Will Smith nostalgic as 'Bad Boys' turns 30

The action-comedy film Bad Boys, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as two Miami detectives, has officially turned 30. The first movie in the hit franchise was released in 1995 and helped launch both actors into global stardom.

To mark the milestone, 56-year-old Will Smith shared a nostalgic post on Instagram with Martin Lawrence. The post featured behind-the-scenes photos from the set, including moments with director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and co-stars like Tea Leoni, Joe Pantoliano, and Theresa Randle. The caption read, 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 through the years.

The franchise began in 1995 and expanded with Bad Boys II (2003), Bad Boys for Life (2020), and Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024). According to Collider, the series has earned over $1.2 billion globally.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of the latest film, said working with Smith and Lawrence was always enjoyable. They’re fun, creative, and easy to work with. It’s a long process, but always worth it, he said.

Smith also recalled his early experience with the project, sharing that he was ready to join even before reading a script, trusting Lawrence’s instincts completely.