Will Smith and Martin Lawrence shine as individual megastars, but when they join forces, their on-screen dynamic is second to none. Looking back, 1995 was the year Smith and Lawrence, the big shots in cinema, joined forces. Their collaboration turned out to be a game-changer and set the stage for an unparalleled journey through three successive blockbuster hits. After Bad Boys II, Smith and Lawrence took a seventeen-year breather before reuniting for the blockbuster Bad Boys for Life. 

Recently, the third Bad Boys movie hit its fourth anniversary, and Will Smith celebrated it by sharing an exciting video on his Instagram handle. 

Will Smith shared a behind-the-scenes video from Bad Boys for Life

Westbrook, the American multimedia and entertainment venture company, posted a video featuring Will Smith during the ADR session for Bad Boys For Life. In the caption, the studio highlighted that the movie currently holds the highest box office gross in the Bad Boys franchise. To cap it off, they wished “Happy 4th to Bad Boys For Life!” Will Smith later shared this post on his Instagram story, celebrating the film’s fourth anniversary.

Critics gave thumbs up to Bad Boys for Life, and it pulled in an impressive $426.5 million globally, claiming the third spot among the highest-grossing January releases. The excitement does not end there. A sequel is also in the works, scheduled for release on June 14, 2024. After years of slow progress and sparse updates, fans will not have to wait too long this time around. However, the film might bring some challenges for Will Smith’s career. 

With a string of box office hits and an Oscar under his belt, Will Smith has the chance to extend his winning streak with the upcoming movie. Yet, the timing of Bad Boys 4 places a significant challenge on his rapport with audiences, and here is why.

Why Bad Boys 4 could be bad news for Smith?

The news of Bad Boys 4 in the works arrived almost a year post Will Smith’s Oscars slap incident. The actor stirred intense controversy by slapping Chris Rock during the ceremony, putting his once-cherished reputation in jeopardy. Despite this, Sony is pushing ahead with Bad Boys 4. The studio is banking on the belief that his genuine apology has cleared the way for his involvement in the sequel.

Bad Boys 4‘s reception and box office performance will serve as a litmus test for how audiences view Will Smith’s Oscars slap. If the sequel surpasses Bad Boys for Life, it will send a message to Hollywood that audiences are still keen on seeing Smith. But, if Bad Boys 4 faces a financial or critical bump in the road, it might imply that the memory of Smith’s Oscars slap still hangs in the air, possibly keeping people away from his films.

What do you think about Will Smith’s run in the Bad Boys franchise? Let us know your thoughts in the comment below!