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Friday
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Ice Cube's drug- and profanity-filled 'hood cult classic.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Good movie and very funny, Fine for mature 9-10 year olds
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What's the Story?
It's Friday in the 'hood. Craig (Ice Cube) has just lost his job (on his day off) and now has nothing to do but hang out with his friend, a comical drug dealer named "Smokey" (Chris Tucker). As the day passes, they gossip about the kooky neighbors, avoid the block bully Deebo ("Tiny" Lister), and smoke a little pot. Eventually, they must come up with $200 to pay back Smokey's boss, or else face his retribution. Meanwhile, Craig has developed a little crush on Debbie (Nia Long) and finds he must stand up to Deebo to protect her honor. Can Craig learn how to be a "man" without resorting to using the gun he has hidden in his room?
Is It Any Good?
Directed by F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job), FRIDAY is fairly unique in the history of African-American cinema. Though it depends partly on the usual toilet humor, it does not have the same hyped-up, eager-to-please vibe of most other comedies. It's uncharacteristically laid-back with a refreshing lack of plot mechanics. This, plus the one-day, one-neighborhood setting, allows the characters to flourish in a more organic way. In a way, it's almost on a level with such classics as Charles Burnett's Killer of Sheep (1977) and Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989).
That said, the movie also comes with a troublesome air of misogyny; most of the women characters are seen either as sexual objects or objects of scornful humor. It's also not particularly laugh-out-loud funny, as most of the humor is at the expense of other characters. In general, the overall behavior of the people in this neighborhood is not so great, but there are still glimpses of goodness that make it appealing and worthwhile for older teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the drugs in the characters' lives. Did Craig learn his lesson after he smoked pot? Should he have given in when he didn't want to? Does Smokey learn any lesson about his drug use?
How did the film's violence make you feel? Was it thrilling, or did it have a harsher effect?
How did you feel about the women in the film? Did any of them seem like strong people, or were they stereotypes?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 26, 1995
- On DVD or streaming: March 2, 1999
- Cast: Chris Tucker , Ice Cube , Nia Long
- Director: F. Gary Gray
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Black actors, Female actors
- Studio: New Line
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 91 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: pervasive strong language and drug use, and for a brutal fight
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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