One of the First New Movies of 2025 Has a Near-Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

by

2025 has seen a delightful surprise with Sony Pictures’ comedy “One of Them Days”, which boasts an impressive 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, nearly universally praised. This R-rated buddy comedy featuring Keke Palmer and SZA marks a significant comeback for theatrical comedies, a genre that has faced challenges in adapting to the streaming era. The film’s success is striking considering its budget of $14 million and minimal marketing efforts. It demonstrates that well-received criticism can still motivate audiences to theaters, seeking out innovative projects that provide unique viewpoints rather than worn-out themes and predictable franchise elements.

One of Those Days, starring Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA), portrays an eventful day in Los Angeles as they scramble to accumulate rent money after learning that their savings have been misspent by Alyssa’s boyfriend. Directed by Lawrence Lamont and written by Syreeta Singleton, the narrative skillfully combines slapstick humor with heartfelt emotions, earning it recognition as a contemporary counterpart to classic buddy comedies such as The Hangover, Rush Hour, and Superbad from the 90s and early 2000s. Positive reviews and audience feedback indicate that this film may sustain its success through positive word-of-mouth in the upcoming weeks.

In addition to receiving positive reviews, the film “One of Them Days” has shown strong commercial success as well. Debuting in 2,675 cinemas, it surpassed industry predictions by earning $14 million over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. This is an impressive feat given that it was released against Universal’s heavily promoted “Wolf Man,” which opened at $12 million despite playing in 3,354 theaters and having a larger budget of $25 million. Meanwhile, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” topped the holiday box office with $15.5 million in its fifth week, making up for a poor first week.

One of Them Days Shines in a Historic MLK Weekend Victory

As a film enthusiast, I find the achievement of “One of Them Days” all the more remarkable when considering its release over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, a timeframe usually dominated by big studio blockbusters. In recent years, we’ve seen franchise films and established properties reign supreme during this holiday period. For instance, in 2024, “Mean Girls” took the lead with an impressive $33.6 million, while in 2023, it was “Avatar: The Way of Water” that ruled with $39.8 million during its extended run. Even amidst ongoing pandemic conditions, 2022’s “Scream” managed to secure a respectable $33.8 million at the box office. So, for “One of Them Days” to outshine these heavyweights is truly something special!

This year’s MLK weekend box office earnings, totaling approximately $96 million across all films, is the second-lowest figure for this holiday period over the last decade, apart from 2021’s figures that were affected by the pandemic. However, One of Them Days shows remarkable resilience in this tough situation. Finishing in second place, even against more expensive productions, indicates a growing trend among audiences to favor original stories when coupled with positive critical reception.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to see A24’s “The Brutalist” making waves as it expands to 338 screens, raking in $1.98 million over the weekend and an additional $0.5 million during the extended holiday period. Simultaneously, Focus Features’ “Nosferatu” holds strong in the top 10, amassing $4.3 million in its fourth weekend, pushing its impressive domestic total to a staggering $89.4 million. Remarkably, even Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winner, “Anora,” released by Neon, is proving its longevity in its fourteen weeks of release, earning $183,000 over the weekend and an additional $44,100 during the holiday period across 536 screens. Despite its niche appeal, it has grossed a respectable $14.85 million to date.

One of Them Days is currently available in theaters.

Read More

2025-01-20 12:10