Ice Cube’s Must-See 91% RT Classic Is Thriving On Peacock Ahead Of Long-Awaited Sequel

Plenty of viewers are discovering Ice Cube’s acting talent as his must-watch cult favorite comedy has become a streaming hit on Peacock. While many will know Ice Cube as a founding member of the hip-hop trio N.W.A., whose story was chronicled in the biopic Straight Outta Compton, he’s also carved out an impressive second career as an actor.

As one of the most influential gangsta rappers of all time, Ice Cube’s musical legacy helped shape West Coast hip-hop’s early identity as his lyrics pushed back against police brutality and oppression. Ice Cube broke into acting with John Singleton’s coming-of-age classic Boyz n the Hood, before showing off his funny side alongside Chris Tucker in a stoner sleeper hit.

Friday Is In Peacock’s Top 10

The 1995 Comedy Classic Has Found Renewed Success On Streaming

Friday is the first in a trilogy of buddy comedies starring Ice Cube that tells the story of the eternally unemployed Craig Jones and the outrageous dilemmas he continually finds himself in at the end of the working week. The original Friday saw Craig (Cube) and Smokey (Tucker) indebted to a drug dealer as their urban neighborhood falls into disarray.

With an original concept, plenty of laughs, and great performances, it’s no surprise that viewers have discovered the appeal of Friday and turned it into a top 10 streaming hit on Peacock. As Craig and Smokey struggle to come up with the $200 they owe to a local bully, this low-stakes dilemma satirizes urban hardships and the trials of those living on the verge of poverty in crime-ridden areas.

Why You Should Watch Friday

Friday Is A Must-Watch 90s Classic

A closeup of Ice Cube from Friday with a white glow behind him — Custom image by Brennan Klein

As a major release in understanding Ice Cube’s transition from hip-hop icon to family-friendly movie star, Friday bridges the gap between the artist’s transgressive music and later mainstream comedies like Are We There Yet? As a stepping stone between two worlds, Friday shaped Ice Cube’s public image as a bankable movie star.

With constant laughs and plenty of 1990s’ nostalgia, Friday was the inception point for an entire franchise that included sequels like Next Friday, Friday After Next, and even MTV2’s Friday: The Animated Series. With a final fourth film in the works, tentatively titled Last Friday (via Complex), the film’s renewed attention on Peacock could help it finally get into production.

This cult classic not only reshaped Ice Cube’s entire career but also helped redefine what a Black-led comedy could be.

For many viewers, Friday is a lot more than a simple stoner comedy. This cult classic not only reshaped Ice Cube’s entire career but also helped redefine what a Black-led comedy could be as it blended social commentary, authentic neighborhood dynamics, and satirical humor into a film that still resonates three decades later.

Source: Complex