Will Smith Celebrates 30 Years Of Bad Boys With Epic Throwback Post
Will Smith is feeling all the nostalgia as he celebrates 30 years of Bad Boys — and he’s taking fans right down memory lane with him.
On April 7, the 56-year-old Men in Black star teamed up with his longtime friend and Bad Boys co-star Martin Lawrence for a joint Instagram post that had fans buzzing. “30 years ago @jerrybruckheimer, Don Simpson and @michaelbay took a chance on us and Bad Boys was born!! Grateful for all the love y’all have shown us thru the years 👊🏾,” Will wrote in the caption.
He didn’t stop at words. Will treated fans to a goldmine of behind-the-scenes photos from the very first film — all the way back in 1995. Smiling next to Martin, now 59, in snapshots from the set, Will also included throwback pics with director Michael Bay and legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Familiar faces like Joe Pantoliano, Téa Leoni, Theresa Randle, and Michael Imperioli also popped up in the photo carousel — a real love letter to the OG crew.
For fans who’ve been riding with Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett since day one, it’s been quite the journey. From the explosive debut in 1995 to Bad Boys II in 2003, then Bad Boys for Life in 2020, and most recently Bad Boys: Ride or Die in 2024, the franchise has raked in over $1.2 billion at the box office. And it all started with a bit of luck, faith, and a dream.
Will reflected on that wild beginning in a post last year, sharing how the whole thing kicked off. He was 25, Martin was 29, and the opportunity came knocking thanks to Martin’s sister, who pushed her brother to bring Will into the project. But there was a catch: no script.
“I was hooked. ‘Let’s go! When can I read the script?’” Will wrote. To which Martin famously replied, “‘Nawww – you can’t big Willie. The script’s not there yet. You just gotta trust me and commit.’” Will’s answer? “‘You know what? F%## it. I’m in.”
The rest is a history that has been filled with fast cars, fiery shootouts, iconic one-liners, and — most importantly — the unbeatable chemistry between two best friends playing Miami detectives. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer summed it up at the Ride or Die premiere last June. According to him, there was never a dull moment with the actors on set. “
They’re creative and fun… we just have a blast going through the process, and it’s a long process to get these made,” he stated.
