10 Most Rewatchable Martin Lawrence Movies, Ranked

Renowned for his flawless comedic performances, Martin Lawrence became one of the leading actors of the 1990s following his 1987 debut. Before his acting career took off, Lawrence utilized his funny bone to thrive as a stand-up comedian, performing on shows in Washington, D.C. He also joined the Improv Comedy Club, where he further honed his skills. After getting scouted by Columbia Pictures Television executives during his time on Star Search, Lawrence began his acting career as Maurice Warfield on the sitcom What’s Happening Now!!

Subsequently, he got his breakthrough, appearing in career-defining projects such as Do the Right Thing, the Big Momma’s House franchise, House Party, and its sequel, House Party 2. Lawrence was propelled to international prominence through his iconic role in the Bad Boys film series. After over three decades in the industry, the Frankfurt-born actor has left an indelible mark on Hollywood. While Lawrence has numerous rewatchable movies, the following entries stand out from the cache.

10 ‘House Party’ (1990)

Directed by Reginald Hudlin

House Party is one of the early notable film projects that brought Lawrence to the big screen. He portrayed Bilal in the American comedy film just after his 1989 breakout role as Cee in Spike Lee‘s Do the Right Thing. Starring the hip-hop duo Kid ‘n Play Christopher “Kid” Reid and Christopher “Play” Martin in their film debut, House Party chronicles the wildest night of high school friends as their party of the year gets out of control. Lawrence also reprized his role in the 1991 sequel, House Party 2.

Grossing over $26 million at the box office, the film attained cult classic status and has been preserved in the United States National Film Registry. While he played a supporting role in the critically acclaimed film, Lawrence’s witty one-liners and unique talent added major comedic relief to the House Party films. His overall performance as a standout cast member contributes to the film’s rewatchability.

9 ‘Big Momma’s House’ (2000)

Directed by Raja Gosnell

Lawrence has a knack for captivating audiences with physical comedy, and he pulled all the stops in his Big Momma’s House performance. He appeared in the crime comedy film as FBI agent Malcolm Turner who goes undercover as Hattie Mae ‘Big Momma’ Pierce to find an escaped convict and his loot. His perfect portrayal of a grandma brought Lawrence’s hilarious antics to the fore. As such, the film is always worth an extra watch. Big Momma’s House also stars Nia Long as Sherry Pierce, Paul Giamatti as Agent Jonathan “John” Maxwell, Terrence Howard as Lester Vesco, and Anthony Anderson as Nolan.

Big Momma’s House garnered mostly negative reviews but became a commercial success, grossing over $174 million at the box office. The success inspired a franchise that spawned two sequels – Big Momma’s House 2 (2006) and Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011) with Lawrence reprising his role. He also doubled as executive producer for the first two films. Lawrence’s iconic performance in the 2000 film earned him major nominations, including the MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance and the Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor.

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8 ‘Wild Hogs’ (2007)

Directed by Walt Becker

Lawrence’s depiction of Bobby Davis in Wild Hogs is one of the reasons the comedy film is considered a light-hearted and entertaining piece. Wild Hogs follows four middle-aged men in search of some fun to escape their routine lives in a Cincinnati suburb. Their road trip as a motorcycle club, the Wild Hogs, takes viewers on an adventurous ride through different cities.

Wild Hogs also stars John Travolta as Woody Stevens, Tim Allen as Dr. Doug Madsen, and William H. Macy as Dudley Frank. While it was critically panned, receiving a low %14 score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was a massive commercial success, ranking #1 in box office sales with $39.7 million on its opening weekend. Subsequently, Wild Hogs became a blockbuster, ultimately pulling in $253.6 million worldwide against its $60 million budget.

7 ‘Nothing to Lose’ (1997)

Directed by Steve Oedekerk

Filled with hilarious moments, Nothing to Lose is a unique blend of action and comedy. The film stars Lawrence as a petty criminal named T-Paul who tries to rob advertising executive Nick Beam (Tim Robbins) and ends up getting kidnapped by his supposed victim. After bonding over a botched robbery attempt, the two men ally to rob the man Nick’s wife is having an affair with, culminating in several misadventures.

The ensemble cast also includes John C. McGinley as Davis “Rig” Lanlow, Giancarlo Esposito as Charles “Charlie” Dunt, Michael McKean as Philip “P.B” Barrow, and Kelly Preston as Ann Beam. Grossing over $44 million against its $25 million budget, Nothing to Lose debuted at #4 at the North American box office and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. However, the chemistry between Tim and Lawrence’s characters is undeniable.

