If you’ve ever found yourself sitting on a porch with nothing to do, chances are you’ve thought about Craig and Smokey. It’s one of those movies that just feels permanent. Like it’s always been there. But if you’re trying to settle a bet or just satisfy a sudden itch of nostalgia, you’re probably asking: what year did Friday the movie come out?
The short answer is 1995. To be exact, it hit theaters on April 26, 1995.
But man, the world was a different place back then. This wasn't some massive summer blockbuster backed by a hundred-million-dollar marketing budget. It was a scrappy, low-budget comedy that basically changed how we talk. "Bye, Felisha"? That started here. The "Daaaaamn" meme? Yep, 1995. Honestly, it’s wild to think that a movie made for roughly $3.5 million ended up becoming a multi-generational cultural touchstone.
Why 1995 Was the Perfect Moment for Friday
Timing is everything in Hollywood. By the mid-90s, "hood movies" were a huge deal, but they were almost always heavy. You had Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Menace II Society (1993), which were brilliant but, let’s be real, they were tragic. They were about survival, trauma, and the cycle of violence.
Ice Cube, who had starred in Boyz n the Hood, felt like something was missing. He and DJ Pooh wanted to show the other side of South Central Los Angeles—the side where people just hung out, joked around, and tried to find something to do on a boring afternoon.
They wanted to show that the neighborhood wasn't just a war zone; it was a community with funny-as-hell neighbors and petty drama. So, when Friday was released in 1995, it felt like a breath of fresh air. It gave people permission to laugh at the "hood" experience without stripping away the authenticity.
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The Creative Spark: Ice Cube and DJ Pooh
The script didn't come from some corporate writer’s room. It came from Ice Cube and DJ Pooh basically sitting around and laughing at their own lives. Cube has mentioned in interviews that many of the characters were based on real people he knew growing up.
For instance, the character of Deebo—the neighborhood bully played by the late, great Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr.—was inspired by a real guy in their neighborhood. (Cube usually jokes that he won't say the guy's real name because he doesn't want to get sued... or punched).
A Directorial Debut for F. Gary Gray
Before he was directing massive hits like The Fate of the Furious or Straight Outta Compton, F. Gary Gray was a young music video director. He had worked with Cube on the "It Was a Good Day" video, which has a very similar vibe to Friday.
When the movie came out in 1995, Gray was only 23 or 24 years old. Think about that. He managed to capture a lightning-in-a-bottle performance from a then-unknown Chris Tucker. Tucker was basically a stand-up comic who hadn't really broken into movies yet. His energy as Smokey was so high-octane that it balanced perfectly with Ice Cube’s "straight man" performance as Craig.
The filming schedule was brutal. They only had 20 days to shoot the whole thing. Most big movies take months. Because the budget was so tight, they mostly shot on one street (126th Street in Los Angeles). If you watch the movie closely, you can tell it’s a tight-knit set. That's because it actually was.
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The Box Office Surprise
When what year did Friday the movie come out is the question, the context of its success is the answer. It opened in just 865 theaters. For comparison, a modern Marvel movie opens in over 4,000.
- Opening Weekend: It made about $6.5 million.
- Total Domestic Gross: It ended up raking in over $27 million.
- Legacy: The DVD and VHS sales (remember those?) are where it really became a legend.
Iconic Moments That Defined the '95 Release
You can’t talk about the year 1995 without talking about the soundtrack. It was everywhere. Dr. Dre’s "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" was a massive hit, and the album featured Cypress Hill, Mack 10, and Scarface. It perfectly captured the G-funk era of West Coast rap that was dominating the charts at the time.
And then there are the lines.
"I know you don't smoke weed. I know this; but I'm gonna get you high today, 'cause it's Friday; you ain't got no job... and you ain't got sh*t to do."
It’s a simple premise: two guys need to find $200 by 10:00 PM or they’re dead. But the movie isn't really about the money. It’s about the interruptions. It’s about Ezal trying to sell a stolen VCR, or Pastor Clever getting caught in the bedroom, or Mr. Jones (John Witherspoon) delivering "the talk" about using your fists instead of a gun.
The Cast: Where Are They Now?
The 1995 release launched a lot of careers.
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- Chris Tucker: Became one of the highest-paid actors in the world shortly after with the Rush Hour franchise.
- Nia Long: Solidified her status as a leading lady in Black cinema.
- Regina King: Went on to become an Academy Award and Emmy-winning powerhouse.
- Bernie Mac: Had a small but hilarious role as Pastor Clever before becoming a comedy icon.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Year it Came Out
A common misconception is that Friday was an instant #1 smash hit. It actually opened at #2 at the box office. People also forget that critics were kinda "meh" on it at first. The New York Times gave it a decent review, but many mainstream critics didn't really "get" the humor. They saw it as a low-brow stoner flick.
It took the fans—the people who actually lived in neighborhoods like that or just appreciated the raw comedy—to turn it into a cult classic. By the time the year 1995 wrapped up, Friday wasn't just a movie; it was a lifestyle.
The Sequels and the "Last Friday" Rumors
Because the original was so successful, we got Next Friday in 2000 and Friday After Next in 2002. While those movies have their fans (and Mike Epps did a great job stepping in), they never quite captured the grounded, "day-in-the-life" magic of the 1995 original.
Fans have been begging for Last Friday for over two decades. There’s been a lot of back-and-forth between Ice Cube and Warner Bros. regarding the rights and the script. Sadly, with the passing of key cast members like John Witherspoon (Pops) and Tiny Lister (Deebo), a fourth movie would feel very different. But the fact that people are still talking about a sequel thirty years later tells you everything you need to know about that April 1995 release.
Key Takeaways for Friday Fans
- Release Date: April 26, 1995.
- Budget: $3.5 million (pennies in Hollywood terms).
- The "Bye Felicia" Origin: It’s spelled Felisha in the credits, by the way.
- Cultural Impact: It pioneered the "Black stoner comedy" genre, leading to films like How High and Half Baked.
If you're looking to revisit this piece of history, your best bet is to check major streaming platforms or look for the 20th-anniversary Blu-ray editions. Most people don't realize that the "Director’s Cut" adds a few extra beats to the character interactions that make the neighborhood feel even more alive.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the original 1995 version: If you've only seen the sequels, the first one is significantly more grounded and "real."
- Check out the soundtrack: It’s a perfect time capsule of mid-90s West Coast hip-hop.
- Look for the "It Was a Good Day" music video: See if you can spot the visual similarities that F. Gary Gray brought to the big screen.
- Verify the credits: Notice how many future superstars (like Regina King) had small roles before they hit the big time.