In response to this, insiders suggest that his agents are exploring new projects post-release of Ride or Die, indicating his intent to return firmly to Hollywood circles.
For Sony Pictures Motion Group CEO Tom Rothman, it’s been a lucrative weekend, with the modestly budgeted The Garfield Movie coming in second place, earning another $10 million domestically and $15.3 million internationally, totaling nearly $200 million globally.
If, starring Ryan Reynolds from Paramount’s John Krasinski, secured the third spot with a domestic earnings of $8 million and an additional $6.2 million overseas – maintaining strong numbers weeks after release.
The box office remained active with Ishana Night Shyamalan’s supernatural thriller The Watchers, produced by M. Night Shyamalan, debuting at fourth, grossing $7 million domestically.
Disney’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which collected $5.4 million this weekend, has amassed the summer’s highest total at $359.8 million globally.
Notably highlighting Sony’s strength despite industry challenges, Tom Rothman proudly stated, We are not fucking around here
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