Friday
1995 · Directed by F. Gary Gray
Ice Cube and Chris Tucker on a Compton porch on a Friday afternoon. Smokey owes money. Deebo terrorizes. Bye, Felicia.
Why It's Cult
Friday is a hangout movie disguised as a stoner movie disguised as a coming-of-age. Cube wrote it — his alternative to gangsta-movie tropes — and brought Tucker along for the breakthrough role of the decade. John Witherspoon, the entire neighborhood ensemble. Spawned a franchise that never matched the original. The porch is a stage and the stage is the world.
The Plot, Officially
It is Friday and Craig Jones (Ice Cube) is unemployed, having been fired yesterday. This has lead to trouble with Smokey's (Chris Tucker's) supplier, Big Worm (Faizon Love), who now wants his money, or his product back, or Smokey is a dead man. Then there's Deebo (Tommy "Tiny" Lister, Jr.), the local bully, plus Craig's jealous, psychotic girlfriend, Joi (Paula Jai Parker), and Debbie (Nia Long), the neighbor Craig has a crush on. A lot can happen while lounging around your house on a Friday.
Starring
Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long
Where to Watch
via JustWatch →
