Bad Boys: Ride or Die is now streaming on Netflix after shattering a big Rotten Tomatoes record for the action franchise. The latest Bad Boys movie reunites Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as Miami cops Mike and Marcus, who are forced to go on the run when they are framed by corrupt forces within their department. The series has come a long way since 1995, with the original film being a modest budget affair that made Smith a movie star and launched the career of a certain director called Michael Bay.
Almost 30 years later, Bad Boys: Ride of Die has grossed $404 million worldwide, proving the series is as popular as ever. This is all the more impressive considering there was a 17-year gap between the second and third entries, but love for the property never waned. Of course, it helped that the chemistry between Smith and Lawrence was still potent, and the saga always delivers on both the comedy and action fronts.
For Fans Of…
- Buddy cop action like Lethal Weapon, Rush Hour or The Nice Guys.
- Actors Will Smith (Men in Black, Independence Day), Martin Lawrence (Blue Streak, Big Momma’s House) and Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, The Sopranos).
- Directing team Adil & Bilall (Bad Boys for Life, Black)
DID YOU KNOW: Michael Bay makes a brief cameo in
Ride or Die
as the angry Porsche driver who almost runs over Marcus (Martin Lawrence). Bay also cameoed in both
Bad Boys II
and
Bad Boys for Life
.
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Is Now Streaming On Netflix – Why You Should Watch It
The latest Bad Boys is one of 2024’s biggest box office hits
Bad Boys: Ride or Die landing on Netflix will give the handful who missed it on the big screen a chance to finally catch the hit sequel. It should be noted that the film neither innovates the genre nor does it offer any real surprises; Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s mission statement is to be a total blast for fans and newcomers alike. After the darker tone of the third entry, Ride or Die leans into the comedy and really gives Martin Lawrence the chance to riff as Marcus.
Related
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Ending Explained
Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s ending reaffirms the themes set up in the previous film and reveals some big retcons about previous villains.
Smith does a great job as the straight man of the duo, while he also handles the action side of the story. Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s cast introduces some newcomers too, with Eric Dane having a lot of fun as the mystery villain of the piece. While the tone of this fourth installment is goofier, it contains the emotional thread of the “bad boys” trying to clear the name of the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano).
Adil & Bilall always keep
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
moving, staging both comic and action setpieces with aplomb…
This is made all the more complicated by the fact Mike’s own son Armando (Jacob Scipio) is the one who pulled the trigger, with the latter having to earn some redemption as he joins Mike and Marcus on their quest. Adil & Bilall always keep Ride or Die moving, staging both comic and action setpieces with aplomb, which includes some inventive camerawork and creative use of drone photography. The directing duo may lack the visual flair that Bay brought to the series, but they still inject their film with tons of energy.
Maybe the most remarkable thing about Bad Boys: Ride or Die is that, even after four movies, the series still feels fresh. There’s nothing jaded or cynical about it, and it’s clear everyone involved is having the best time. The story could rightly be critiqued for its predictable twists and contrivances, with the subplot involving Howard’s vengeful daughter Judy (Rhea Seehorn) feeling poorly woven into the central narrative. Still, Bad Boys: Ride or Die is all but guaranteed to thrill and entertain Netflix audiences.
”
The film can be ridiculous at times, and even occasionally silly, but the filmmakers don’t let these moments linger too long before moving on. The pacing is sharp and slick, but it leaves moments for the relationships to flourish. 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
.” –
Mae Abdulbaki
,
Screen Rant’s
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
review
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Has The Franchise’s Highest Audience Score On Rotten Tomatoes
Ride or Die just about beat Bad Boys for Life’s rating
The latest Bad Boys received a broadly positive critical response, with its 65% critics rating underlining this. However, Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s audience score is a whopping 97%, setting a new record for the series. In truth, the third film earned a more than respectable 96% with audiences, but still, both audience scores show just how much goodwill the series has earned. While Bad Boys 5 has yet to be confirmed, it’s hard to imagine there won’t be at least one Mike/Marcus misadventure.
|
The Bad Boys Franchise |
Box Office Gross |
RT Critics Score |
RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bad Boys (1995) |
$141 Million |
43% |
78% |
|
Bad Boys II (2003) |
$273 million |
24% |
78% |
|
Bad Boys for Life (2020) |
$427 million |
75% |
96% |
|
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) |
$404 million |
65% |
97% |
Ride or Die’s ending doesn’t set up another entry, though with Mike and Marcus inching closer to retirement age, the next sequel can explore what their lives look like without badges. If the fourth entry does prove to be the end, it leaves the duo in a good place though. It’s rare for the final entry in any long-running series to close on a strong note, but Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s RT audience score proves it might be the perfect time to wrap up.
5 More Like Bad Boys: Ride or Die…
- Midnight Run (1988)
- Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
- The Other Guys (2010)
- The Fall Guy (2024)
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
Source: Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes
