One of Them Days Movie – Keke Palmer, SZA Cast, Plot, Release

One of Them Days arrives as a 2025 buddy comedy that pairs Keke Palmer and SZA in a race-against-the-clock caper set in Los Angeles’s Crenshaw neighborhood. Directed by Lawrence Lamont and written by Syreeta Singleton, the film follows two roommates navigating a financial disaster over the course of a single chaotic day.

Produced on a modest $14 million budget, the movie channels the spirit of 1990s buddy comedies while centering the specific struggles of young Black women. It has garnered significant attention for its 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and the palpable chemistry between its lead performers.

Despite frequent misconceptions, the project bears no direct involvement from Tyler Perry, though comparisons to his work have emerged in critical discourse. The film runs 97 minutes and premiered theatrically in early 2025 before transitioning to digital rental and streaming platforms.

What Is One of Them Days About?

The narrative centers on Dreux (Palmer), a waitress facing a pivotal job interview, and Alyssa (SZA), an aspiring painter. Living paycheck-to-paycheck in Crenshaw, California, the pair face imminent eviction when they discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has drained their $1,500 rent savings to fund a failed T-shirt venture and cheated on her with a neighborhood adversary.

Their landlord issues an ultimatum: produce the rent within six to nine hours or face immediate removal. This setup propels the characters through a series of comedic misadventures, visual gags, and encounters with eccentric locals as they scramble to raise cash while preserving their friendship.

Key Production Facts

• Evokes 1990s buddy comedy structures with contemporary raunch and female solidarity themes
• Features over-the-top side characters including a homeless man offering dubious guidance
• Balances laugh-out-loud humor with relationship drama and heart
• Filmed on location capturing authentic Crenshaw neighborhood dynamics
• Includes adult humor and situations involving financial desperation
• Created by alumni of Rap Sh!t and Insecure following those projects’ conclusions

Movie Snapshot

Who Stars in One of Them Days?

Keke Palmer and SZA’s On-Screen Partnership

Keke Palmer anchors the film as Dreux, bringing comedic timing honed since her early career beginnings. Opposite her, SZA makes a notable acting appearance as Alyssa, proving her charisma extends beyond music. Reviewers consistently highlight their stellar chemistry and indomitable charisma as the film’s primary engine.

The pairing represents a rare mainstream comedy built around the friendship between two young Black women, a dynamic that critics note feels both fresh and necessary. Their interactions ground the film’s more outlandish comic sequences in genuine emotional stakes.

Supporting Cast and Characters

Joshua David Neal portrays Alyssa’s boyfriend Keshawn (also referenced as Lolo in some accounts), whose betrayal sparks the central conflict. Aziza Scott appears as Berniece, the neighborhood bully involved in the infidelity, while Rizi Timane plays Uche, the landlord enforcing the eviction deadline.

The ensemble deepens with Katt Williams as Lucky, a homeless man who provides questionable advice throughout the duo’s journey. Janelle James and Keyla Monterroso Mejia contribute supporting roles, alongside Lil Rel Howery, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Maude Apatow, Patrick Cage, Dewayne Perkins, Amin Joseph, Gabrielle Dennis, and DomiNque Perry. This diverse cast creates the rich community backdrop against which the central caper unfolds.

One of Them Days Release Date and Where to Watch

Theatrical Release

One of Them Days received its theatrical release in 2025, positioning it as a mid-budget alternative to franchise blockbusters. The film’s 97-minute runtime suits its frantic, single-day narrative structure.

Streaming and Digital Availability

By early 2026, the film became available for digital rental and streaming, though specific platform exclusivity remains unconfirmed in available sources. Trailers and review summaries remain accessible via YouTube, providing viewers with preview access to the film’s tone and comedic style.

Is One of Them Days a Tyler Perry Production?

Despite frequent associations, Tyler Perry maintains no direct involvement in this project. The misconception likely stems from Keke Palmer’s early career breakthrough in Perry’s 2006 Madea film, establishing a historical connection between the star and the producer.

Critical analysis suggests the film actually serves as a superior alternative to Perry’s recent output. While evoking similar themes of community, betrayal, and Black female solidarity, One of Them Days surpasses Perry’s typical work in wit and originality according to comparative reviews. Its 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating exceeds most Perry projects, positioning it as a distinct creative achievement separate from his studio system.

One of Them Days Production Timeline

1. Development Phase: Conceived by Rap Sh!t alumni following that series’ cancellation, with Singleton and Lamont collaborating to craft the screenplay.
2. Casting Confirmation: Keke Palmer and SZA attached to lead roles, signaling the project’s blend of established acting talent and musical crossover appeal.
3. Principal Photography: Filmed on a $14 million budget with location shooting in Los Angeles to capture authentic Crenshaw atmosphere.
4. Post-Production: Edited to 97-minute runtime maintaining the “cozy mid-budget buddy comedy” aesthetic rarely seen in contemporary theatrical releases.
5. Critical Premiere: Released theatrically in 2025 to positive reception, earning 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
6. Home Media Transition: Available for rental and streaming by early 2026, expanding accessibility beyond theatrical markets.

What Details Are Confirmed About One of Them Days?

Cultural Context and Genre Evolution

One of Them Days arrives at a moment when mid-budget comedies have largely migrated to streaming platforms, making its theatrical presence notable. The film deliberately recalls 1990s buddy comedy structures—think Friday or House Party—while updating the formula for contemporary audiences.

The narrative focus on financial precarity, housing insecurity, and female friendship reflects current economic realities for many young Americans. Unlike the This Is Us Cast ensemble approach to emotional storytelling, this film prioritizes rapid-fire humor and situational absurdity while maintaining heart.

Its success suggests appetite for comedies centered on Black female experiences without the melodramatic trappings often associated with the genre. The comparison to Cast of Paddington 3 highlights how diverse casting strategies are reshaping family and adult comedy landscapes alike, though One of Them Days targets markedly different demographic and tonal territory.

Critical Reception and Notable Quotes

Reviewers have embraced the film’s specific blend of raunch and warmth. Plugged In notes its empowering friendship themes and warnings against predatory loans, despite the adult humor content.

“A delightful, cozy buddy comedy caper with the right amount of raunch and heart.”

— Critical Review, Rendy Reviews

“Genuinely laugh-out-loud funny… pulls us into the world of its two main characters.”

— Screen Rant Analysis

What’s Next for One of Them Days and Its Stars?

As the film completes its transition from theatrical to digital platforms, it stands as a proof-of-concept for modestly budgeted, star-driven comedies in the current market. The project opens avenues for Lawrence Lamont and Syreeta Singleton to develop similar character-driven projects, while reinforcing Keke Palmer’s status as a versatile leading player capable of anchoring both prestige dramas and commercial comedies.

For SZA, the performance represents a successful expansion of her artistic portfolio beyond music, potentially leading to additional acting opportunities. The film’s positive reception ensures it will likely maintain presence on streaming catalogs, serving as a reference point for discussions about contemporary Black cinema and the evolution of the buddy comedy format.

Frequently Asked Questions