Bold claim: Black women deserve their own powerhouse of buddy comedies, not just a sprinkle here and there. If you’ve ever searched for Black women buddy comedies, you’ll notice a stark gap in the lineup. From the late 1990s into today, the genre has felt sparse: B.A.P.S. (1997) and Waiting to Exhale (1995, though more of a romantic drama) stand out alongside Girls Trip (2017). Compare that to the abundance of male buddy comedies and the more plentiful examples featuring white women, and the imbalance becomes clear.
Historically, the roster of funny, women-led films centered on Black women has been thin. Yet a new project aims to shift that narrative. One Of Them Days, written by Syreeta Singleton (showrunner of Rap Sh!t) and directed by Lawrence Lamont, and co-produced by Issa Rae, marks a significant moment: the first Black women buddy comedy released in nearly eight years and the first duo-led entry in almost three decades. It reunites Keke Palmer and SZA—who turned heads after their 2022 Saturday Night Live appearance—and features a familiar supporting cast including Katt Williams, Lil Rel Howery, Maude Apatow, Janelle James, Vanessa Bell Calloway, and Keyla Monterroso Mejia.
Set in South Los Angeles, the film follows two broke best friends and roommates, Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA, in her acting debut), as they scramble to pay rent after Alyssa’s freeloading boyfriend spends their money. With just one day to conjure $1,500 and help Dreux land a game-changing job interview, their harebrained schemes spark a cascade of wild adventures that yield big laughs.
As with any buddy comedy, the plot is built on chaotic capers—from a bungled blood bank incident to a sneaker sale gone wrong and a final attempt to borrow funds at a payday loan shop. Yet the film also threads a heartfelt arc: it honors the depth of a ride-or-die friendship while tracing the women’s personal growth. Dreux pursues a more stable future beyond waitress duties, while Alyssa fights to turn her painting dreams into a full-time reality.
One Of Them Days arrives at a moment when audiences are hungry for Black women-centered humor on the big screen. Issa Rae herself acknowledged the absence of Black female buddy comedies since B.A.P.S. and, more tellingly, since Girls Trip, highlighting the scarcity of duo-led Black women comedies in particular. The trailer’s reception on Black Twitter underscored the excitement around Palmer, SZA, and a project that places two Black women front and center in a high-profile comedy.
The history of Black women’s buddy comedies is short but meaningful. B.A.P.S. (1997) introduced Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle-Reid as two Georgia homegirls chasing a music video dream in a far-fetched quest that culminates in a wildly improbable fortune. While critics at the time were mixed on its reception, the film has endured as a cult favorite that showcased Black women navigating big dreams with humor and heart.
Two decades later, Girls Trip amplified the genre with a four-wriend ensemble—often called the Flossy Posse—that reunites for Essence Festival hijinks. Its success was transformative: it validated the financial and critical viability of Black women-led comedies and helped open doors for more projects in this space. That success, paired with strong writing by Tracy Oliver and Kenya Barris, positioned Girls Trip as a watershed entry and nudged Hollywood toward seeing the potential for duo- and ensemble-driven Black female humor.
Even so, the genre has remained uneven. Strong box-office performances by Girls Trip demonstrated demand and proved that audiences will flock to stories centered on Black women’s friendships and humor. The new wave of interest around One Of Them Days signals a potential revival: if the film finds prolonged traction, it could catalyze a broader return of Black women buddy comedies with staying power.
Early reception for One Of Them Days has been promising: critics praised the performances, the film’s dialogue, and its playful energy, with some outlets highlighting it as a clear hook for a new era of Black women-led funny films. A sequel has already been teased, suggesting studios see potential for a continuing franchise built around Palmer and SZA.
There’s a broader cultural payoff here: more opportunities for Black women to tell comedic stories about everyday life, friendship, and resilience. Comedy is not just an accessory to Black womanhood; it’s a vehicle for authentic representation, humor, and connection that resonates with wide audiences—from casual viewers to devoted fans.
One Of Them Days streaming on Netflix offers a tangible step toward diversifying the buddy comedy canon and proving that Black women’s humor belongs at the center of mainstream film, not relegated to the margins. If the film earns broad audience support, it could push more studios to champion similar projects and help establish a lasting, recognizable subgenre.
In short, the door is open, and the potential is real. Palmer and SZA’s collaboration is more than just entertainment—it’s a cultural milestone that could redefine how Hollywood pitches, produces, and values Black women’s comedies for years to come.
Would you like this rewritten version to lean more toward analytical commentary, or keep a narrative, magazine-style voice with additional examples from other eras or international perspectives?
