‘It’s a ritual I have’: Will Smith springs a surprise on moviegoers by attending ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ screening at Los Angeles theater
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a delightful surprise for fans, Will Smith sneaked into a Los Angeles movie theater on Friday night, June 7, to watch his latest film, 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die', alongside the audience, as reported by TMZ.
The actor documented the experience on social media, sharing the excitement of the evening.
Will Smith surprises moviegoers at ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ Los Angeles screening
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Smith shared a video clip from his night out, starting with him arriving at the Baldwin Hills theater.
“We’re in Baldwin Hills. We’re about to go in the theater,” he said in the video. “It’s a ritual I have, when I have a movie come out. On Friday, Saturday, usually a matinee on Sunday, I like going to the theaters.”
Throughout the screening, Smith remained incognito, sporting a mask as he watched the film with fans.
After the movie ended, he revealed his presence, much to the surprise and delight of the moviegoers. The crowd quickly gathered around, taking photos and capturing videos of the unexpected encounter. One enthusiastic fan even rated the movie a “10 out of 10,” to which Smith gratefully responded.
'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' marks the fourth instalment in the successful 'Bad Boys' franchise and is being viewed as a significant comeback for Will Smith.
This film is Smith's first major theatrical release since the infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars where he slapped Chris Rock onstage, leading to widespread controversy and a 10-year ban from Film Academy events.
Smith has since issued multiple apologies and kept a relatively low profile until the promotion of 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die'.
The film is off to an impressive start at the domestic box office, with early estimates suggesting a weekend earning of $53 million. On its opening Friday, the film garnered $21.6 million, including $5.9 million from Thursday night previews. The positive reception, reflected in an A- CinemaScore and generally favorable reviews, is a promising sign for the summer box office.
In 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die', Smith and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The story follows the duo as they go on the run to clear their late police captain's name, who has been linked to drug cartels.
The film is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, commonly known as Adil & Bilall, from a script written by Chris Bremner and Will Beall.
With the success of 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die', Smith’s agents at CAA have been actively reaching out to studio executives to discuss potential new projects. This marks the first such initiative since the Oscars incident, signaling a hopeful resurgence in Smith’s career.
Will Smith's unexpected visit during 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' screening thrills fans
Will Smith’s surprise visit to the Los Angeles screening of 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' certainly left a lasting impression on fans, who took to social media to express their excitement and admiration for the actor.
One user gushed, "This man is unreal and so down to earth, how not to love him?" reflecting on Smith's approachable demeanor and genuine connection with his audience.
Another echoed similar sentiments, declaring, "Will, will never NOT be one of my favorite humans," highlighting Smith's enduring popularity.
The joy of Smith's impromptu appearance resonated deeply with fans, with one user exclaiming, "I’m up here smiling like I was in the doggone movie theater with y’all! This is so sweet that you do this Will. This had to have made their day."
Others reminisced about previous instances of Smith surprising moviegoers with one saying, "I remember you doing this with The Karate Kid! That's so cool man!!!"
Another fan remarked, "You never know who might show up at the movie theater these days."
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