Following a wildly successful rap career, Ice Cube has become one of the most notable names in Hollywood and 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 in Boyz 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 genre including Are We There Yet? and 21 Jump Street. He portrays the lead character in two comedy trilogies, including Barbershop, but his initial comedy series can now be watched on Peacock ahead of its fourth movie.
The Friday Movies Are Hitting Peacock
All Three Comedy Classics Are On Streaming
As of July 1, 2025, all three current entries in the Friday franchise are available to stream on Peacock. The series began with 1995’s Friday, which remains the installment that received the strongest acclaim from fans and critics. 2000 saw the release of Next 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
The first Friday movie from 1995 is a cult classic and 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 three Friday movies 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 includes Next Friday being the breakout role for comedian Mike Epps. In fact, it doesn’t get talked about enough but the casts of the three Friday movies are some of the best you’ll see anywhere.
For starters, Friday features Nia Long, future Emmy and Oscar winner Regina King, and the legendary Bernie Mac. Next Friday has 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 Next also marked the first major appearance for some notable stars. Terry Crews appears a couple of years before his breakout in White 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 the Friday franchise 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.
