Sony Pictures’ R-rated buddy comedy One of Them Days has captured both critical acclaim and audience attention, boasting an impressive 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and defying industry expectations with its strong box office performance, per comicbook.com.
The film, starring Keke Palmer and SZA in their first on-screen partnership, tells the story of two best friends navigating a chaotic day in Los Angeles as they scramble to collect rent money after discovering their savings have been squandered. With a modest $14 million budget, the film has already matched its production costs in its opening weekend, earning $14 million across the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday period.
What makes this success particularly noteworthy is the film’s triumph over more heavily marketed competitors. One of Them Days outperformed Universal’s Wolf Man, which opened at $12 million despite playing in nearly 700 more theatres and carrying a substantially larger budget of $25 million.
Director Lawrence Lamont and writer Syreeta Singleton have crafted what critics are hailing as a spiritual successor to beloved buddy comedies of the ’90s and 2000s, such as The Hangover, Rush Hour and Superbad. The film’s A- CinemaScore and strong PostTrak ratings suggest it has struck a chord with audiences, potentially setting it up for sustained success through word-of-mouth recommendations.
The film’s performance is particularly significant given the current theatrical landscape. This year’s MLK weekend box office total of $96 million marks the second-lowest for the holiday frame in the past decade, excluding pandemic-impacted numbers. Yet, One of Them Days has managed to secure second place, trailing only behind Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, which earned $15.5 million in its fifth weekend.
Industry analysts suggest this success signals a potential shift in audience preferences toward original storytelling when backed by strong reviews. The film’s performance, alongside other successful independent releases like A24’s The Brutalist and Focus Features’ Nosferatu, indicates that viewers are increasingly willing to support fresh, innovative content over franchise installations.
One of Them Days is currently playing in theatres nationwide.
- Image courtesy of Sony Pictures
