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Friday

Play trailer Poster for Friday R Released Apr 26, 1995 1h 31m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
It's Friday and Craig Jones (Ice Cube) has just gotten fired for stealing cardboard boxes. To make matters worse, rent is due, he hates his overbearing girlfriend, Joi (Paula Jai Parker), and his best friend, Smokey (Chris Tucker), owes the local drug dealer money -- and that's all before lunch. As the hours drag on, Jones and Smokey experience the gamut of urban life, complete with crackheads, shoot-outs and overly sexual pastors, concentrated into one single, unbelievable Friday.
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Friday

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Critics Consensus

What Friday might lack in taut construction or directorial flair, it more than makes up with its vibrant (albeit consistently crass) humor and the charming, energetic performances of its leads.

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Critics Reviews

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Michael Rechtshaffen The Hollywood Reporter While the character-driven script has a weakness for toilet humor (Mel Brooks would be proud), its inhabitants are given some oddball quirks and tics that keep things percolating when the plot development runs a little thin. Apr 26, 2019 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune I knew the picture was in trouble when its first gag involved an old lady spewing obscenities. Rated: 1/4 Aug 16, 2017 Full Review Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Friday has energy, and sass, and the nerve to suggest that the line between tragedy and comedy may be in the bloodshot eye of the beholder. Rated: B Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Chance Solem-Pfeifer Willamette Week Friday soars every time John Witherspoon (as Craig’s dad) is on screen, embarking on unstoppable improv jags about his job as a dog catcher. Jan 22, 2025 Full Review Sheila Reid Women in the Life This film is a laugh a minute and portrays realistic characters each of us can relate to. May 16, 2022 Full Review Anderson Jones Philadelphia Daily News Director F. Gary Gray chooses to develop tension in this often over-the-top farce in a very unfunny, almost baffling way. Rated: 1.5/4 Apr 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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TROY S This movie is hilarious! As far as comedies go about the hood, this one is hands down the best. Chris Tucker and Ice Cube really mix up nicely in this one. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/21/25 Full Review Robert H A movie that's more cringeworthy than comedic. Ice Cube stars as Craig Jones, a recently fired slacker who spends his days hanging out with his friends in the inner city. The problem is, the movie relies too heavily on stereotypes, and the slap stick comedy comes off cheap. The characters in friday are paper-thin and lack any real depth or development. Craig's friend Smokey (Chris Tucker) is a annoying, high-pitched caricature, while Craig's father (John Witherspoon) is a gruff, authoritative figure with no discernible motivation. Definitely the most cringworthy character of the film. The movie's attempts at comedy fall flat, with most of the jokes relying on tired stereotypes and slapstick humor. The plot is weak and meandering, with Craig getting into various misadventures with his friends. Overall, "Friday" is a disappointing and unfunny movie that relies too heavily on stereotypes and lacks any real depth or character development. Even Ice Cube's presence can't save this mess. I don't understand how it's went on to produce two sequels but they're definitely ones I won't be entertaining. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/14/25 Full Review r96 s 'Friday' is decently amusing viewing. The only thing I knew coming into it was the leads and their much used 'damn'; always fun to seeing memes in their original form, I was waiting for it to show up. Ice Cube and Chris Tucker are a well chosen pairing here. The rest of the cast are noteworthy, a fair number of known faces. Nia Long, Regina King and Bernie Mac being the biggest that I recognised, John Witherspoon and Faizon Love are in there too. The plot could've done with a few more layers of interest, though the end is good. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/05/25 Full Review Az S Ice Cube and Chris Tucker shine, Chris Tucker steals the show in this first installment. Story is solid, it really captures the feel of South Central in the 90's and tells a funny but suspenseful tale. F Gary Gray does a great job with the direction, Tiny Zeus Lister as Debo is a great & classic film antagonist. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/04/25 Full Review Audience Member Like I said in my review of barbershop just big cube where ARE THE OTHER FUNNY WIGGAS I mean I’m trying to give it a chance but darn where are the laughs sighing off really pissed off and bored - Big super Mario Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/25 Full Review Kevin P A very funny stoner comedy that takes advantage of its limited setting/budget and thin plot with its very memorable dialogue thanks to the infectious chemistry and improv skills from Chris Tucker and Ice Cube and the countless hilarious side characters. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Friday

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Movie Info

Synopsis It's Friday and Craig Jones (Ice Cube) has just gotten fired for stealing cardboard boxes. To make matters worse, rent is due, he hates his overbearing girlfriend, Joi (Paula Jai Parker), and his best friend, Smokey (Chris Tucker), owes the local drug dealer money -- and that's all before lunch. As the hours drag on, Jones and Smokey experience the gamut of urban life, complete with crackheads, shoot-outs and overly sexual pastors, concentrated into one single, unbelievable Friday.
Director
F. Gary Gray
Producer
Patricia Charbonnet
Screenwriter
Ice Cube, DJ Pooh
Distributor
New Line Home Video [us], New Line Cinema
Production Co
New Line Cinema
Rating
R (Drug Use|A Brutal Fight|Pervasive Strong Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 26, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$27.4M
Runtime
1h 31m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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