Yes, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die is worth watching if you’re invested in the franchise and prioritize action sequences and character chemistry over plot complexity. The film releases on June 7, 2024, and delivers exactly what the Bad Boys brand promises: explosive action, comedic banter between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, and memorable set pieces. However, the critical reception tells an important story about this sequel. With a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of just 64%, professional reviewers flagged significant narrative weaknesses, particularly a by-the-numbers criminal conspiracy plot that fails to justify the film’s 115-minute runtime.
Meanwhile, audiences awarded the film a 97% score—the franchise’s highest audience rating and a rarity in modern blockbuster cinema—revealing a substantial gap between what critics expect and what dedicated fans actually want. This disconnect is worth understanding before committing your time and money. The film’s $405 million worldwide box office ($193.6 million domestic, $210.6 million international) and strong $107.4 million opening weekend prove commercial success, but box office numbers don’t necessarily indicate critical quality. The real question isn’t whether the film made money or whether audiences enjoyed it—it clearly did both—but whether the reasons audiences loved it align with what you personally value in a movie.
Table of Contents
- What Critics Say About Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
- How Audiences Rated the Sequel Differently
- The Action and Chemistry That Carries the Film
- Where the Plot Falls Short
- Box Office Success vs Critical Reception
- Runtime and Pacing Considerations
- Who Should Watch Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
What Critics Say About Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
Critics acknowledged the film’s strengths while highlighting fundamental structural problems. Reviewers specifically praised the electric chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, noting that their comedic timing and natural rapport carry scenes that would otherwise feel routine. The action sequences, particularly a standout helicopter sequence and a chaotic gator farm shootout, received consistent acclaim for their choreography and visual clarity. Professional critics recognized that bad Boys: Ride Or Die succeeds as a showcase for spectacle and character dynamics.
However, the 64% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score reflects unanimous frustration with the plot itself. Critics described the criminal conspiracy narrative as formulaic and underdeveloped, lacking the stakes or complexity that would elevate it above basic action-movie scaffolding. The villain and central conflict don’t evolve throughout the film—they exist primarily as justification for the next action set piece. Compared to competing summer blockbusters, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die offers less narrative texture and character development, which matters significantly if you attend films expecting story sophistication alongside spectacle.
How Audiences Rated the Sequel Differently
The 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes represents the highest approval rating in the entire Bad Boys franchise, surpassing even the well-received Bad Boys for Life, which earned a 96% audience score. This 33-percentage-point gap between critics and audiences is unusual in modern cinema and reveals something specific about the film’s appeal: audiences came to see familiar characters execute impressive action sequences, and the film delivered exactly that. The gap suggests that critics and viewers evaluate action blockbusters using fundamentally different criteria.
This audience enthusiasm matters because it indicates the film succeeds at its intended purpose for its target demographic. If you’re someone who values continuity with previous Bad Boys films and enjoys watching talented actors perform in well-choreographed action sequences, you’re statistically very likely to have a positive experience. The 7.0/10 IMDb rating, which lands between the critics’ and audiences’ assessments, suggests a middle ground: the film is competent, entertaining, and franchise-appropriate without being exceptional.
The Action and Chemistry That Carries the Film
The film’s action sequences represent its clearest achievement. The helicopter sequence and the gator farm shootout are specifically noted across reviews as technically proficient, spatially coherent, and visually engaging. These aren’t generic action moments—they’re designed to showcase the stars’ presence and create memorable visual memories. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the directing team, demonstrate technical competence in how they stage and shoot these sequences, with clear camera work that lets you actually see what’s happening (a rarity in modern action cinema).
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s chemistry is the film’s most valuable asset. Their comedic timing feels genuine, their insults and banter feel earned by years of playing these characters, and they maintain likability even when their characters make questionable decisions. This chemistry alone explains the audience score differential. Viewers don’t forgive weak plotting because of good chemistry; they simply enjoy the experience of watching likable actors work together, and they grade the film accordingly. If you find these two actors insufferable or if their style of humor doesn’t connect with you, no amount of action spectacle will make the film worthwhile.
Where the Plot Falls Short
The criminal conspiracy plot functions primarily as scene connective tissue. Reviewers specifically noted the lack of meaningful narrative development—the criminal threat remains static, the stakes don’t escalate, and character arcs feel obligatory rather than earned. In comparison, films like Mission: Impossible or recent Spider-Man sequels integrate complex, evolving plots into their action sequences. Bad Boys: Ride Or Die treats plot as an obstacle to overcome between action scenes rather than as an integrated narrative experience.
The plot’s weakness becomes apparent within the first 45 minutes. Once you understand the basic conflict—cops versus criminals, with complications for the protagonists—the narrative stops surprising you. The remaining 70 minutes exist to show you how this inevitable conflict resolves, without meaningful plot twists or character revelations. This matters most if you’re the type of viewer who attends blockbusters expecting layered storytelling or unexpected character development. If you watch action films primarily for action, this limitation barely registers.
Box Office Success vs Critical Reception
The film’s commercial performance ($405 million worldwide) contradicts its mixed critical reception, which requires explanation. The franchise carries significant audience goodwill—Bad Boys for Life (2020) performed well financially, ensuring that Bad Boys: Ride Or Die entered theaters with built-in interest. The $107.4 million opening weekend (split roughly evenly between domestic and international markets) indicates strong franchise loyalty and suggests audiences made their viewing decision based on franchise recognition rather than critical reviews. International markets particularly supported the film, accounting for $210.6 million of its worldwide total.
However, strong box office performance doesn’t validate critical concerns. Many commercially successful films receive poor reviews, and the reverse is also true. The financial success of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die proves that audiences exist for this type of film and that the franchise name carries enough weight to guarantee an opening weekend. It doesn’t prove that critics were wrong about the plot’s weakness or that the film deserves different evaluation standards.
Runtime and Pacing Considerations
At 115 minutes, the film runs long enough to accommodate both substantial action sequences and character moments. However, this runtime reveals a fundamental choice the filmmakers made: allocate screen time to set pieces and banter rather than plot development. With better plotting, this same runtime could accommodate both substantial action and meaningful narrative stakes.
Instead, the extended length primarily benefits the action sequences, which are given room to breathe visually, while plot mechanics feel rushed. The pacing reflects what audiences confirmed they wanted: less time on exposition and villain motivation, more time on action and character interaction. If you’re watching this film as a Bad Boys fan, the runtime feels appropriate for the amount of action and comedy. If you’re hoping the extended length accommodates character arcs or plot complexity, you’ll find the time allocated differently than you expected.
Who Should Watch Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
Watch this film if you’re a Bad Boys franchise fan who values consistency and character continuity. The returning stars, familiar setting, and ongoing relationship dynamics will deliver what you seek. Watch it if you appreciate well-choreographed action sequences and enjoy watching skilled performers execute complex stunts and fight choreography. Watch it if your movie-going priority centers on visual spectacle and character chemistry rather than plot sophistication.
Skip this film if you require original, complex plotting to justify your theatrical ticket purchase. Skip it if you find either Will Smith or Martin Lawrence’s comedic styles grating or dated. Skip it if your recent blockbuster diet has included films with stronger narratives, because the comparison will likely make Bad Boys: Ride Or Die feel narratively slight. The June 7, 2024 release date means theaters will offer this alongside other options—a film like deadpool & Wolverine (arriving later in the summer) offers comparable action but with sharper satirical edge, presenting a genuine choice between films in the same category.
- —
