The Best Martin Lawrence Movies

Ranker Film
Updated September 15, 2023 7.1K votes 1.3K voters 154.9K views
Over 1.3K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Martin Lawrence Movies
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Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

Over 1,300 movie fans have voted to shape these rankings of the best Martin Lawrence movies. While he was still a teenager, Martin Lawrence made an indelible mark on Hollywood with his breakout role in House Party and has since become one of America's most beloved comedians. His irreverent style and gift for physical comedy have earned him legions of devoted fans who love to watch his films again and again.

From the slapstick silliness of Big Momma's House to the heartwarming family comedy Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, there are plenty of great Martin Lawrence movies for viewers to choose from. The action comedy Bad Boys is perhaps one of his most iconic roles alongside Will Smith; while National Security is often hailed as one of the greatest comedies ever made by critics due its surprisingly dark humor and sharp social commentary.

No matter what kind of film you're looking for, this list contains something that will leave you laughing until your sides hurt! So why not take a look at all the choices available, vote up your favorites, and get ready for some gut-busting entertainment?

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  • Bad Boys
    1

    Bad Boys

    Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Téa Leoni
    351 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: Michael Bay
    In the explosive action-comedy Bad Boys, Miami detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) form an unlikely duo. The pair are tasked with recovering stolen drugs from their precinct's secure vault, navigating a world of deadly cartels and internal corruption. Amidst high-speed car chases and intense shootouts, their distinct personalities clash, adding a layer of humor to the suspenseful narrative. Directed by Michael Bay, this film successfully merges crime drama with comedy, making it a unique entry in its genre. Despite the danger, their loyalty to each other remains unshakeable, underpinning the core theme of brotherhood.

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  • Blue Streak
    2

    Blue Streak

    Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson, Peter Greene
    361 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Les Mayfield
    When a heist goes wrong, thief Miles (Martin Lawrence) hides a diamond at a construction site before he's arrested. After serving two years, Miles returns to the location of his treasure and finds it is now a police station. Disguising himself as a recently transferred officer to infiltrate the building, Miles stops an escaping thief while trying to retrieve the jewel. Impressed by his quick action, superior Rizzo (Graham Beckel) partners him with the bumbling detective Casey (Luke Wilson).

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  • Bad Boys II
    3

    Bad Boys II

    Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Jordi Mollà
    318 votes
    • Released: 2003
    • Directed by: Michael Bay
    In Bad Boys II, Detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) return to the streets of Miami. This time, they're tackling the city's drug trade, infiltrating a Cuban cartel led by Johnny Tapia (Jordi Mollà). The plot thickens when Syd (Gabrielle Union), Marcus's sister, gets entangled in their operation. Amidst high-speed car chases and explosive gunfights, the duo must navigate their personal dynamics while upholding the law. This action-packed sequel, directed by Michael Bay, heightens its predecessor's adrenaline-fueled thrills and comedic banter, earning it a place among memorable buddy cop films.

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  • Life
    4

    Life

    Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Obba Babatunde
    213 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Ted Demme
    During Prohibition, loudmouth Harlem grifter Ray (Eddie Murphy) and the no-nonsense Claude (Martin Lawrence) team up on a bootlegging mission to Mississippi that could bring them big bucks. But they run into trouble when a crooked lawman hits them with a phony murder charge. Ray and Claude are given life sentences and shipped off to jail, where they must think of a way to prove their innocence and avoid the brutal guards while battling their biggest enemies -- their opposing personalities.

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  • National Security
    5

    National Security

    Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn, Colm Feore
    289 votes
    • Released: 2003
    • Directed by: Dennis Dugan
    Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence), a bombastic police academy reject, and Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn), a disgraced, mild-mannered cop, can't seem to escape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during a routine traffic stop that escalated out of control; now as lowly security guards they're thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.

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  • Nothing to Lose
    6

    Nothing to Lose

    Martin Lawrence, Tim Robbins, John C. McGinley
    224 votes
    • Released: 1997
    • Directed by: Steve Oedekerk
    Advertising executive Nick Beame (Tim Robbins) learns that his wife (Kelly Preston) is sleeping with his employer (Michael McKean). In a state of despair, he encounters a bumbling thief (Martin Lawrence) whose attempted carjacking goes awry when Nick takes him on an involuntary joyride. Soon the betrayed businessman and the incompetent crook strike up a partnership and develop a robbery-revenge scheme. But it turns out that some other criminals in the area don't appreciate the competition.

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