Next Friday

Next Fridayis a 2000 Americanstonercomedy filmand the sequel to the 1995 filmFriday.It is the first film to be produced byIce Cube's film production companyCube Vision,and to be written by Cube himself. It was directed bySteve Carrand starsIce Cube,Mike Epps,John Witherspoon,Tamala Jones,andTommy "Tiny" Lister Jr.It is the second installment in theFriday series.It tells the story of Craig Jones as he goes to live with his uncle, who just won the lottery, and cousin inRancho Cucamongaafter the neighborhood bully Deebo escapes from prison where Craig contends with three criminal brothers known as the Joker Brothers.Next Fridaywas theatrically released on January 12, 2000, grossing $59 million worldwide. The film has received generally negative reviews from critics.

Next Friday
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Steve Carr
Written by	Ice Cube
Based on	Characters by Ice Cube DJ Pooh
Produced by	Ice Cube
Starring	Ice Cube Mike Epps John Witherspoon Tamala Jones Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr.
Cinematography	Christopher J. Baffa
Edited by	Elena Maganini
Music by	Terence Blanchard
Production companies	New Line Cinema Cube Vision
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date	January 12, 2000(2000-01-12)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$11 million
Box office	$59.8 million

A third film, titledFriday After Next,was released in November 2002.

Plot

After finding out Deebo escaped prison with his brother Tyrone to get revenge on Craig, Willie decides it would be safer for Craig to move toRancho Cucamongato live with his uncle Elroy and cousin Day-Day, who just won thelottery,until Deebo is sent back to prison. After some stalling, Craig explains that he really didn’t want to leave his neighborhood nor Smokey (who has since gone to rehab) behind. He accepts the fact that he needs to move after a run in with Deebo. Day-Day explains to Craig that while winning the lottery, all of the taxes and fees that were taken out only left them enough to buy their house and a car that is owned by Day-Day. A mailman delivers a notice informing them that their house could face repossession.

Before Craig visits Day-Day at work at a record shop, an angry customer threatens Day-Day. Craig pushes the customer, causing him to run out of the store, and Day-Day introduces Craig to his white skateboarder friend and co-worker Roach. Craig then shows Day-Day the notice. Day Day hides from his girlfriend D'Wana and her younger yet physically intimidating sister Baby D who constantly harass him saying that he is her baby's father. D'Wana throws a brick at his car windshield. Day-Day and Roach's Boss Pinky arrives at the store, finding it locked. While Day-Day and Roach are in the back smoking, a scuffle between Craig and Pinky ensues in which Pinky mistakes him for a robber, while Craig tries to explain who he is. Pinky then fires Day-Day and Roach in anger.

Craig, Day-Day, and Roach try to figure out how to keep the house. Craig remembers seeing their neighbors, a trio ofgang memberbrothers known as "the Jokers", who live with their sister Karla carrying a hydraulic pump. Suspecting that it may be hiding cash, Craig convinces Day-Day and Roach to help him get inside the Jokers' house and steal their pump.

Later that night, Roach drugs the Jokers' Chico withCannabisto keep him distracted while Craig sneaks into the Jokers' house. Craig locates the pump finding cash is hidden inside and taking some for himself. He bumps into Karla, who talks about what happened to her mom and the Joker brothers. Craig escapes out of a window. Panicking after the eldest Joker closes the window (the way Craig got into the house), Day-Day and Roach knock on the Jokers' door as a diversion for Craig to escape. After discovering the money from the pump is missing, The Jokers take Day-Day and Roach hostage and tie them up with duct tape.

Willie returns to the neighborhood while unknowingly hauling Deebo and Tyrone in his truck, who snuck in earlier after calling Willie about a message that Craig is in trouble. Craig returns to Elroy's house only to find Willie and Elroy waiting for him. Craig, Willie, and Elroy decide to head the Jokers' house to rescue Day-Day and Roach with Elroy's girlfriend Suga saying she will call the police if they are not back in ten minutes.

The trio sneaks into the Jokers' backyard. Joker sends Baby Joker and Lil' Joker to get a chainsaw from the toolshed. Willie knocks Baby Joker with a2x4and Elroy tackles Lil' Joker. Willie ties the younger Jokers up and puts them in the shed.

