Summary
- Chemistry between Smith & Lawrence shines in Bad Boys 4, true to the franchise's winning formula.
- Hilarious humor praised by critics balances thrilling action in the Ride or Die installment.
- Flashy style compensates for a simple plot in the latest Bad Boys movie, making it a thrilling watch.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die has opened up to mostly positive reviews upon its June 7, 2024 release. The fourth installment of the celebrated Bad Boys franchise sees the highly anticipated onscreen return of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The Bad Boys franchise recently put out its third installment Bad Boys for Life in 2020, marking the first movie of the action comedy series since the underwhelming Bad Boys II in 2003. Based on more than 100 reviews of Bad Boys 4, the franchise seems to be doing as good as ever and is even drawing comparisons to the original 1995 classic.
With a reported budget of $90 million, Bad Boys: Ride or Die's box office will need to make at least $200 million in order for it to be considered a box office hit. Following Hollywood's worst Memorial Day Weekend box office in years and the disappointing performance of Furiosa, Bad Boys 4 looks to have a great opening weekend that will hopefully kick off a resurgence at the box office before summer. Based on the negative reviews of The Watchers and the Netflix release of Hit Man, both of which share a release date of June 7, 2024, Bad Boys: Ride or Die is poised to make a splash at the box office.
10 Smith & Lawrence's Chemistry Is Still A Winning Formula
Bad Boys fans won't be disappointed by the franchise stars
The most important takeaway from the reviews of Bad Boys: Ride or Die is that the chemistry between its stars, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, is as sharp and electrifying as ever. Danny Leigh of the Financial Times writes in his review of Bad Boys 4, "Lawrence is still a raucous clown, happy to be seen with buttocks exposed to the ocean breeze. Settling back into their good-natured double act amid many nods to the first three movies, Smith remains the soulful smoothie." David Ehrlich of IndieWire writes, "Despite everything that’s crammed into this one, it’s still nothing without Mike and Marcus. And despite everything that Smith has been through since the previous installment, he and Lawrence will always be our bad boys." Bad Boys fans won't be disappointed by the return of the franchise stars.
9 Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Is Downright Hilarious
Most critics praise the classic yet relevant humor in Bad Boys 4
Many reviews of Bad Boys: Ride or Die compliment the film's sharp and hilarious humor throughout, which is a crucial component of every Bad Boys installment. Pablo O. Scholz of Clarín writes in his review of Bad Boys 4, "Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who return after Bad Boys for Life, know how to intersperse humor amid the most dangerous situations in action cinema." Dom Sinacola of Paste Magazine notes, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die is a genuine crowd-pleaser, just undeniably captivating, funny and raging, neon-pink copaganda." Allison Rose of FlickDirect points out, "The humor-to-action ratio seems to be askew making Bad Boys: Ride or Die enjoyable and on the one hand yet possibly alienating its core audience who loved the action in the first two films." Some negative reviewers weren't as impressed by the film's use of comedy.
8 The Film's Flashy Style Makes Up For Its Nonsensical Plot
Don't expect a mind-bending story with Bad Boys 4
Bad Boys: Ride or Die isn't going to stump viewers with its sophisticated storyline, but that has never really been the point of the action comedy franchise. Many critics enjoyed the overall silly nature of the movie and praised its over-the-top flashy style that made up for the lack of a riveting screenplay. Mae Abdulbaki of Screen Rant writes in her review of Bad Boys 4, "It isn’t just an action-packed, high-octane flick; Ride or Die’s got heart and style to go along with it. Often, I was content to simply watch Marcus and Mike banter about Marcus’ love of candy as I was to watch them fight the villain, McGrath (Eric Dane). Sometimes the former was more satisfying than the latter." This also stresses the point of Lawrence and Smith's all-star chemistry.
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7 Bad Boys 4 Has Fantastic Action & Fight Sequences
Bad Boys: Ride or Die offers some of the best action scenes in the franchise
Apart from the comedy, the action sequences in Bad Boys: Ride or Die hold up and offer some of the most thrilling moments in the entire franchise. Katie Smith-Wong of Flick Feast writes, "Ridiculously entertaining, Bad Boys: Ride or Die delivers in comedy and fast-paced action. Smith and Lawrence have never been better." Elliot Collins of Movie Files comments, "The jokes hit and the action sequences and direction overall was phenomenal. I don’t know how you won’t have a great time with this film." Jonathan Sim of ComingSoon.net agrees, writing in his review, "This is an action-packed, wonderful sequel that perfectly matches a new style with the classic Bayhem of the originals." Some negative reviewers found the action scenes to be devoid of meaning.
6 The Movie Is Corny & Outrageous In The Best Possible Way
Bad Boys 4 sticks to its traditional zany roots of the franchise
Critics who held a more serious lens up to Bad Boys: Ride or Die often took issue with some of the formulaic and nonsensical aspects of the film. However, most critics who enjoyed Bad Boys 4 understood what they were getting themselves into based on the track record of the franchise and were more than satisfied with the end result. Tessa Smith of Mama's Geeky writes in her review, "Exactly what one would expect from a Bad Boys movie. Corny and ridiculous, but also a whole lot of fun. The action sequences are absolutely wild! The best in the franchise." Linda Marric of HeyUGuys writes, "Fans of the franchise are sure to lap it up, others will wish this had been given more of a chance to be properly funny."
