Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, played by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence respectively, first came into the public consciousness way back in 1995 after the release of the Michael Bay directed blockbuster hitBad Boys. The movie elevated Smith from a sit-com actor and Lawrence from a stand-up comedian and cemented them as certified Hollywood megastars.
Now among the most successful buddy cop franchises ever, the original movie spawned 3 sequels in Bad Boys 2, Bad Boys for Life, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
After a strong performance at the box office from Bad Boys: Ride or Die, there’s already been rumblings of a sequel. Known for its combination of action and comedy and its memorable dialogue, we’ve decided to take a look back over the franchise and explore some of the best quotes.
16 “There’s too much bass in your voice. That scares white folks. You got to sound like them.” – Marcus Burnett
Bad Boys (1995)
When following a lead, Mike and Marcus have to gain access to their potential target’s abode. They do this by posing as their new neighbors. Being hidden from sight, they try to calm any potential suspects or witnesses.
After Mike makes himself known, Marcus quickly explains that he needs to make himself sound ‘more white,’ stating that Caucasian people will be scared to know that Black people are approaching.
Playfully Addressing Race Relations
The Bad Boys franchise has never been scared to tackle serious, real-world topics, and here is a great example of it playfully addressing issues around race relations and negative stereotypes that still exist.
15 “Please, man. Married life is easy. You only got one woman to satisfy.” – Mike Lowrey
Bad Boys (1995)
Mike Lowrey was always the fast living, playboy of the duo. Generally, more carefree, his love life seems far less stressful to Marcus, who feels pressure to regularly reassure his wife and keep the marriage strong.
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Mike Lowery (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are framed while investigating corruption charges against Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano).
An Interesting Perspective
As per usual, Mike begs to differ with Marcus, even when it involves something seemingly this clear-cut. His argument is that it’s far harder to keep multiple women satisfied, as he feels he has to. The statement perfectly encapsulates both his bravado and playful yet contentious personality.
14 “Eighty thousand dollars for this car and you ain’t got no damn cupholder?” – Marcus Burnett
Bad Boys (1995)
It’s established that Mike is the child of wealthy parents who left him a lot of money. Mike is not afraid to splash his cash and lives an exceptionally extravagant and lavish lifestyle. One of his prized possessions is his Black Porsche 911.
Wise-cracking as a Distraction
What makes Marcus and Mike’s chemistry so enjoyable to experience is their witty repartee in which the pair go back and forth with each other with a barrage of wisecracks. One of the more amusing examples is when Marcus, clearly not as impressed with Mike’s car as he is, jokes that despite its huge price tag, it doesn’t even have a cupholder.
What makes this scene even greater is that, upon realizing they’re about to get carjacked, they further continue their argument to act as a distraction, allowing them to get the upper hand on their assailants. A defense technique repeated multiple times throughout the franchise.
13 “You know you drive almost slow enough to drive Miss Daisy.” – Mike Lowrey
Bad Boys (1995)
The playful banter between the two leads remains a constant highlight throughout the entire franchise, and an entire article could be created dedicated to their hilarious back-and-forth dialogue.
Undeniable On-screen Chemistry
The buddy cop genre is dependent on the chemistry of its leads and Smith and Lawrence are dripping in it, as evidenced by Mike’s mischievous jab at Marcus’s careful driving, likening it to that found in the classic ‘Driving Miss Daisy’.
12 “Have my daughter back by 10:01. If she’s not back by 10:01, I’m in the car, locked, loaded, and hunting your *** ass down.” – Marcus Burnett
Bad Boys 2 (2003)
Since audiences last spent time with Marcus Burtnett, he has a whole new set of worries to deal with. Bad Boys 2 sees the family man now grappling with the fact his daughter has begun dating.
Fiercely Protective
Equipped with their firearms and no-nonsense attitudes, Mike and Marcus are the worst nightmare of any daughter’s date. Using these intimidation tactics, they do everything in their power to ensure Marcus’s daughter Megan is treated like an absolute princess.
11 “We ride together, we die together. Bad boys for life.” – Mike Lowrey
Bad Boys 2 (2003)
Quite possibly the most iconic quote in the entire franchise, the words are uttered by Mike to Marcus to instill him with the motivation he needs to get back out there and kick some major ass.
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Iconic Summation of an Unbreakable Bond
The quote perfectly sums up the pair’s unbreakable bond. It resonated so well with audiences, in fact, that part of it was later used as the title of the movie’s sequel, Bad Boys for Life, and has become almost a mantra for the pair.
10 “Woosah…”- Marcus Burnett
Bad Boys 2 (2003)
Marcus has always been the more highly strung of the two and by the second movie, he feels his stress levels are becoming detrimental to his work and home life. After attending a self-help class, he is advised to repeat the made-up phrase ‘woosah’ to help him pause and breathe deeply whenever he’s worked up.
A Recurring Catchphrase
Marcus goes on to comically repeat ‘woosah’ as a catchphrase in the most chaotic, stress-inducing moments throughout the movie, making for a hilarious juxtaposition of his desire for calmness and the carnage around him.
9 “I’ve got a Police Commissioner so far up my ass, if he spits it’s coming out of my mouth.” – Capt. Conrad Howard
Bad Boys 2 (2003)
Always at the end of his tether, Capt. Howard has pressure coming from all over to crack cases whilst keeping everything running smoothly. No small task considering the reckless nature of the ‘bad boys’ of law enforcement.
