Friday Filming Locations: Where Is The Stoner-Comedy Filmed?

What would you do after getting fired from a job for charges you aren’t guilty of that too when the rent is due, and your overbearing girlfriend is screaming down your throat? What if your friend is also swamped in debt and can’t lend a helping hand to you to rescue you from the troubles life throws your way?

Directed by F. Gary Gray, the buddy comedy film titled “Friday” is based on a similar concept where Craig gets fired from his job on a Friday morning with his monthly rent due while his friend is in neck-down debt he accumulated from a local drug lord.

The film is focused on the solutions the two best friends find to save themselves from the troubles they are caught in life while trying to find their true purpose in life and love. Produced by Patricia Charbonnet, the film stars Ice Cube playing Craig Jone’s role, the film’s lead, and Smoley’s best friend who gets fired from his job at UPS.

Chris Tucker plays Smokey’s role, Craig’s best friend, who is in debt to a drug lord. Nia Long plays Debbie’s role, Craig’s love interest and a girl from his neighborhood, Bernie Mac plays Pastor Clever, Tiny Zeus plays Deebo’s role, Craig’s bully, and John Witherspoon plays Willie, an animal control officer.

Regina King plays Dana’s role, Craig’s sister, Anna Maria plays Betty’s role, Willie’s wife, Paula Jai Parker plays Joi’s role, Craig’s girlfriend, and Faizon Love plays Big Worm’s role, the drug dealer in the lead.

The film did exceptionally well amongst the audience with a box office collection of $27.4 M with an initial investment of $3.5 M after its release on 26 April 1995.

The film provided a much-needed laugh to the viewers with its humor, and the bond of friendship shared between the two friends and the electrifying chemistry between Craig and Debbie managed to capture several hearts.

Friday – Premise

The film starts with Craig Jones, an employee fired recently from his job for being a slacker living in the South Central region of Los Angeles, spending most of his spare time on weekends, including Friday, at his best pal Smokey’s house, who is a small drug peddler.

Things turn problematic for the duo after the pair smoke a joint of a brokered consignment of marijuana, which Smokey was supposed to sell for the local drug supplier Big Worm, and he decides to collect his money from Smokey for the drug sale, leading Smokey to lie and involve Craig in the mess.

Things end with Big Work giving an ultimatum to the pair, stating that if they don’t pay him the $200 they owe for smoking the marijuana that Smokey was supposed to sell, then they will be killed by Big Worm’s men.

Meanwhile, Craig attempts to borrow some cash from several of his acquaintances, including Betty, Dana, his sister, and Joi, a jealous girlfriend of Craig who refuses to loan him the money as she suspects him of being unfaithful towards her with Felisha and Debbie, the local drug addicts.

Craig then uses his gun to safely walk Smokey to his house, where he is instructed by Willie, his father, to use his fists to deal with Big Worm’s men instead of a gun.

A ray of hope occurs for the pair after Smokey decides to sell drugs to a former drug-smoking buddy, Hector, while the neighborhood bully, Deebo, forces Smokey to break into Stanley, their neighbor’s house, where they are successful in stealing $200 that Deebo keeps for himself.

This ends with Smokey and Craig returning to the initial point where the trouble started as the two still didn’t have the money to return it to Big Worm, leading Smokey to attempt to retrieve money from Deebo after he falls asleep with Felisha at her house, but fails after Ezal, a petty thief intervenes.

Craig and Smookey decide to hide in a room after they notice a car driving by after Deebo wakes up thus leading them to suspect that a drive-by shooting was set by Big Worm. Meanwhile, after the shootout, the neighbors come out of their respective houses after hearing the gunshots of Deebie confronting Deebo for beating up her sister Felisha behind Smokey’s theft.

Craig and Deebo get into an altercation that ends with Craig being victorious after Deebo knocks Debbie out by angrily punching her. Smokey is finally successful in stealing $200 from Deebo, and the other locals, including Ezal and Red, are also successful in retrieving their stolen items, while Debbie continues to tend to Craig’s wounds that led to him breaking up with Joi and hooking up with Deebie.

The film ends with Smokey settling the debt and entering rehabilitation, but it turns out to be a joke as, in the end, Smokey smokes a joint, stating that he was just joking around.

Friday – Filming Locations

1. Los Angeles

Know for the Hollywood industry, stars, and beaches, the beautiful city of Los Angeles was used by the production crew of Friday to film certain important parts of the movie. 1418 W 126th, Los Angeles, California, was used by the production crew to film the part with Craig’s house.

The crew chose the location as they wanted to show the audience that even amid the chaos, people try to do their best. 1443 W, 126th Street, was used by the crew to film the part with Smokey’s house. This location was considered to be one of the most memorable ones as it was the same house that DJ Pooh used to reside in once upon a time.

2. West Athens, USA

Known for its scenic beauty and luscious forests, a census-designated region in Los Angeles, West Athens, was used by the production crew to film the part where Smokey goes to the market with Craig.