Following a wildly successful rap career,Ice Cube has become one of the most notable names in Hollywoodand a classic franchise where he plays the lead character is now available to stream in its entirety. Ice Cube made his feature film acting debut with a great performance inBoyz n the Hood,but branched out to comedy soon after.
That venture into comedic roles paid dividends for Ice Cube. Most of his highest-grossing films are in that genreincludingAre We There Yet?and21 Jump Street. He portrays the lead character in two comedy trilogies, includingBarbershop, but his initial comedy series can now be watched on Peacockahead of its fourth movie.
The Friday Movies Are Hitting Peacock
All Three Comedy Classics Are On Streaming
As of July 12, 2025,all three current entries in theFridayfranchise are available to stream on Peacock. The series began with 1995’sFriday, which remains the installment that received the strongest acclaim from fans and critics. 2000 saw the release ofNext Friday, which included Chris Tucker being replaced by Mike Epps.
Many thought that would be the end of the series, but a third installment,Friday After Next, arrived in 2002 with a Christmas theme. Though the movies might not have all been critical darlings, they remain popular with audiences and are a blast to rewatch, making them perfect for a streaming service.
Why You Should Watch The Friday Trilogy
The Hilarious Movies Have A Lot Going For Them
ThefirstFridaymovie from 1995 is a cult classicand remains a staple of Black culture three decades later. Chris Tucker gives one of his funniest performances ever as Smokey, while characters like Deebo have become iconic. The film is still relevant enough to spawn the “Bye, Felicia!” meme.
It doesn’t get talked about enough but the casts of the threeFridaymovies are some of the best you’ll see anywhere.
The sequels might not be as quotable or iconic, yet there’s still a lot that people fondly remember from them. That includesNext Fridaybeing the breakout role for comedian Mike Epps. In fact, it doesn’t get talked about enough but the casts of the threeFridaymovies are some of the best you’ll see anywhere.
For starters,Fridayfeatures Nia Long, future Emmy and Oscar winner Regina King, and the legendary Bernie Mac.Next Fridayhas a great small role for Clifton Powell as the memorable Pinky and a cameo from Michael Rapaport.
Even though it wasn’t well-received,Friday After Nextalso marked the first major appearance for some notable stars.Terry Crews appears a couple of years before his breakout inWhite Chicks, while the always hilarious Katt Williams steals the show as Money Mike.
When you combine great casts with culturally relevant scenes and characters, you get something special and that’s what theFridayfranchise does best. With a fourth installment currently in development, it’s the perfect time to check out a franchise that has remained timeless for so long.
Friday
Cast
Friday is a 1995 comedy film directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh. Starring Ice Cube as Craig Jones and Chris Tucker as his friend Smokey, the story unfolds over one day in their South Central Los Angeles neighborhood. Dealing with the mundane and the unexpected, the film provides a humorous yet insightful look into the lives and challenges of the characters, capturing urban life and culture.
Next Friday
Next Friday follows a streetwise man who escapes South Central Los Angeles for the suburbs to stay with his lottery-winning uncle and cousin. This move is aimed at avoiding a neighborhood thug with a grudge, who has just broken out of prison.
Friday After Next
Friday After Next is a comedy film and the third installment in the Friday series, directed by Marcus Raboy and starring Ice Cube and Mike Epps. Released in 2002, the story follows Craig and Day-Day as they attempt to catch a thief who broke into their apartment on Christmas Eve while simultaneously dealing with their eccentric relatives and hilarious neighborhood antics.
