Plot Summary: Craig Jones (Ice Cube), recently fired and unemployed, spends Friday with his best friend, Smokey (Chris Tucker), a small-time drug peddler. However, when Smokey smokes a stash of marijuana which he was supposed to sell for Big Worm, Big Worm attempts to collect his money from Smokey, who inadvertently incriminates Craig, subjecting both to Big Worm's ultimatum: pay $200 no later than 10:00 pm that evening, or else Craig and Smokey will be killed. What will Craig and Smokey do?
Cast:
Ice Cube as Craig Jones
Chris Tucker as Smokey
Nia Long as Debbie
Bernie Mac as Pastor Clever
Tiny "Zeus" Lister Jr. as Deebo
John Witherspoon as Willie Jones
Anna Maria Horsford as Betty Jones
Regina King as Dana Jones
Paula Jai Parker as Joi
Faizon Love as Big Worm
DJ Pooh as Red
Anthony Johnson as Ezal
Tony Cox as Mr. Parker
Kathleen Bradley as Mrs. Parker
Yvette Wilson as Rita
Angela Means as Felisha
*Recognition:
Friday was released on April 26, 1995.
Friday grossed $6,589,341 on its opening weekend debuting at #2 in the box office that week, and the film grossed $27,467,564 in North America overall against a budget of $3.5 million.
The film has obtained a large cult following since its release. A scene in the film is the source of the internet meme "Bye, Felicia"—which is a phrase meant to dismiss an inconsequential person.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel are both nicknamed Deebo in reference to the character from the film.
Did You Know:
The neighborhood where this movie takes place is the same street where Director F. Gary Gray grew up in south central Los Angeles, California. Principal houses that were used for filming were houses of old friends of Gray. The scene where Deebo (Tommy "Tiny" Lister, Jr.) punches Red (DJ Pooh) into the air is the house in which Gray grew up.
The cast and crew were warned well ahead of time not to wear anything red during filming. 126th Street, where this movie was shot, was well inside the territory of the Crips street gang, known for wearing distinctive blue bandannas, whereas their bitter rivals, the Bloods, wear equally distinctive red bandannas. So for their own safety, red clothing was banned from the set, because anyone wearing red clothing of any kind, bandanna or otherwise, would be assumed to be sympathetic to the Bloods, and potentially be attacked on sight by the Crips.
DJ Pooh (Red) was originally set to play Smokey. However, New Line Cinema pressed producers for a better known actor, reaching a deal with Chris Tucker.
Actor, Executive Producer, and Screenwriter Ice Cube and Director F. Gary Gray stated that they modelled this movie after the movie Clerks (1994).
In a deleted scene at the begining of the credits, you can see Ezal (Anthony Johnson) running down the street with boxes. These are the boxes that Craig Jones (Ice Cube) gets blamed for stealing.
What is this movie is about?/Elevator Pitch: Everybody has that one friend who always gets them into trouble.
Best Performance: John Witherspoon (Mr. Jones)/Chris Tucker (Smokey)
Best Secondary Performance: Ice Cube (Craig)
Most Charismatic Award: Bernie Mac (Pastor Clever)/Nia Long (Debbie)
Best Scene:
Waking Up
Deebo Knocks Out Red
Bye, Felicia
The Corner Store
Debbie Stops By
Mr. Jones Talks to Craig about Guns
Smokey Does His Business on the Lawn
The Shootout
Craig Fights Deebo
Favorite Scene: Craig Fights Deebo/Debbie Stops By
Most Indelible Moment: Craig Fights Deebo/The Shootout
In Memorium:
Jack Smethurst, 89, English Actor (Love Thy Neighbour, Man About the House, King Ralph) and comedian. He appeared in Chariots of Fire in 1981.
Alfred Sole, 78, American Film Director (Alice, Sweet Alice, Pandemonium) and production designer (Veronica Mars).
Beryl Vertue, 90, English Television Producer (Men Behaving Badly, Sherlock, Jekyll), founder of Hartswood Films. Married to Steven Moffat. Produced Tommy, Ken Russel rock opera based upon the Who’s album Tommy.
Ivan Reitman, 75, American Film Director and Producer - (Animal House, Meatballs, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Twins, Dave, Kindergarten Cop, Beethoven) Father of Jason Reitman.
Best Lines/Funniest Lines:
Smokey: Daaammnn!
Mrs. Jones: Now your father... he has game.
Mr. Jones: Don't nobody go in the bathroom for about 35, 45 minutes.
Craig: You call that game?
Smokey: [taking a crap outside] You better not tell anybody man.
Ezal: Man, I'm not, man.
Smokey: Keep it on the low.
Ezal: Alright brother. (looks around) HEY, SMOKEY BACK HERE TAKIN' A SHIT!
Smokey: Ezal!
Ezal: Don't worry, I won't tell anybody else.
Smokey: You've got to be a stupid mother fucker to get fired on your day off!
Smokey: I know ya don't smoke weed, I know this. But I'm gonna get you high today cause it's Friday, you ain't got no job and you ain't got shit to do.
Mr. Jones: Everytime I come in the kitchen, you in the kitchen. In the goddamn refrigerator. Eatin' up all the food. All the chitlin... All the pig feet... All the collard greens... All the hog maws. I wanna eat some of them chitlins, I love pig feet!
Smokey: YOU GOT KNOCK THE FUCK OUT!
The Stanley Rubric:
Legacy: 5.5
Impact/Significance: 4.75
Novelty: 5.75
Classic-ness: 5.5
Rewatchability: 4.5
Audience Score: 9.1 (91% Google, 91% RT)
Total: 35.1
Remaining Questions:
Why would anyone get fired for stealing boxes?
If you had a brick connect with your head from 5 feet away, aren't you dead or at least knocked out right there?