Bad Boys

Marcus Burnett is a steady, family-oriented Miami detective while his partner Mike Lowrey lives for fast cars, beautiful women and reckless thrills. When a shipment of heroin disappears from evidence, the two have 72 hours to recover it before reputations and lives are wrecked. The investigation turns urgent after a murder witness becomes essential, and to gain her trust they swap identities and pretend to be one another. Their opposing methods turn routine police work into chaotic set pieces full of chases, gunplay and comic friction. Their undercover ruse sparks awkward domestic encounters and manic field stunts, straining professional reputations, personal relationships and the easygoing bond that holds the partnership together in Miami.

Released in 1995, Bad Boys was directed by Michael Bay and written by Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland and Doug Richardson, introducing Bay's kinetic style to mainstream Hollywood action comedies. It stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, with Téa Leoni supporting.

It performed strongly at the box office, turning Will Smith and Martin Lawrence into bigger commercial draws and helping establish this pairing as a profitable buddy-cop formula for studios. That success encouraged sequels, cementing the studio's confidence in similar pairings.

The film's blend of brash action and offbeat humor made the Smith-Lawrence chemistry iconic for '90s audiences, influencing later buddy-cop comedies and marking an early milestone in Michael Bay's signature visual approach. Its fast editing and swagger influenced later action comedies, while boosting Smith's profile and highlighting Lawrence's comic timing.

Critics gave mixed-to-positive reviews, and audience ratings like a 6.8/10 average from over 6,700 votes reflect a fondness for its fast pacing and comic rapport, alongside common critiques about thin plotting and stylized excess. Fans often praise its stunt work and buddy dynamic. Themes include loyalty, identity and playful masculinity.