Joker goes out to look for his brothers and finds Elroy on the ground due to his back giving out after tackling Lil' Joker. Craig then engages him in a fight. As Craig and Joker fight, Day-Day and Roach, while bound and gagged, attempt to escape but fail until Elroy comes and unties them. Day-Day and Roach run to Craig’s aid but Joker gains the upper hand when he picks up hisAK-47.Deebo and Tyrone then appear and knock Joker out. Armed with Joker's rifle, Deebo prepares to shoot but not before he is bitten by Chico. The sheriff's department arrive and arrest the Joker brothers, Deebo, and Tyrone. Craig leaves with the Jokers' pump and the money inside it. They watch TV and Mrs. Ho-Kym chiropracts Elroy's back until he gives her some of the money and leaves.

After witnessing D’Wana and Baby D throw a brick at Day-Day’s BMW window, Craig returns home to South Central with Willie.

Cast

• Ice Cubeas Craig Jones, a slacker who relocates to Rancho Cucamonga.
• Mike Eppsas Daymond "Day Day" Jones, the cousin of Craig who lives in Rancho Cucamonga.
• John Witherspoonas Willie Jones, an animal control officer and the father of Craig who relocates his son to Rancho Cucamonga.
• Don 'D.C.' Curryas Elroy Jones, the father of Day Day, younger brother of Willie, and uncle of Craig who lives in Rancho Cucamonga.
• Tommy "Tiny" Lister, Jr.as Deebo, the neighborhood bully who escapes from prison to exact revenge on Craig.
• Justin Pierceas "Roach", a friend and co-worker of Day Day.
• Jacob Vargasas "Joker", the leader of the Jokers who is the oldest of the group.
• Lobo Sebastian as "Lil' Joker", the middle brother of the Jokers.
• Rolando Molinaas "Baby Joker", the youngest brother of the Jokers.
• Lisa Rodríguez as Karla, the sister of the Jokers
• Clifton Powellas "Pinky", a record store owner who serves as Day Day and Roach's Boss.
• Kym Whitleyas Auntie Suga, the sex-crazed girlfriend of Elroy ever since Elroy's wife died of a heart attack the day Elroy won the lottery.
• Kirk Jonesas Tyrone, the younger brother of Deebo who also escapes from prison to help in his brother's revenge plot.
• Tamala Jonesas D'Wana, the pregnant ex-girlfriend of Day Day who claims that Day Day is the father of her unborn child.
• Amy Hillas Mrs. Ho-Kym, the Korean next-door neighbor of Elroy.
• Robyn Allenas "Baby D", the younger sister of D'Wana.
• Michael Blacksonas Angry Customer
• Nicole Lydy as Ashley Nicole
• Ronn Reiser as Stanley, a former neighbor of Craig who Willie ran into outside a bathroom en route to Rancho Cucamonga stating that he left Willie's neighborhood since the events of the first film.
• Lendell "Kebo" Keeble as Pinky's chauffeur
• Michael Rapaportas Mailman with tax notice (uncredited)

DJ Pooh,who previously portrayed "Red" in the first film, appears in an uncredited voice role as himself in the opening title sequence.

Chris Tuckerwas approached to return as "Smokey", but he declined. This was covered up in Craig's opening narration which stated that Smokey checked in rehab one month ago.

Soundtrack

Main article:Next Friday (soundtrack)

The film's soundtrack, which featured appearances fromAaliyah,Eminem,Bone Thugs-N-Harmony,Ice Cube,N.W.A.,Snoop Dogg,Wu-Tang Clan,andWyclef Jean,peaked at number five on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, and nineteen on theBillboard 200in 2000.

Release

In the United States, the film was released on Wednesday, January 12, 2000.

Home video

Next Fridaywas released onVHSandDVDformat in June 6, 2000. The single disc DVD contains a theatrical trailer, music videos, a "making of..." featurette, behind the scenes footage, and an alternate ending as well as cast and crew information.

Reception

Box office

Next Fridaydebuted atnumber one at the US box officeand grossed $16.9 million in its opening four-day weekend in 1,103 theaters, averaging $17,450 per theater. The film went on to gross $57.3 million in the United States and Canada and $2.5 million at the international box office, for a total of $59.8 million worldwide.The film is the most successful in the franchise.

Critical response

OnRotten Tomatoes,the film holds an approval rating of 21% based on 66 reviews with an average rating of 4.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Next Fridaylacks the fun of the originalFriday.The movie is messy and plotless and relies on unfunny vulgar gags. "OnMetacritic,the film received aweighted averagescore of 41 based on 25 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.

Awards

2000 MTV Movie Awards

Best Comedic Performance —Ice Cube(nominated)

See also

• List of hood films

External links

• Next FridayatAllMovie
• Next FridayatIMDb
• Next FridayatRotten Tomatoes
• Next FridayatBox Office Mojo