Friday (1995 film)

Friday

Theatrical release poster
Directed by F. Gary Gray
Produced by Patricia Charbonnet
Written by Ice Cube
DJ Pooh
Starring
Music by Frank Fitzpatrick
Simon Franglen
Chuck Wild
Cinematography Gerry Lively
Edited by John Carter
Production
company
Priority Films
Ghetto Bird Productions
Cube Vision Productions
Distributed by New Line Cinema
Release dates
  • April 26, 1995 (1995-04-26)
Running time
 91 minutes
97 minutes (Director's cut)
Country United States
Language English
Budget $3.5 million[1]
Box office $27.5 million[1]

Friday is a 1995 American stoner buddy comedy film directed by F. Gary Gray in his directorial debut. It stars Ice Cube, who co-wrote the film with DJ Pooh, and Chris Tucker in his first starring role. The film details roughly 16 hours in the lives of unemployed Craig Jones (Cube) and Smokey (Tucker), who must pay a drug dealer $200 by 10:00 p.m. that night.

The film's success spawned two sequels: Next Friday (2000) and Friday After Next (2002).

Plot

Craig Jones (Ice Cube), a man living in 1990's South Central Los Angeles, California, has just lost his job, after being framed for stealing. Not having any plans, he hangs out on his front porch with his best friend, Smokey (Chris Tucker), a pothead who sells marijuana for Big Worm (Faizon Love), the psychopathic neighborhood supplier.

Throughout the day, Craig and Smokey observe the goings-on in their neighborhood. They encounter Ezail (Anthony Johnson), a crackhead who supports his habit with petty crime; Debbie (Nia Long), an attractive girl on whom Craig has a crush; Craig's neighbor, Stanley (Ronn Riser), whose wealth like supercilious attitude bemuses Craig; Red (DJ Pooh), Craig's former colleague and childhood friend whose bike and necklace have been forcibly taken by Deebo (Tom "Tiny" Lister, Jr.), the neighborhood bully who enlists Smokey's aid in a burglary of Stanley's house; Pastor Clevor (Bernie Mac) the neighborhood pastor who is caught sleeping with Mrs. Parker (Kathleen Bradley) by her husband (Tony Cox); and Felisha (Angela Means), Debbie's sister and Deebo's girlfriend, who irritates everyone in the neighborhood with her constant begging.

Smokey, who has been smoking rather than selling his consignment of marijuana, has a confrontation with Big Worm. In an attempt to explain his money shortage, Smokey incriminates Craig. Big Worm threatens to kill them both if they do not give him two hundred dollars by 10:00 p.m.

Craig angrily confronts Smokey about his lack of initiative in selling the marijuana before deciding to help Smokey. Craig unsuccessfully attempts to borrow money from his mother (Anna Maria Horsford), his sister, Dana (Regina King), and his insanely jealous girlfriend, Joi (Paula Jai Parker).

Craig's father, Willie (John Witherspoon), eventually learns of Craig's plan, as well as the fact that Craig is carrying a gun. Willie talks to him, explaining that Craig should use his fists, instead of guns, to resolve his problems, all the while telling Craig the story of how his uncle, who was Willie's brother, lost his life at the age of 22 due to gun violence.

Later on, while Craig and Smokey discuss their dilemma, they are interrupted by the arrival of Rita (Yvette Wilson), a girl whom Debbie set Smokey up with earlier. Smokey then discovers she lied about her looks: instead of resembling Janet Jackson as she originally claimed, Rita is obese and bald.

Smokey heads to Debbie's house to complain and notices Red's bike on the lawn. He sneaks in and finds Deebo asleep with Felisha. Smokey tries to reclaim the money that he and Deebo stole from Stanley earlier, but is interrupted by Ezail. Both escape without the money before Deebo wakes up. Smokey returns to Craig's house to tell him, and Craig agrees to go back with Smokey to try again, but at that moment, Deebo rides past.

The two notice a black car driving slowly and hide, suspecting a possible drive-by shooting. Scared, they run to Craig's room, then agree to venture out. Once outside, they notice the van parked in the street with its headlights off. The two flee as men in the van start shooting at them.

The neighbors emerge from their homes upon hearing the gunshots. Debbie then confronts Deebo for assaulting Felisha after Deebo falsely accuses Felisha of Smokey's attempted theft. Deebo eventually assaults Debbie, as Craig and Smokey arrive.

Angered that Deebo has struck a woman, Craig stands up to him, and threatens him with his gun. Deebo scoffs at the threat and Willie encourages Craig to put down the weapon and fight with his hands. Craig and Deebo fight. After nearly losing, Craig emerges victorious by using various objects (including a brick and a trash can) as weapons.

As Debbie tends to Craig, Smokey steals the money from an unconscious Deebo and flees the scene. Red punches Deebo again to ensure he doesn't wake up and retrieves his chain and bicycle while Ezail steals Deebo's shoes. Craig and Debbie agree to meet up the following day (hinting at a potential romance), and Craig breaks up with Joi over the phone.

Later, Smokey settles with Big Worm, and ends the feud. He announces that he is giving up drug dealing and going to rehab. After hanging up, Smokey looks up, lights a joint and ends the film by shouting, "I was just bullshittin'! And you know this, man!"

Cast

Release

Friday was released on April 26, 1995 in the United States, June 30, 1995 in the United Kingdom, and October 5, 1995 in Australia. The film saw a limited, theatrical re-release in honor of its 20th anniversary on April 20, 2015 for one night only.

Home media

The film was released on DVD on March 2, 1999 and Blu-ray on September 8, 2009 with a new director's cut (97 minutes). The single disc DVD contains a theatrical trailer, a featurette on the film, and cast and crew interviews.

Reception

Friday received mostly positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 77% approval rating, based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "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."[2] Metacritic gives the film a score of 54 out of 100, based on 9 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[3]

The film was recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

Director Quentin Tarantino counted Friday as one of his twenty favourite movies from 1992 to 2009.[5]

Box office

Friday grossed $6,589,341 on its opening weekend debuting at #2 in the box office in 865 theaters, averaging $7,617 per theater.[6] The film grossed $27,467,564 in North America and $748,354 internationally, with a total of $28,215,918 worldwide.[1]

Spin-off adaptations

The success of the film inspired an animated TV series: Friday: The Animated Series.

Soundtrack

Main article: Friday (soundtrack)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Friday (1995)". Box Office Mojo. 1995-06-13. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  2. ↑ "Friday (1995)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  3. ↑ "Friday". Metacritic. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  4. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  5. ↑ Brown, Lane. "Team America, Anything Else Among the Best Movies of the Past Seventeen Years, Claims Quentin Tarantino". Vulture. New York Media LLC. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Weekend Box Office". Los Angeles Times. 1995-05-02. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
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