Ranking the Bad Boys Films: From Explosive Action to Buddy Cop Brilliance

With Bad Boys: Ride Or Die being released in theaters, I wanted to share my thoughts and ranking on the four Bad Boys films. The Bad Boys franchise is one of the better buddy cop franchises that I have seen. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are a lot of fun together. I've found this franchise to be very consistent over the years with no bad entries but also not having any standout amazing entries either. The Bad Boys franchise was also the franchise that knocked Will Smith into A-list status. Of course, he was in Fresh Prince of Bel Air, but this movie sent him to the next level where he followed up the original film with Independence Day and Men in Black. With that being said, here are my thoughts and ranking of the four Bad Boys films.

While I had to place one over the other, Bad Boys and Bad Boys 2 are essentially tied here. It really depends on the day when I watch them. In my Michael Bay ranking I had Bad Boys higher, here I have Bad Boys 2 higher, but I basically don't like one over the other.

4. Bad Boys

While it is at the bottom of the list, I still give Bad Boys a very positive rating. This movie starts with the beginning of a great buddy cop franchise. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have great chemistry together with their constant bickering is absolutely hilarious to watch. I also liked the different action sequences in the movie. One thing Director Michael Bay knows how to do is shoot an action sequence. This movie also does a great job of balancing the humor with the action. I wouldn't consider this movie a full-on comedy but it does have its share of funny moments that make you laugh out loud. I quite like the basic premise of the plot where Mike (Will Smith) and Marcus (Martin Lawrence) essentially have to switch lives to keep a witness. It makes for some funny moments where they try to live like the other. We got quite a bit of Marcus at Mike's place, but I wish we would have gotten to see more of Mike trying to take care of Marcus's kids. The biggest issue I had with the film was that I wasn't a big fan of the whole marital conflict. I felt it was a bit stupid with Marcus being able to easily explain where he goes instead of hiding it from his wife. I also found the villain to be a bit bland as he is just another generic drug boss. Overall, while it does have a few hiccups, I still think it is a good film.

Grade: B Score: 7.5/10

3. Bad Boys 2

Bad Boys 2 takes everything that works about the original and makes it bigger and boomier. The action sequences are bigger and more exciting with considerably more explosions than the previous film. You can definitely tell that the budget for this film went up significantly ($19 million compared to $130 million). This movie also gives the fun addition of Gabriella Union as Marcus's sister and Mike's love interest and also adds some fun banter between Mike and Marcus and another cop duo. The action sequences in this movie are so great with multiple car chases, shootouts, and explosions. I think the opening car chase in this movie was one of the better sequences in the franchise. This movie also allows Mike and Marcus to do a bit more detective work which I think really adds to the movie. What keeps this film down for me is that it does get a bit silly at times in terms of how over-the-top the action is. I also felt that the movie was a bit too long. The big climax action sequences feel a bit tacked on and could have been incorporated a bit better. Also, just like the first film, the villain is just another generic drug boss. In the end, this movie is a lot of fun and while it isn't high-quality cinema, it still makes for a good time.

Grade: B Score:7.5/10

2. Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the newest film in the franchise and continues the highs of Bad Boys for Life. Just like with Bad Boys for Life, this movie has a much more personal conflict where the villain is connected to someone in Mike and Marcus's life. This movie also makes a lot of unique style choices with the action. The action sequences are all very exciting and great but the shooting style just adds an extra level and makes you feel more engaged in what is happening. This movie also does a great job of giving every character some moment to shine. There is a scene in the middle of the film where the least expected character gets this super cool action sequence and is easily the best part of the movie. I also liked how the movie connected to the rest of the films in the franchise, especially the third film. Finally, I like how the movie has both Mike and Marcus go throw a life-changing event and has them have to cope with that during their mission. This film is very close to being number one but just had a few things holding it back. The biggest issue is that the film tries to be too goofy at times. It makes Marcus a bit too goofy of a character and also treats the issues that Mike and Marcus are going through as a bit of a joke. Beyond that, this is a very good film. Overall, this is a solid addition to the franchise and is proof that the franchise is on a hot streak.

Grade: B+ Score: 8/10

Click Here to read my full review of this movie.

1. Bad Boys for Life

Bad Boys for Life is easily the most personal and best of the franchise. The other movies shined with their big action sequences and fun banter while this movie takes this a step further and opts for a more personal conflict that connects to Mike and his past. This movie manages to take the typical buddy cop movie and merge it with a compelling revenge story. The movie also does a great job of showing both Mike and Marcus in a new phase of life as the movie came out 20 years after Bad Boys 2. Marcus is wanting to slow down and enjoy life as a grandparent while Mike is in denial that he is getting older and the way cops do things is changing. I also liked how this movie brings in new younger characters to complement the older characters. It effectively does what Expendables 3 failed to do back in 2014 which was introduce a younger batch of characters while not sidelining the iconic older character. One of the standout new characters was Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical fame as Kelly. It was just cool to see her be able to break away from the Disney label and do something different and do it well. The movie also manages to age with the times while not jeopardizing quality. This movie still manages to capture the magic of the franchise today even though many moments of the original films would not fly today. The villains in this movie are also the best in the franchise as they have a deep connection with Mike and have an actual motivation for what they are doing instead of just being a generic drug dealer that likes to make money. Overall, this is a great continuation of the Bad Boys franchise and managed to perfectly pick up where the last film left off 20 years ago.

Grade: B+ Score: 8/10