A swan song is a metaphorical term for a final performance, act, or utterance, often one that is particularly memorable or impressive. It’s supposedly derived from an ancient belief that swans, normally silent, sing a beautiful song just before they die.

In modern usage, a swan song can refer to a final performance, a farewell speech, or a significant achievement.

The fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise, titled Bad Boys: Ride or Die, was released in the United States on June 7, 2024.

Challenges for the film — a lot of groups aren’t laughing

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, and starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, this intended action-comedy comes out during a very different time than when the first installment debuted decades (nearly 30 years) ago.

It’s not just that everyone (including the audience of the original film) was younger; the cultural landscape of 2024 presents a stark contrast to that of the 1990s.

The film’s debut coincides with a period of heightened social awareness and activism. In addition, Martin Lawrence’s career has been marred by a string of controversies including being banned by Saturday Night Live (“SNL”) for misogyny. And sued by a television co-star for sexual harassment.

Will Smith’s wholesome golden boy glory status got a little banged up in 2022 when he lost his temper at Chris Rock.

Furthermore, the U.S. Police is not perceived as representing heroes anymore, quite the opposite.

Piling on: Several cast members are highly controversial in the current general public discourse.

And then there’s the R-rating: An R-rating is a movie classification assigned by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) that indicates a film contains content that is “suitable only for adult audiences”. Teenagers under 17 are not allowed to watch an R-rated movie in theaters unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian over 21. R-rated films may include strong language, or graphic violence, or nudity — or all of the above. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their children.

Moreover, the earlier Bad Boys films were criticized for their stereotypical portrayals of Black characters.

Much more can be said. In summary, a lot of people are not laughing and are not impressed.

Nevertheless, there’s something about the Bad Boys franchise that keeps it going strong at the box office. Some numbers claim that the franchise has grossed over $1 billion globally since its inception in 1995.

Still going strong

Principal photography for the fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise, titled “Bad Boys — Ride or Die“, officially began on April 3, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, and concluded on March 4, 2024.

The film premiered in Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena on May 22, 2024. It was later released in the United States on June 7, 2024.

Superstars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunite for one (possibly) last explosive ride, reprising their roles as Miami detectives “Mike Lowrey” and “Marcus Burnett”.

Filmmaker Michael Bay, the original director of the Bad Boys franchise, shared his thoughts on Instagram, expressing nostalgia and a deep connection to the series, and acknowledging the bittersweet nature of seeing others take over the reins from him.

Bay is known for his distinctive cinematic style characterized by “high-octane” action and humor, which has significantly influenced the franchise. While he directed the first two films in the series, he stepped back for the later installments, including 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life”.

In Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Bay makes a cameo appearance driving a Porsche, which is a nod to the franchise’s history with this iconic vehicle. This cameo continues a tradition of Bay appearing in minor roles throughout the series, including his previous role as an emcee at a wedding in Bad Boys for Life.

That installment earned $62.5 million in its domestic opening weekend and more than tripled the earnings with $204 million at the domestic box office by the end of its run. Despite the COVID pandemic lockdowns, Bad Boys for Life was the highest grossing North American release of 2020.

Yet Will Smith reportedly joked or commented that the main reason Michael Bay wasn’t directing Bad Boys — Ride or Die was that the studio couldn’t afford him.

Despite concerns, even by Sony and Columbia, about the 2024 summer box office, “Bad Boys 4” was a surprise hit, accomplishing strong domestic ticket sales and positive word of mouth reviews.

Nostalgia

In one sense, the franchise is niche. It’s R-rated, the last (recent) installment is the fourth and it’s riding on tired themes and stereotypes.

At the same time, Will Smith’s star power has a tremendous global appeal and both U.S. and international audiences love seeing him in those steretypical settings and roles.

Perhaps interestingly, some numbers present the audience in segments such as 44% “black”, and 22% “latino” among U.S. moviegoers.

All things considered, the franchise appeals to a diverse audience, including many who feel nostalgia about the 1990s.

The first “Bad Boys,” which incidentally was Michael Bay’s directorial feature debut, was released 29 years ago (1995).

It featured actress Téa Leoni in the role as “Julie Mott” and marked a significant point in her career, establishing her as a prominent face in Hollywood.

After her breakthrough with Bad Boys, contributing to the film’s comedic chemistry and action-packed narrative, she didn’t recur in the sequel — Bad Boys II (which premiered in 2003). After Bad Boys, Leoni appeared in several hit films, including Deep Impact (1998), The Family Man (2000), and Jurassic Park III (2001). She also starred in the CBS political drama series Madam Secretary from 2014 to 2019. But despite anticipation by fans ahead of each upcoming installment, Téa Leoni (“Julie Mott”) has never reunited with the “boys”.

Perhaps it’s an age thing, as is often the case surrounding women in the film industry. Téa was 29 in Bad Boys, wearing high heels and a leather miniskirt.

The expectation for women to be “young and sexy” is deeply rooted in societal norms and cultural standards that often prioritize youth and a specific type of physical appearance over other qualities. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in industries such as film, where ageism can significantly impact a woman’s career opportunities and public perception.

Or maybe Téa just isn’t nostalgic about the Bad Boys franchise.

If so, I don’t blame her.

I enjoyed Bad Boys. The concept was relatively new in 1995. Téa Leoni brings tremendous intensity and perfect delivery (including timing) to every script; which is perfect for an action-packed feature film. As for the rest: I barely remember the Bad Boys II (2003) installment, even less of Bad Boys for life (2020), and I wasn’t looking forward to Bad Boys — Ride or Die (2024). It was at the bottom of my to-do list. Once watching this fourth installment, on a cold autumn day in September 2024, I observed the nostalgia party but I didn’t feel an ounce of sentimentality.

Everything has its time and place. Bad Boys — Ride or Die felt like some form of swan song from the moment of its official announcement.