You're sitting there, popcorn in hand, scrolling through your phone to see if you have enough time to catch a showing before dinner. We've all been there. You need to know how long is the movie One Of Them Days because, honestly, nobody wants to get trapped in a three-hour epic when they just want a laugh.
The short answer? It's lean.
One Of Them Days clocks in at exactly 1 hour and 38 minutes (98 minutes). It’s that sweet spot for a R-rated comedy. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, and it doesn't leave you feeling like you missed a whole act. In an era where every superhero flick feels the need to push the three-hour mark, a sub-100-minute runtime feels like a gift from the cinema gods.
Why the One Of Them Days Runtime Actually Matters
Length isn't just a number. It dictates the pacing. If you look at the greats of the buddy-comedy genre—think Friday or Superbad—they rarely bloat. Director Lawrence Lamont and writer Syreeta Singleton clearly understood the assignment here. They kept the energy high.
The movie follows Issa Rae and Keke Palmer, who play best friends and roommates dealing with a catastrophic financial crunch. When you’re playing with a "ticking clock" plot—where characters have to find a specific amount of money in a very short window—the movie itself should feel like it's moving fast. A 138-minute version of this story would feel sluggish. At 98 minutes, the stakes feel real. You feel the panic.
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Keke Palmer’s character is high-octane. Issa Rae plays the more grounded, though increasingly frazzled, foil. Their chemistry is the engine. If the movie were longer, the constant bickering might start to grate on the audience. Instead, it’s snappy. It's punchy. It’s exactly what a theatrical comedy should be in 2025.
Breaking Down the 98 Minutes
Let's be real about how that time is actually spent. You aren't getting 98 minutes of pure plot.
- The Setup: The first 15 to 20 minutes are all about the vibes. We see the messy apartment. We see the dynamic. We understand why they're broke.
- The Chaos: The middle hour is a series of escalating disasters. This is where the runtime feels the fastest because the jokes are flying.
- The Credits: Don't forget that the actual "story" ends around the 90-minute mark. The last 8 minutes are usually credits, outtakes, or maybe a little stinger.
Is It Too Short?
Some fans might argue that an hour and thirty-eight minutes isn't enough time to develop deep character arcs. But this isn't Oppenheimer. It’s a comedy about a really, really bad day.
The "One Of Them Days" runtime works because the movie relies on situational humor rather than complex world-building. We know these women. We’ve been these women (or we know someone who has). The brevity actually helps the rewatchability factor. You can throw this on a Friday night, finish it, and still have time to go out or watch something else.
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Interestingly, Sony Pictures and TriStar seem to be leaning into this shorter format for their comedy slate. It lowers the barrier to entry for casual viewers. You don't have to "prepare" to watch it. You just press play.
Comparing the Length to Similar Comedies
To put the how long is the movie One Of Them Days question into perspective, look at the landscape:
- Girls Trip was a bit of an outlier at 122 minutes, and you could definitely feel the length in the second act.
- Booksmart was 102 minutes.
- Bottoms was a crisp 92 minutes.
By landing at 98 minutes, One Of Them Days sits right in the middle. It’s long enough to feel like a "real" movie experience but short enough to maintain a frantic, comedic rhythm.
What to Expect Before the Credits Roll
Expect a lot of Keke Palmer being... well, Keke Palmer. She has this incredible ability to fill every second of screen time with personality. Issa Rae provides the necessary "straight man" energy that keeps the movie from spiraling into total absurdity.
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The plot involves a landlord who is basically a nightmare, a looming eviction, and a series of "side quests" to get the cash. Because the movie is short, the transition between these scenes has to be seamless. There’s no room for "filler" scenes where people just sit around talking about their feelings for ten minutes. Every conversation moves the needle toward that final goal.
Practical Advice for Viewers
If you're heading to the theater:
- Factor in the trailers. If your showtime is 7:00 PM, the movie won't actually start until about 7:20 PM. With a 98-minute runtime, you’ll be walking out of the theater around 9:00 PM.
- The "Pee Factor." You don't really need a bathroom break for this one. Since it's under an hour and forty minutes, most people can power through. If you must go, try to do it during one of the transition shots between locations in the middle of the second act.
- Check for post-credits. While I won't spoil anything, modern comedies often tuck a few extra laughs into the mid-credits. Don't bolt for the exit the second the screen goes black.
Final Insights on the Experience
Understanding how long is the movie One Of Them Days helps set your expectations for the narrative structure. This is a "day in the life" story heightened to an extreme degree.
The film's success isn't measured by its length, but by how much it packs into that time. It's a testament to the editing team that the movie feels substantial despite its relatively short duration. You get a complete story, plenty of belly laughs, and a satisfying conclusion all before you've finished your large soda.
In a world where we are constantly bombarded by content, there is something deeply respectful about a movie that knows exactly what it is and doesn't take up more of your time than it needs to. Go see it if you want a high-energy, hilarious ride that gets straight to the point.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Local Listings: Since the runtime is under two hours, theaters often squeeze in more frequent showtimes. Check your favorite app for "gap" screenings in the late afternoon.
- Plan Your Evening: If you're pairing this with dinner, book your table for approximately two hours after the official start time to account for trailers and the 98-minute duration.
- Watch the Trailer First: If you're on the fence about the humor style, the 2-minute trailer gives a very accurate representation of the 98-minute pace.