The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›Bad Boys (film series)
Entertainment • Film

Bad Boys (film series)

Bad Boys is an American action-comedy film series centred on Miami police detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, played by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Bad Boys is an American action-comedy film series centred on Miami police detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, played by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Created by George Gallo, the franchise began in 1995 and has expanded to four feature films, with the latest released in 2024.

Premise

The films focus on two Miami detectives whose partnership is built around action, humour, and mismatched personalities. Their cases typically involve drug trafficking, police investigations, and personal conflicts.

Production and creators

The franchise was created by George Gallo. The first two entries were directed by Michael Bay, while the third and fourth were directed by Adil & Bilall.

Film releases

The series began with Bad Boys in 1995, followed by Bad Boys II in 2003, Bad Boys for Life in 2020, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die in 2024.

Cast and recurring characters

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence portray the central duo throughout the series. Joe Pantoliano appears in all four films, and Theresa Randle appears in the first three before being replaced by Tasha Smith in the fourth.

Key facts

  • The series follows Miami Police Department detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett.
  • Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have starred in all four feature films.
  • Michael Bay directed the first two films; Adil & Bilall directed the third and fourth.
  • Joe Pantoliano appears in all four films.
  • The franchise has grossed over US$1 billion worldwide.
🍁
Canadian context

The franchise has been widely released and viewed in Canada as part of mainstream Hollywood film distribution, and Québec sources commonly refer to it as 'Mauvais garçons'.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the Bad Boys film series?
The series was created by George Gallo.
How many Bad Boys films are there?
There are four feature films in the series.
Who plays the main characters?
Will Smith plays Mike Lowrey and Martin Lawrence plays Marcus Burnett.
Who directed the Bad Boys films?
Michael Bay directed the first two films, and Adil & Bilall directed the third and fourth.
What genre is Bad Boys?
It is generally classified as an action-comedy and buddy-cop film series.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Boys_(franchise)
    Supports: Created by George Gallo; series overview; principal cast; directors; box office total; number of films.
  2. The Movie Database — https://www.themoviedb.org/collection/14890-bad-boys-collection?language=en-US
    Supports: Series premise and the plots of the films in the collection.
  3. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Boys_(1995_film)
    Supports: First film release date; director; cast; commercial performance; sequel list.
  4. Financial Times — https://www.ft.com/content/
    Supports: General box office reporting for major Hollywood franchises.