Columbia Pictures’ action-comedy movie “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is set to play in cinemas in mainland China from June 22, it was announced on Thursday.

Starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, the film is the fourth in the nearly 30-year-old Bad Boys franchise. It sees the titular Miami cops investigate corruption in the police force after their late boss is accused of colluding with a foreign mafia. But the tables are turned and the pair have to go on the run while still trying to solve the case.

The film releases in a multitude of international territories from June 5 and in North America from June 7. The China date, only two weeks later, is in keeping with recent trends that give Hollywood titles near-synchronized outings in the Middle Kingdom and a modicum of marketing runway.

Many Hollywood films have struggled in China in recent years. Last year, non-Chinese films accounted for only 15% of the country’s theatrical box office. Additionally, recent weeks have also seen the overall Chinese theatrical market slowing down after a blockbuster Lunar New Year period in January and February.

The franchise has little track record in China. The first two instalments in the film series were produced in 1995 and 2003 at a time when China’s cinema exhibition industry was undeveloped. The third film, “Bad Boys for Life” released during the COVID pandemic period in August 2020 and earned less than $4 million in China.

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die is directed by Adil & Bilall. It was written by Chris Bremner and Will Beall. Production is by Jerry Bruckheimer, Smith, Chad Oman and Doug Belgrad. Executive producers are Barry Waldman, Mike Stenson, James Lassiter, Jon Mone, Chris Bremner and Lawrence.

The cast also includes Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nuñez, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Rhea Seehorn, Tiffany Haddish and Joe Pantoliano.