Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back, baby! Four years after Bad Boys for Life, the two stars reprise their roles as narcotics detectives Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, this time trying to clear the name of the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) following false allegations concocted by a former Army Ranger turned DEA officer (Eric Dane). It’s a fun bit of escapism, but where does Bad Boys for Life rank among the other films in the series? Read on to see the Bad Boys movies ranked worst to best.
4) Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Bad Boys for Life attempts to reformat the long-running franchise into something more akin to Fast and Furious and mostly succeeds. Mike and Marcus still make a great duo, but their schtick feels out of place in a film that prioritizes character over explosive action. These guys were never designed as flesh and blood characters, and so it’s a little bizarre to see Mike suddenly engaging in heart-to-heart conversations with Captain Howard or dealing with a vengeful long-lost son (Jab Scipio). Bad Boys and Bad Boys II never worried about consequences; they functioned as live-action cartoons and existed in a realm far beyond reality.
Here, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah lean heavily on character drama, probably out of necessity, given the two stars’ advancing ages. The result is far more generic but oddly compelling.
The third chapter finds Mike and Marcus dealing with the challenges of old age. When Captain Howard gets assassinated by Mike’s son, Mike and Marcus must team up with Advanced Miami Metro Operations (AMMO), which consists of Mike’s ex-girlfriend Rita (Paola Núñez), weapons expert Kelly (Vanessa Hudgens), tech expert Dorn (Alexander Ludwig), and a guy named Rafe (Charles Melton), to stop the people responsible.
Bad Boys for Life is an easy-going ride with just the right amount of stakes and suspense to keep it engaging. Still, there’s nothing truly remarkable about it. When I rewatched it before Ride or Die, I was surprised at how little my brain retained from the movie. Life may provide a sharper approach to the material, but the final product is decidedly less ostentatious than previous efforts., which is why it’s at the bottom of our list of the best Bad Boys movies.
3) Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
The latest chapter in the Bad Boys saga doubles down on the character beats established in the previous entry and again delivers solid, if unremarkable, entertainment. Here, our boys must absolve the late Captain Howard of false accusations created by Eric Dane’s mysterious villain while evading authorities for a crime they didn’t commit.
Cookie cutter but still adequate. Surprises are few and far between. Many will spot the “secret” villain the moment they appear.
Ride or Die doesn’t hide its desire to mimic the Fast and Furious saga. It introduces a bevy of new players, likely hoping to craft a Bad Boys universe, and takes care to lay the groundwork for future adventures. However, like Bad Boys for Life, Ride or Die never generates the excitement of previous offerings. The action is serviceable, and the comedy beats occasionally induce a chuckle. The fourth chapter is entertaining and worth a watch, but, like its predecessor, it is instantly forgettable.
I’m still baffled at the decision to turn Captain Howard into a caring mentor.
Arbi and Fallah do their best to channel Michael Bay (who enjoys a brief cameo) but never come close to capturing the action maestro’s outlandish vision or trashy sensibilities. Ride or Die sometimes feels like the Netflix version of Bad Boys, a breezy, made-for-TV action comedy that barely scratches the blockbuster itch.
Kim from Better Call Saul appears as Captain Howard’s angry wife, seeking to kill Armando for murdering her husband. If you’re shocked when Armando saves her daughter and makes amends for his past transgressions, then Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the movie for you.
2) Bad Boys (1995)
Michael Bay’s original Bad Boys is a silly cop drama. The plot is ridiculous and takes far too long to kick into gear, Smith and Lawrence are playing variations on the same character, and the complete lack of intensity periodically causes the picture to drag.
And yet, I adore it. Bay squeezes his $18M budget for everything it’s worth and delivers a stylized action comedy that exceeds other 90s genre offerings. Don’t misunderstand; Bad Boys is a far cry from the likes of Lethal Weapon or Midnight Run, but it works as an exhilarating piece of popcorn cinema with enough gags, shootouts, beautiful women, chases, and explosions to hold your attention.
Lifelong pals Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must track down a drug kingpin who recently made off with $100M worth of Mafia heroin. Aiding their quest is Julie Mott (Téa Leoni), the friend of a murdered informant who died while gathering intel for Mike. Here’s the twist: Julie thinks Marcus is Mike, and the pair must switch lives at the behest of the always-disgruntled Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) for, uh, reasons, at least until the case is solved.
Don’t think about it too hard. Sit back and enjoy Smith and Lawrence’s remarkable chemistry, Mark Mancina’s electrifying score, and Bay’s incredible knack for staging large-scale set pieces. Everything else is just filler.
1) Bad Boys II (2003)
I love Bad Boys II. It’s big, dumb, trashy, fun, and knows it. Bay, only a few years removed from his WWII dud Pearl Harbor, basically says “F*** it” and completely lets loose, transforming what could have been a routine buddy-cop comedy into something akin to trash art.
Imagine a cocaine-induced episode of Miami Vice. Then, triple your expectations.
Bay goes full Bayhem with this one and reintroduces us to Mike and Marcus as they investigate a drug lord named Hector Juan Carlos “Johnny” Tapia. On the homefront, Mike is still Mike, but Marcus has developed a case of the willies and suddenly yearns for a partner who isn’t so cavalier with their lives. Making matters worse is a subplot involving Mike’s secret relationship with Marcus’ sister, Syd (a drop-dead gorgeous Gabrielle Union).
Hilariously bloated and gloriously over-the-top, this 148-minute feast for the eyes delivers everything one could ask of a summer blockbuster: explosions, insane shootouts, wild car chases, goofy comedy, and more. The extended freeway chase alone is worth the price of admission, while a thrilling third act set in Cuba remains peak Bayhem, which is why it is number one in our list of Bad Boys movies ranked.
Bad Boys II isn’t for everyone. Those unable to stomach Bay’s twisted sense of humor, grotesque action, and complete disregard for civility and decorum are better off skipping this chapter altogether. In that case, Bad Boys for Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die were made for you.
