Will Smith's 96% Crowd-Pleaser Is the Streaming Sleeper Nobody Expected

Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth installment in the hit buddy cop action comedy series, is blowing up streaming charts on Netflix.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Will Smith's latest film, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, has become a surprise streaming hit on Netflix. The action comedy, which is the fourth installment in the popular Bad Boys franchise, has earned a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been climbing the top 10 charts in multiple countries on the streaming platform.

Why it matters

Will Smith's career has faced some challenges in recent years, including the infamous Oscars incident. However, the strong performance of Bad Boys: Ride or Die on Netflix demonstrates that Smith's star power remains intact, and that audiences are still eager to see him in crowd-pleasing action roles.

The details

Bad Boys: Ride or Die follows Miami cops Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as they embark on their most dangerous mission yet when their late police captain is framed for a crime. The film was a box office success, grossing over $400 million against a $100 million budget, and has now found a new life on Netflix where it has been climbing the top 10 charts in multiple countries.

  • Bad Boys: Ride or Die was released in theaters in 2024.
  • The film has been streaming exclusively on Netflix in the US since its theatrical premiere.
  • The film has also been streaming on Netflix in various countries around the world, where it has been a top 10 performer.

The players

Will Smith

A renowned Hollywood actor who has starred in numerous hit films, including the Bad Boys franchise, I Am Legend, and King Richard, for which he won his first Oscar.

Martin Lawrence

Will Smith's co-star in the Bad Boys franchise, playing the role of Miami cop Marcus Burnett.

Michael Bay

The original director of the Bad Boys films, who was set to reunite with Will Smith for a new action comedy project at Netflix called Fast and Loose, but ultimately backed out due to creative differences.

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What’s next

Will Smith has several exciting projects in the works, including a sequel to I Am Legend that will co-star Michael B. Jordan. However, no specific release dates have been announced yet for these upcoming films.

The takeaway

Despite some recent challenges, Will Smith's star power remains strong, as evidenced by the surprise streaming success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die on Netflix. The film's strong audience reception and global performance suggest that Smith's fans are still eager to see him in crowd-pleasing action roles.