The latest “Bad Boys” movie, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” starring Hollywood stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, is a big hit in Nigerian cinemas, earning an impressive N334 million.
This makes it the most-watched movie in Nigeria for the past week and keeps it at the top of the box office for three weeks straight.
According to Nigerian box office data, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” premiered on June 7, 2024, and has been the highest-grossing Hollywood movie in Nigeria, as reported by Film One Entertainment. In its first 11 days, the action-comedy made N167 million.
The movie’s opening weekend (June 7-9, 2024) it brought in N68.94 million, making it the most-watched film in Nigerian cinemas during that time. By the end of its first week, it had earned over N104 million in just six days.
Directed by Adil & Bilall and written by Chris Bremner and Will Beall, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is the fourth movie in the popular buddy cop series.
The film follows Miami detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence). The cast includes returning actors Joe Pantoliano, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Jacob Scipio, John Salley, and DJ Khaled. Newcomer Tasha Smith joins as Theresa Burnett, replacing Theresa Randle.
The plot centres on detectives Lowrey and Burnett trying to clear the name of their late Captain Conrad Howard, who is falsely accused of conspiracy.
The mix of action and comedy, along with the great chemistry between Smith and Lawrence, has once again entertained audiences.
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” premiered at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on May 22, 2024, before its U.S. release on June 7, 2024.
Despite getting mixed reviews from critics, the film has been a commercial success, making over $120 million worldwide against a production budget of $100 million.
The movie’s success is due to its combination of action, humour, and Smith and Lawrence’s star power. It delivers the expected thrills of an action film while also providing funny moments that fans of the series love.
Other top films in Nigerian cinemas include the horror movie “A Quiet Place: Day One,” which earned about N40.5 million in its opening weekend.
Nollywood’s film “Lakatabu” made N29.4 million last weekend, a 39% drop, bringing its total to N105.1 million.
The animation “Despicable Me 4” also debuted with earnings of N12 million, showing a diverse range of movies appealing to different audiences.