Questions
When did Friday come out and who directed it?
Friday was released on April 26, 1995. It was the directorial debut of F. Gary Gray.
Who wrote Friday?
The screenplay was written by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, who based much of it on their own experiences growing up in the neighborhood.
Who stars in the movie?
Ice Cube plays Craig Jones and Chris Tucker plays Smokey, with Nia Long as Debbie, Tommy Lister Jr. as Deebo, Regina King as Dana, and John Witherspoon as Craig’s father Willie.
What is the movie about?
Two unemployed friends in South Central Los Angeles spend a single Friday trying to come up with $200 they owe a drug dealer by 10 PM, running into bullies, romance, and misadventures along the way.
Why did Ice Cube want to make Friday?
Ice Cube and DJ Pooh set out to counter the violent hood film stereotype, wanting to show that, as Ice Cube put it, they used to have fun in the neighborhood and trip off it.
Is the Smokey character based on a real person?
Reportedly Smokey was drawn from DJ Pooh’s own past, and Craig getting fired was reportedly based on the UPS job experience of Ice Cube’s cousin.
Was Chris Tucker always going to play Smokey?
No. DJ Pooh was originally meant to play Smokey, but New Line Cinema wanted an experienced comedian, and Tucker landed the part reportedly after getting coaching over dinner from actress Angela Means.
Did DJ Pooh appear in the film too?
Yes. Besides co-writing the screenplay, DJ Pooh played the character Red.
Where does the "Bye, Felicia" line come from?
Angela Means played Felisha, and her scene spawned the internet meme "Bye, Felicia," a phrase used to dismiss someone unimportant.
How much did Friday cost and how much did it make?
It was made for about $3.5 million and grossed roughly $27.4 million worldwide, making it a big success for its budget.
How did it do when it first opened?
Friday opened at number 2 at the box office with about $6.59 million across 865 theaters, averaging around $7,617 per theater.
Did critics like Friday?
It holds a 77% approval on Rotten Tomatoes from 30 reviews and a 54 out of 100 on Metacritic.
Are there sequels?
Yes, the film led to two sequels, Next Friday in 2000 and Friday After Next in 2002.
Did Friday ever become a cartoon?
Yes. Friday: The Animated Series aired in the summer of 2007, adapting the film for television.
Does the movie have any famous fans?
Director Quentin Tarantino reportedly listed Friday among his 20 favorite films from 1992 to 2009.