Mutual Respect
Despite their differing opinions on how best to enforce the law and the highly strung nature of all parties involved, Mike and Marcus are fiercely loyal to their captain and have a profound respect for his straight-talking approach. He may be crude, and he may be temperamental, but he has a heart of gold and his dedication to the cause is nothing short of admirable.
8 “We’re not just black, we’re cops too! We’ll pull ourselves over later!” – Marcus Burnett
Bad Boys for Life (2020)
A fine joke told by Marcus, playing on both the stereotypes of the police and black people, with him pointing out that he falls under both categories.
Social Satire
Released just months before the horrific George Floyd incident, concerns around racial profiling by the police were already high. While on the surface, the quote is a witty remark that sees Marcus playfully poking fun at himself. It actually runs far deeper, though, addressing the long history of distrust of the police within the black community.
7 “If you get involved, you’re going to make mistakes that you can’t take back.” Rita
Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Rita is the captain of the special forces AMMO team and is Mike’s former love interest, who he still holds dearly to his heart. In Bad Boys for Lie, Mike is shot and seriously injured, resulting in him falling into a coma.
A Sobering Moment
Hellbent on revenge, Rita is not convinced Mike is in a fit state, both physically and mentally, to be back in action and lets him know that his actions could have colossal consequences down the line.
6 “When I looked into that little baby’s eyes, something changed.” – Marcus Burnett
Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Already a father, during the third installment of the franchise, viewers bear witness to the birth of Marcus’ grandson. The experience is eye-opening for the danger prone detective. When sucked into yet another perilous case, he is more reluctant as he now wants to prioritize his time “watching that little boy grow”.
Time to Slow Down
Throughout the series, audiences have witnessed the two jump from one perilous, high octane adventure to another. With a 17 year gap between Bad Boys 2 and Bad Boys for Life, it makes sense that, as the actors have aged, so have the characters. This maturity is reflected in Marcus’s reluctance to engage in such risky behavior and Mike’s dyeing of his goatee (as facetiously pointed out by Marcus.)
5 “Big Man, I’m gonna need you to hurt some people. I’ll pay for the therapy.” Mike Lowrey
Bad Boys for Life (2020)
During an explosive gunfight, Mike requires the assistance of the team’s tech expert. Not one for violence, Dorn is understandably slightly apprehensive about getting involved in the chaos, hence Mike amusingly suggesting that he’ll cover the costs of the therapy Dorn will need after the trauma.
Action-Comedy at its Finest
The action-comedy genre combines aspects of both action and comedy, and while many movies tick these boxes, it’s far harder to seamlessly blend the two in a manner that seems organic. The Bad Boys movies excel at ingeniously injecting humor into even the most high-octane action sequences, with dialogue like this.
4 “If you’re seeing this, I’m probably dead.” – Capt. Conrad Howard
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
Captain Howard was a much-loved overarching character until his surprise death in Bad Boys for Life. Despite his temperamental personality, he was highly respected by Mike and Marcus, who were fiercely loyal to him in the end.
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Touching on Old Emotions
When Mike and Marcus play a tape Howard had recorded prior to his death, old emotions come flooding back, not just for the pair but for the audiences who’d built an emotional attachment to the captain over the course of the franchise. Starting the tape with “If you’re seeing this, I’m probably dead,” serves as a poignant reminder of his untimely death.
3 “We got two suspects, Lowrey and Burnett! They’re armed and dangerous!” – Detective Judy
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
Throughout the franchise, Mike and Marcus have always been regarded as the movie’s heroic protagonists, albeit ones that occasionally play by their own rules, but in the fourth installment, the tables are turned.
On the Run
Framed and set up, the duo find themselves as fugitives on the run, being hunted by, not just criminal gangs but their own US law enforcement. The twist ups the ante, keeps it fresh, and adds a new perspective to the existing franchise.
2 “I need nasty Mike! Bad Boy!” – Marcus Burnett
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
In Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Mike finds himself struggling with anxiety and letting the stress of his personal and professional life get to him. During a particularly crucial fight sequence, Marcus finds himself in dire need of Mike’s assistance, who is, at the time, experiencing the beginning of a panic attack. Thankfully, Marcus’s words of encouragement help Mike through the process.
Role Reversal
Playing with the traditional formula of the previous movies, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, sees the two swapping mindsets. The usually anxious Marcus, after experiencing a near-fatal heart attack, finds a new lease of life and begins living more dangerously under the belief he’s invincible. On the other hand, the usually carefree Mike, finds himself ruminating on past mistakes and fears over the future, resulting in him experiencing panic attacks.
1 “I ain’t no damn scientist!” – Marcus Burnett
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
One of the funniest scenes in the latest Bad Boys movie is when the pair are driving a van to escape an onslaught of attackers. Engulfed in fire, Marcus sprays the windshield wiper fluid in an attempt to subdue the flames.
An Unexpected Turn of Events
To Marcus’s surprise, the fluid only exacerbates the flames. Mike explains that the fluid is flammable to which Marcuss hilariously asserts that he “ain’t no damn scientist!” as the carnage around them escalates.
