Grateful for all the love...: Will Smith gets nostalgic as 'Bad Boys' clocks 30 years

ANI April 8, 2025 231 views

The iconic "Bad Boys" film franchise has reached a remarkable 30-year milestone, marking an extraordinary journey in Hollywood. Will Smith celebrated the anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram post featuring behind-the-scenes photos and memories with co-star Martin Lawrence. The series, which began in 1995, has grown into a billion-dollar franchise with four successful films. Smith and Lawrence's chemistry and the support of producers like Jerry Bruckheimer have been key to the franchise's enduring popularity.

"30 years ago @jerrybruckheimer, Don Simpson, and @michaelbay took a chance on us" - Will Smith
Washington, April 8: The action-packed film 'Bad Boys,' starring actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as two Miami detectives, has turned 30 years old. The first film in the popular franchise was released in 1995 and has now officially marked three decades.

Key Points

1

First Bad Boys film launched in 1995 with Michael Bay

2

Franchise has earned over $1.2 billion worldwide

3

Smith and Lawrence reunited for nostalgic Instagram post

4

Four films in the action-comedy series to date

To celebrate the special occasion, the 56-year-old actor took to his Instagram account to share a joint post with co-star Martin Lawrence. The post included behind-the-scenes photos and a message of thanks to fans.

The pictures showed Smith and Lawrence smiling on set, along with director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and other cast members like Michael Imperioli, Joe Pantoliano, Tea Leoni, and Theresa Randle.

"30 years ago @jerrybruckheimer, Don Simpson, and @michaelbay took a chance on us, and Bad Boys was born!! Grateful for all the love y'all have shown us through the years," read the caption of his post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIJ4kYVBkZc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The 'Bad Boys' series began with the 1995 film and went on to include Bad Boys II (2003), Bad Boys for Life (2020), and Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024). According to Collider, the franchise has earned over $1.2 billion worldwide.

The film's producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, while speaking to People at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' last year, said that there was "never a dull moment" working with the acting duo on set.

"They're creative and fun. They're so great to work with. There's never any arguments; we just have a blast going through the process, and it's a long process to get these made," he said at the premiere.

Smith also opened up last year about filming the first installment and revealed the process behind his audition call.

"I was hooked. 'Let's go! When can I read the script?' Marty Mar's face scrunched up. 'Nawww - you can't, Big Willie. The script's not there yet. You just gotta trust me and commit,'" read a part of his Instagram post.

Reader Comments

J
Jamie R.
Can't believe it's been 30 years! Bad Boys was my childhood favorite. That car chase scene in the first movie still gives me chills. So happy they're still making these films 🚔💥
T
Trevor K.
The chemistry between Will and Martin is what makes this franchise special. You can tell they genuinely enjoy working together. Here's to 30 more years!
M
Maria S.
I appreciate the nostalgia, but I do wish they'd focus more on original content instead of endless sequels. The first Bad Boys was lightning in a bottle that's hard to recapture.
D
Derek L.
That story about auditioning without a script is wild! Shows how much trust they had in each other from the beginning. Hollywood doesn't make movies like this anymore 😢
A
Aisha P.
The soundtrack alone deserves celebration! That Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch song still plays in my head randomly after all these years 🎶
C
Carlos T.
Just rewatched the original last weekend. The humor holds up surprisingly well! Though the fashion choices... yikes 😂 Different times for sure!

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Tags:
Will Smith Martin Lawrence Bad Boys Action Comedy Hollywood Franchise Michael Bay Jerry Bruckheimer
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