January isn’t typically associated with the release of numerous successful films. Instead, it’s often referred to as a place where subpar movies are released. A common term for movies debuting in wide release during this time is “the dumping ground.” However, it’s worth noting that January hasn’t always been barren of financial successes. In fact, due to less competition, budget-friendly films like Ride Along or The Devil Inside have managed impressive box office earnings. As the saying goes, in a world where everyone is blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Leaving out films such as “American Sniper,” which initially released in limited screenings in December before expanding in January, this month has only produced one exceptionally successful movie. This kind of film usually generates box office earnings typically seen during the summer months. The largest January movie ever is undeniably “Bad Boys for Life,” the 2020 sequel to the original 1995 “Bad Boys.” While the Bad Boys series has historically been financially successful, “Bad Boys for Life” notably set a record in an intriguing manner.
How Big Was Bad Boys For Life?
For more than a decade, the highest-grossing domestic movie released in wide distribution during January was the 2009 comedy “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” earning $146.33 million domestically. This record was nearly broken several times, notably by “Kung Fu Panda 3” ($143.5 million) and “Split” ($139.29 million), but it remained unchallenged. Interestingly, it was a film distributed by Sony/Columbia Pictures, the same company behind “Paul Blart,” that ultimately dethroned the Kevin James flick from its North American throne. This new contender is “Bad Boys for Life,” which hit theaters on January 17, 2020.
Initially, the first “Bad Boys” movie earned $65 million domestically, and its follow-up made $138.6 million in 2003. With such success, there were high hopes for “Bad Boys for Life,” but few predicted it would surpass the earnings of “Bad Boys II.” However, when the opening weekend numbers for “For Life” came out, it had grossed an impressive $62.5 million just in its first three days. This January 2020 release not only exceeded the domestic debut of Sony’s June 2019 hit, “Men in Black International,” but it also more than doubled it. Who would have guessed that a newcomer in January could achieve such a remarkable feat?
In the tenth week of its domestic box office journey, cinemas worldwide closed due to COVID-19, forcing a halt in the screening of “Bad Boys for Life.” Despite this interruption that lasted for months on end in North America, the movie still managed to earn an impressive $206.3 million domestically, surpassing the North American gross of “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” significantly. Notably, “Bad Boys for Life” became the first film ever to debut directly into a wide release in January and surpass both $150 million and $200 million domestically. The fact that it outperformed the domestic earnings of “Bad Boys II” by approximately 50% made its box office success even sweeter.
How Did Bad Boys for Life Reach This Box Office Milestone?
Five years after the release of “Bad Boys for Life”, there don’t seem to be any strong competitors likely to dethrone it as the highest-grossing January movie domestically in the near future. This is because, much like how “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” held onto its title as January’s biggest release for over a decade, action sequels like “Bad Boys for Life” often find success in January due to Hollywood’s perception of the month as an unpromising time for new movie launches. This deeply ingrained mindset within the industry is so powerful that even a blockbuster hit like “Bad Boys for Life” can’t entirely shake it off.
As a film enthusiast, I’d say that compared to May, often considered a goldmine for movie premieres due to the influx of new releases, it’s always a battle to break the box office records in that month. On the flip side, January, historically, has been seen as a risky time to debut major films. However, if a film manages to shatter the norm and prove that big-budget premieres in January can indeed be successful, it’s not impossible for history to repeat itself. In this case, ‘Bad Boys for Life’ currently holds the throne unchallenged.
2020’s top-grossing domestic film, “Bad Boys for Life,” demonstrated that movies with high audience anticipation can achieve great success regardless of the release time. Notably, its North American earnings surpassed the total gross of its sequel, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which was released in 2024’s summer and was quite profitable. Despite this, it fell just short of matching the earnings of “Bad Boys for Life.” This shows that a January release of the “Bad Boys” series can generate more revenue than its summer counterparts, proving that blockbuster hits are not exclusive to the summer months. Thus, the success story of “Bad Boys for Life” and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” released in January, highlights the potential for successful films during the winter season as well.
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2025-01-06 04:09