Will Smith has been slapped with reality.
His “Bad Boys Ride or Die” made $5.8 million on Thursday including dozens of Wednesday showings across the country.
Even though audience members posted a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, the referendum is unclear. If “Bad Boys Ride or Die” picks up $10 million a night this weekend, that will put it at $35 million. That’s not enough.
The figure is certainly not like those of Smith’s hit movies from halcyon days, like “Independence Day” or the other Bad Boys movies. Those days are over.
Nevertheless, Sony will push headlines saying “Ride or Die” is number 1 this weekend, because it will be. It has no competition.
Just for comparison, the last “Bad Boys” movie, in 2003, made $16.8 million on its opening day. That would be $28.6 million with inflation.
In “Ride or Die,” Smith sends up his famous Oscar slap by slapping buddy Martin Lawrence several times, and laughing. I doubt the Motion Picture Academy will enjoy the joke. Too soon? Yes.
