10 Movies That Escaped The Dump Month Curse

A return to the Bad Boys franchise looked like Hollywood running out of ideas. There were numerous concerns such as the 17-year gap between sequels, Will Smith's decline in star power, and even the lack of Michael Bay. These reasons are why no one was surprised to find out when Sony Pictures exiled the movie for a January 17, 2020 release.

But Bad Boys For Life would defy all odds by keeping things that worked with previous instalments while addressing some of the criticisms. For example, while Michael Bay's style is distinct, his sequences could be frantic and confusing so directing duo Adil & Bilall took steps to make the action clear and legible.

Another sour point was how the protagonists could act mean-spirited and unlikeable. The film addresses this by toning down the crass humor while focusing on character development such as Mike Lowrey coming to terms with his past.

It's no wonder, then, that Bad Boys For Life is the highest-rated and highest-grossing entry in the trilogy, receiving positive reviews from critics and grossing $424.6 million worldwide. Its January release date would also prove to be a blessing in disguise as it would be one of the last films released before the global pandemic.