Screentime
Will Smith Tests Public’s Memory With New ‘Bad Boys’ Film
- Actor’s first major theatrical debut since 2022 Oscars fiasco
- Sony raises its three-day ticket sales forecast to $53 million
More than two years after Will Smith shocked movie fans by slapping Oscars host Chris Rock on national television, the actor returned to movie theaters in a big way with Bad Boys: Ride or Die this weekend.
Ride or Die is the first real test of Smith’s commercial appeal since he blew up at the 2022 Oscars ceremony and damaged his marketability as a major star. The film is expected to open at No. 1 in domestic theaters. But a wide range of box office forecasts suggests Hollywood insiders aren’t sure how the moviegoing public will react to Smith’s return.