Will Smith celebrates 3 decades of his first 'Bad Boys' movie

IANS April 8, 2025 264 views

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are celebrating three decades since their groundbreaking action film "Bad Boys" first hit theaters. The franchise has become a massive success, generating over $1.2 billion in box office revenue across four films. Smith shared nostalgic behind-the-scenes photos and a heartfelt Instagram post reflecting on their early careers and the movie's impact. The journey from their first film in 1995 to the upcoming "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" showcases their enduring chemistry and Hollywood staying power.

"30 years ago @jerrybruckheimer, Don Simpson and @michaelbay took a chance on us" - Will Smith, Instagram
Will Smith celebrates 3 decades of his first 'Bad Boys' movie
Los Angeles, April 8: Hollywood star Will Smith is in a celebratory mood. The actor paid an homage to his film 'Bad Boys' as it clocked 30 years of its release.

Key Points

1

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunite to commemorate original Bad Boys film

2

Franchise has earned $1.2 billion across four movies

3

Original film launched in 1995 with Michael Bay directing

The 'Men in Black' star, 56, posted a joint Instagram post with co-star Martin Lawrence and the franchise's official account, marking the 30th anniversary of the action franchise's first film, reports 'People' magazine.

"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 thru the years", the Instagram caption read.

As per 'People', Will Smith included several behind-the-scenes photos from the original film, including pictures alongside Lawrence, 59, as they smiled with one another on set.

He also added photos of the film's director, Michael Bay, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Alongside photos of his co-star, Smith added snapshots of the behind-the-scenes with castmates, Michael Imperioli, Joe Pantoliano, Téa Leoni and Theresa Randle.

Smith and Lawrence star as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Bennett in the franchise. After the 1995 box office hit, three more films followed, 'Bad Boys II' in 2003, 'Bad Boys for Life' in 2020, and more recently, 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' in 2024.

The franchise has earned $1.2 billion at the box office across all four films, as per Collider. Last year, Smith detailed filming the first installment, and revealed the process behind his audition call.

"I was 25 years old. Marty Mar was 29. Just two kids, who lucked out and got to live their dreams on the first try", he wrote in the June 2024 Instagram caption, adding that Lawrence's sister convinced her brother to ask Smith to audition for the role of Mike.

"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'", he added.

Reader Comments

S
Sarah K.
Can't believe it's been 30 years! The first Bad Boys was my intro to action movies as a kid. Still holds up today. That chemistry between Will and Martin is just magic ✨
M
Marcus T.
Respectfully, while I love the franchise, I think the newer films rely too much on nostalgia. The original had a rawness that can't be replicated. Still happy to see them celebrating though!
J
Jamal R.
That audition story is wild! Imagine committing to a movie without even seeing the script 😂 Only Will and Martin could pull that off. Legendary duo!
T
Tina L.
The soundtrack alone deserves celebration! That movie introduced me to so much great music. Takes me right back to the 90s 🎶
D
Derek P.
$1.2 billion?! That's insane. Proof that audiences love authentic buddy cop chemistry. Hope we get at least one more sequel while they're still having fun with it.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Will Smith Martin Lawrence Bad Boys Hollywood Action Movies Movie Anniversary Michael Bay
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