Will Smith snuck into a Los Angeles movie theater Friday night to watch his new movie, Bad Boys: Ride or Diealongside a paying audience.
The actor documented his evening on social media.
“We’re in Baldwin Hills. We’re about to go to the theater,” Smith says in the video of his theater visit. “It’s a ritual I have when I release a film. Friday, Saturday, generally Sunday matinee, I like to go to the theater.
Smith is then shown wearing a mask while watching his film with fans.
After the film ended, Smith revealed to shocked moviegoers that he had watched the film with them. A growing crowd seemed excited to see Smith and take photos and videos. One fan gave the film a “10 out of 10” and Smith thanked him.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the fourth film of the hit Bad Boys franchise and is seen as a possible return vehicle for star Will Smith, who appears alongside fellow franchise star Martin Lawrence. Bad Boys 4 is the first major theatrical film Smith has appeared in since he memorably slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars, which sparked widespread backlash against the superstar and led to a 10-year ban for the actor at Film Academy events. Smith has repeatedly apologized for what happened, but has remained relatively quiet since the slap, until he began promoting Bad Boys 4 sincerely. The film even features a slapping moment reminiscent of Smith and Rock’s onstage altercation.
The film is off to a strong start at the domestic box office and is expected to gross $53 million for the weekend, according to Saturday estimates. Bad Boys: Ride or Die racked up $21.6 million Friday, including $5.9 million in Thursday night previews. The success of Bad Boys: Ride or Diewhich received generally positive reviews and an A-CinemaScore, should be good news after a rough start to the summer box office in May.
Smith’s agents at CAA called studio production executives in recent weeks for the first time since the slap to explore possible projects, hoping to quickly announce the actor’s next film, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Ride or die finds Smith and Lawrence’s Miami cops, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, on the run after their late police captain was linked to drug cartels, and they attempt to clear his name. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (presented as Adil & Bilall) directed Bad Boys: Ride or Die based on a screenplay written by Chris Bremner and Will Beall.
Ride or die predecessor Bad boys for lifealso directed by Adil & Bilall, revived the franchise when it opened in January 2020, earning $426 million at the worldwide box office before movie theaters closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
