Ranked - Bad Boys Films

As we now have quite a few films in this franchise, I feel it is time to ranking the films in The Bad Boys universe from the worst to the best. So here we go, here is the list of which films in this franchise is worth a watch and which ones are to miss. 

4. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

Unfortunately, the newest film in the franchise is the one I enjoy the least. Will Smith & Martin Lawrence have great chemistry together but the writing for them isn't good and this just feels like a step too far for this franchise. The action is weirdly filmed and it doesn't quite work and I kind of hope this is the last film that we see in The Bad Boys franchise. 

3. Bad Boys 2 (2003)

After the success of the first film, Bad Boys 2 was released in 2003 and it was nowhere near the level of the original. Director Michael Bay has gained a reputation for being over exuberant with his filmmaking and this really holds this film back and make it feel too silly. Smith & Lawrence are great again but they are working with a lacklustre story and script which misses the mark. 

2. Bad Boys (1995)

The film that started it all is Bad Boys. A fun buddy cop film between two actors who have insane chemistry and know how to make this premise work. This was one of the many projects around here that launched Will Smith into super stardom and showed Martin Lawrence is a great comedic actor. But the film isn't exactly ground-breaking and it feels a bit generic but there is no denying that there is plenty of fun. 

1. Bad Boys: For Life (2020)

It is probably a bit controversial, but my favourite film in this franchise is actually the third film in the franchise Bad Boys: For Life. Lawrence and Smith are great in their roles and for me the thing that raises this film above the other is the writing. The other films are funny but this film also adds some real drama and has some emotional impact which slightly gives it the edge over the possibly more ridiculous and fun original film. 

Overall

Overall, I believe that there has never been a great Bad Boys Film. It ranges from good to pretty weak and I think this will just be remembered as a bog standard franchise that produced a few entertaining action films.