After the recent release of One of Them Days, which audiences have dubbed a hood classic, the film reached a 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the highest-rated comedies. The film also excelled at the box office by recuperating its $14 million budget within four days after it was released in theaters. Even more impressive is that One of Them Days competed with the major franchise movie Mufasa: The Lion King and was only $250K shy of taking the number one spot at the box office during its MLK Weekend debut. This is a major accomplishment for a cost effective Black film that was shot within 20 days, according to the lead actors SZA and Keke Palmer. Audiences resonate with One of Them Days based on the dynamic chemistry between SZA and Palmer, the hilarious performance of the supporting cast, the authentic portrayal of South LA, and the intentional music choice throughout the film.
SZA’s acting debut in One of Them Days is a testament to her undeniable chemistry with Palmer and her natural ability to shine on screen, making us forget she is a global superstar. The story highlights the power of friendship between Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) and their ability to navigate financial hurdles amid socioeconomic issues such as gentrification and predatory payday loans.
Fans have acknowledged the relatability of the two characters and the importance of showcasing characters from “the hood” who rarely receive representation on the big screens. They expressed they know someone like Alyssa, who is stuck in a relationship with a man who is taking advantage of her by freeloading off her resources. Similarly, audiences could relate to Dreux, who is stuck in a dead-end job but is seeking career advancement despite her impostor syndrome. The beauty of their friendship lies within their ability to uplift and affirm one another and trust that despite what hurdles come next, they at least have each other.
The hilarious performance of the supporting cast on One of Them Days was another major highlight that elevated the film. Audiences were especially excited to see the iconic comedian Katt Williams on their screens, portraying the character Lucky, a voice of reason dissuading Dreux and Alyssa from getting a payday loan. Fans resonated with his character because his presence reflects his real-life unapologetic persona of being a truth-teller. In addition, the movie debut of Aziza Scott, who portrays the antagonist Berniece, was a formidable character who held it down amongst a star-studded cast. Berniece truly invoked fear in Alyssa and Dreux, and her urgent determination to take them down made the audience root for them more intensely.
Audiences have also proclaimed that arguably the funniest scene in One of Them Days is Kathy’s (Keyla Monterroso Mejia) reaction to Dreux’s incredibly low credit score. Her hilarious exclamation as she rejects Alyssa and Dreux’s payday loan request was a definite standout scene in the film.
We cannot reflect on One of Them Days without highlighting the authentic portrayal of South LA and how the filming locations resonated with audiences. Since the movie highlights the theme of gentrification, acknowledging how low-income Black neighborhoods are being impacted is vital. One of the film’s producers, Issa Rae, who has been praised for beautifully romanticizing South LA in her HBO hit series Insecure, was very intentional about replicating that in One of Them Days. This is especially timely considering the reality that more displacement is expected in South LA due to the 2026 World Cup partially being hosted in LA, in addition to the 2028 Summer Olympics being hosted in the city.
The film is a love letter to Black LA, considering the rapidly shifting neighborhood and how the snapshots of the filming location in One of Them Days will act as an archive of what the city looked like in the past. It is also important to acknowledge how the recent LA Fires impacted the film, which chose to cancel its LA premiere originally set for Jan. 13 to honor the victims impacted by the fires.
Finally, the songs selected throughout One of Them Days were absolute bangers, and they perfectly matched the scenes, which enhanced the comedic storytelling. Some audience members expressed how they were energized by the various musical choices while in theaters, making the viewing experience more memorable. One of the stand-out songs was, “Nissan Altima,” by Doechii, which was used throughout the promotion of the film, and, “TGIF,” by Glorilla, which was played during a comedic flashback scene. It was also beautiful to witness One of Them Days feature music by less mainstream independent Black artists such as SAMOHT whose latest song, “Pool,” was showcased. To enjoy the music featured throughout the film, be sure to check out the official One of Them Days Spotify Playlist.
If you have yet to see One of Them Days then you are definitely missing out and need to get your tickets as soon as possible. The audience and box office reception are indicators that you should experience this film in theaters before it goes to streaming.
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