5 Bad Boys 4 Is Still Thrilling To Watch Despite Being Formulaic
Viewers may predict the plot but likely won't anticipate the punchlines
Viewers of Bad Boys 4 will likely find it easier than other films to see where the story is headed, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable to watch Mike and Marcus see it through to the end. Cris Parker of 3C Films comments in his video review, "Bad Boys 4 delivers on what you hope for with the series: a hilarious Will & Martin dynamic along with fun, over-the-top action! Directors Adil & Bilall get very creative visually. It has its issues for sure, but I was having a blast." Tim Robey of the Daily Telegraph writes, "There’s a refreshing level of loose-cannon silliness throughout, even if Smith has to straight-man his way through it all like a felon in handcuffs. Lawrence, never a world-beater at comic timing, lands more of his business than you might expect." Viewers may predict the plot but likely won't anticipate the punchlines.
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4 Will Smith Is Still Enjoyable To Watch Despite 2022 Oscars Controversy
Bad Boys: Ride or Die proves that Smith hasn't lost his touch
Only two years after the infamous Oscars slap heard around the world, Bad Boys 4 proves that Smith still has every ounce of likability and star power that has made him a global sensation. Jake Coyle of the Associated Press writes in his review, "If the slap caused a reassessment of Smith as a movie star, “Ride or Die” is the kind of the tailor-made vehicle that reminds you there haven’t been many better male American action stars in the last few decades." Joe George of Den of Geek comments, "Smith proves once again that neither age nor slaps, nor prestige Oscar plays can diminish his on-screen persona. When he wants to be the coolest man on the planet, Will Smith can be the coolest man on the planet." Bad Boys: Ride or Die proves that Smith hasn't lost his touch.
3 Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Is The Perfect Summer 2024 Movie
Bad Boys kicks off the summer movie season in style
Set in Miami, Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the perfect movie to kick off the summer 2024 movie season. Kevin Maher of The Times (UK) writes, "In the summer movie context it is nothing short of magnificent." Emmanuel Noisette of The Movie Blog writes in his review, "Bad Boys Ride or Die” is an exhilarating, action-packed ride that surpasses expectations. The film is a fun, must-see summer blockbuster, with enough action, drama, and humor to warrant a trip to the theaters." Nell Minow of Movie Mom writes, "What’cha going to do? You’re going to go see this silly summer movie because it has Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, a lot of winks and in-jokes, and some eye-popping chases and explosions." The release of Bad Boys 4 could not be better timed.
2 The Blockbuster Flourishes In Its Lack Of Self-Seriousness
Bad Boys appears to have taken notes from the Fast franchise
Based on the praise for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, it's evident that the Bad Boys franchise still knows its true identity and what its fans are expecting from it. Nick De Semlyen of Empire Magazine writes in his review, "Scruffy and overstuffed, but contagiously good-natured. And frankly more films need to feature showdowns at abandoned alligator-themed amusement parks." Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent writes, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die has learned a few valuable lessons from the Fast & Furious franchise -- dumb and loud, executed with right enthusiasm, can feel like a warm hug." Bad Boys 4 likely isn't going up for any Oscars and it's ultimately better for it.
1 Bad Boys 4 Is Arguably The Best Installment Since The 1995 Original
Some critics contend that the new film is as good as the Bay classic
Some critics have praised the quality and sheer fun of Bad Boys 4 and compared it to the impact of the original 1995 directed by Michael Bay. Nasser Al Maskri of The National writes, "If Bad Boys does indeed continue on to a fifth chapter... they have honed a winning formula here in the fourth, the best film since the 1995 original." However, not all critics are quite as convinced. Jake Wilson of The Age writes, "Co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah bring little to the table beyond a desire to emulate original Bad Boys director Michael Bay, without being able to match the appalling but undeniably distinctive excesses of the master." Comparisons aside, the reviews of Bad Boys: Ride or Die indicate that fans of the series will enjoy the latest installment.
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The Bad Boys franchise is back with another Will Smith and Martin Lawrence movie. Here's where to watch Bad Boys: Ride or Die in theaters or at home.
6/10
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the fourth installment in the action-comedy film series starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The series centers on hard-boiled Miami detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett, who take on dangerous drug kingpins and thwart dangerous schemes as they attempt to stop the circulation of illicit drugs in their city.
- Director
- Adil El Arbi , Bilall Fallah
- Release Date
- June 7, 2024
- Studio(s)
- Columbia Pictures , 2.0 Entertainment , Don Simpson Films , Jerry Bruckheimer Films , Westbrook Studios
- Distributor(s)
- Sony Pictures Releasing
- Writers
- Chris Bremner
- Cast
- Will Smith , Martin Lawrence , Vanessa Hudgens , Alexander Ludwig , Paola Núñez , Eric Dane , Ioan Gruffudd , Tasha Smith
- Franchise(s)
- Bad Boys
- prequel(s)
- Bad Boys , Bad Boys 2 , Bad Boys for Life