So, everyone is talking about the Keke Palmer and SZA movie, but can we honestly just take a second to appreciate how rare this actually is? We’re living in an era where mid-budget comedies usually get dumped straight to streaming services where they disappear into the "Recommended for You" abyss. But One of Them Days didn't do that. It hit theaters on January 17, 2025, and basically proved that people still want to go to the cinema just to laugh at two people being absolutely chaotic for 90 minutes.
If you’ve been living under a rock, the movie—titled One of Them Days—is a R-rated buddy comedy produced by the powerhouse that is Issa Rae. It stars Keke Palmer as Dreux and SZA (in her big-screen acting debut!) as Alyssa. They play best friends and roommates in Los Angeles who wake up to a total nightmare: Alyssa’s trash-bag boyfriend, Keshawn, blew their rent money. Now, they have about 24 hours to scrounge up $1,500 or face eviction from their apartment in the "Jungles" neighborhood of South L.A.
Why One of Them Days Feels Different
Most "modern" comedies feel like they were written by an algorithm trying to guess what Gen Z thinks is funny. This isn't that. It’s gritty. It’s sweaty. It feels like a spiritual successor to Friday or House Party, but with a very specific, modern Black woman’s perspective. Director Lawrence Lamont and writer Syreeta Singleton (both Rap Sh!t alums) clearly weren't interested in making a polished, "perfect" movie. They wanted something that felt like home.
They filmed on location. Crenshaw Boulevard. La Cienega. They even used the iconic Norms Restaurant as the place where Dreux works. There’s this authenticity to the struggle of living paycheck to paycheck that most Hollywood movies sanitize. Honestly, seeing them try to sell plasma or deal with a shady payday loan office called "We Gotcha" hits a little too close to home for anyone who's ever been broke in their 20s.
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SZA Can Actually Act (For Real)
Let’s talk about the SZA of it all. Whenever a massive musician pivots to acting, there’s always that collective "cringe" reflex. We expect it to be wooden. We expect them to just be playing themselves. But SZA as Alyssa? She’s a revelation. While Keke Palmer is doing what Keke does best—being the high-energy, charismatic anchor—SZA plays the "messy" friend with a surprising amount of vulnerability.
She isn't just "the singer in a movie." She has this specific, modulated emotional range that works especially well during the scenes where her character has to realize her boyfriend is a bum. Their chemistry didn't just happen by accident, either. They actually did chemistry reads at Keke’s house after their 2022 SNL appearance. You can tell they actually like each other. That’s something you can’t fake with lighting or editing.
The Katt Williams Factor
You can't mention this movie without talking about Katt Williams. He plays a character named Lucky, who acts as a sort of "persistent mentor" figure. He’s the one trying to talk them out of making terrible financial decisions, and every time he’s on screen, he basically steals the entire scene. It’s the kind of supporting performance that reminds you why he’s a legend in the comedy space.
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Then you’ve got Janelle James from Abbott Elementary playing a blood bank worker, and Maude Apatow as the "only white neighbor" in the complex. It’s a stacked cast.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
There’s a misconception that this is just a "girls' trip" style movie. It’s not. It’s a "race against the clock" anxiety trip. The stakes are small—it’s just rent money—but to these characters, it’s the end of the world.
- It's not a musical. Despite SZA being the lead, she doesn't break into song. Thank god. It stays grounded in its reality.
- It was a struggle to make. Issa Rae has been open about how it took nearly seven years to get this concept greenlit. Hollywood is notoriously scared of original, non-IP comedies right now.
- The Palisades Fire almost ruined everything. The L.A. premiere was actually cancelled because of the wildfires in early 2025. It was a "life imitating art" moment because the movie is so rooted in the L.A. community.
How to Actually Watch It Now
If you missed the theatrical run, the movie has already started its transition to the small screen.
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- Streaming: It hit Netflix in the spring of 2025 and immediately shot to the #1 spot.
- VOD: You can grab it on Amazon or Apple TV if you want to own it.
- The Soundtrack: Honestly, even if you don't watch the movie (but you should), the soundtrack is worth a listen. It’s a mix of West Coast rap and pop that perfectly captures the "sunny but stressed" vibe of the film.
The movie cost about $14 million to make and pulled in over $50 million. In today’s box office climate, that’s a massive win. It proves that there is a huge, hungry audience for stories that don't involve superheroes or multiverse portals.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a fan of the "one crazy day" subgenre of comedy, go watch One of Them Days on Netflix right now. Pay attention to the background details in the South L.A. scenes—the director used real locals as extras to keep the vibe authentic. After that, check out the Rap Sh!t series on Max if you haven't yet; it’s the same creative team (Issa Rae, Syreeta Singleton, and Lawrence Lamont) and it carries that same sharp, fast-paced energy. If you're looking for more SZA, she’s reportedly in early development for a sequel, though nothing is set in stone just yet.