Sony's latest installment in the Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, is set to shake up the struggling summer box office with a projected $53 million opening weekend. Starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, the highly anticipated buddy action comedy has already surpassed expectations with a strong $21.6 million haul on Friday, including $5.9 million from Thursday night previews. The film, directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, has received positive reviews and an A- CinemaScore, attracting a diverse audience with 44 percent being black moviegoers. The success of Ride or Die could mark a career comeback for Smith following the infamous Oscars incident, with his agents already in talks for new projects. In a weekend dominated by Sony, the studio's other releases are also performing well, further signaling a potential turnaround for the struggling summer box office.