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6 ‘Life’ (1999)

Directed by Ted Demme

After his outing with Eddie Murphy in the 1992 romantic comedy film Boomerang, the hilarious duo collaborated on their second project in Life. With Lawrence playing Claude Banks while Murphy portrays Rayford “Ray” Gibson, the film chronicles the journey of two men serving a life sentence for a murder they didn’t commit. Their epic escape in the end builds up excitement that sticks with viewers for a long time.

Despite its humble beginning, Murphy and Lawrence’s fans gradually turned Life into a cult classic. The film also received nominations at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for Favorite Comedy Team and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture. Life did not just cement Lawrence’s status as a versatile actor, he showcased his authentic and compelling comedic timing in the film.

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5 ‘Blue Streak’ (1999)

Directed by Les Mayfield

From jewelry thief to detective, Blue Streak showcases Martin Lawrence’s impeccable comedic timing, effortlessly blending elements of crime and humor. This 1999 crime comedy film features Lawrence as Miles Logan, a jewel thief disguised as Detective Malone in his quest to recover his loot hidden within an LAPD station. The flawless mingling of laughs and suspense makes Blue Streak a standout.

In addition to Lawrence, Blue Streak boasts an ensemble cast featuring Luke Wilson as Detective Carlson, Dave Chappelle as Tulley, and Peter Greene as Deacon. The film debuted at #1 in North America and finished its theatrical run with over $117 million worldwide against a $36 million budget. However, it received mixed reviews from critics, with comparisons to Beverly Hills Cop.

4 ‘National Security’ (2003)

Directed by Dennis Dugan

A twisted buddy cop comedy fare showcasing Lawrence’s sharp wit at its best, National Security stars him and Steve Zahn in the leading roles of Earl Montgomery and Hank Rafferty respectively. After meeting under unconventional circumstances that cost Steve his job as a cop, the two men form an unlikely partnership to solve a crime. Lawrence also serves as the executive producer of the hilarious action comedy.

This Dennis Dugan‘s 2003 action-comedy boasts an impressive supporting cast that includes Bill Duke as Lieutenant Washington, Eric Roberts as Nash, and Colm Feore as Detective Frank McDuff. Despite garnering mixed reviews from critics and viewers, the cast performances take credit for making National Security a rewatchable piece. The film is also considered one of Lawrence’s best movies.

3 ‘Bad Boys’ (1995)

Directed by Michael Bay

Perhaps his most iconic role, Lawrence became a household name following his performance as Detective Marcus Burnett in the first installment of the Bad Boys film franchise. Lawrence stars alongside Will Smith as Mike Lowrey, Marcus’ partner in the Miami police department. The narcotics detectives dish out side-splitting humor while navigating the investigation of the $100 million stolen packs of heroin and the protection of a murder witness.

The film didn’t just become one of the greatest action comedies ever made, it spawned a popular franchise that has stood the test of time. The 1995 film marked the beginning of Lawrence’s career as a leading man and earned him an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best On-Screen Duo alongside Smith. Their unmistakable chemistry and groundbreaking performances contributed to the film’s success with over $141 million in box office earnings. Bad Boys was also nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Action Sequence.

2 ‘Bad Boys II’ (2003)

Directed by Michael Bay

Nearly a decade after the first film, Smith and Lawrence return as Mike and Marcus for the second installment of the Bad Boys film franchise. Their palpable onscreen chemistry also earned a nomination for the MTV Movie Award’s Best On-Screen Duo. Bad Boys II follows the two narcotics cops as they investigate a Cuban drug cartel to burst the flow of ecstasy into Florida.

The dynamic duo delivered a more action-packed performance with thrilling comedic moments. Lawrence’s effortless sarcasm and humorous antics contributed to the film’s success, ultimately justifying the franchise as a fan favorite in cinematic history. Though critically panned, Bad Boys II was a commercial success, grossing $273 million worldwide against a $130 million budget.

1 ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ (2024)

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah

After four films, the Bad Boys film franchise still holds sway in the action genre. The 2024 sequel reunites Smith and Lawrence in a triumphant return. The plot follows wisecracking detectives Lowrey and Burnett as they embark on a dangerous mission to clear the name of the late Captain Conrad Howard who was wrongfully linked to drug cartels. In a review for ScreenRant, Robert Pitman described the film as “one of the biggest hits of 2024 so far,” suggesting a future crossover with the iconic Beverly Hills Cop.

The second film directed by the dynamic duo Adil & Bilall in the franchise, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, didn’t disappoint fans with the action sequences and breathtaking stunts. So far, the film is the most successful installment in the franchise, grossing $379 million worldwide against its $100 million budget. Like most of Lawrence’s performances, this entry reinforces his status as a comedy legend.

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