Sony Pictures has officially greenlit a sequel to the successful buddy comedy One of Them Days, capitalizing on the original film’s impressive financial performance and cultural impact. The announcement comes after the Keke Palmer and SZA collaboration exceeded industry expectations both theatrically and through streaming platforms.
The decision to proceed with a follow-up film reflects the entertainment industry’s recognition of the original movie’s appeal to diverse audiences and its demonstration of market demand for female-driven comedy content. Industry analysts point to the project’s success as evidence of growing opportunities for unconventional casting choices and fresh comedic voices.
TriStar Pictures will oversee development of the sequel, with most of the original creative team expected to return for the project. The announcement signals confidence in the established creative partnership while building upon the foundation established by the first installment’s commercial and critical reception.
Original film achieves remarkable financial performance
One of Them Days generated over $50 million in worldwide box office revenue following its January 2025 theatrical release, significantly exceeding initial industry projections for the modestly budgeted comedy. The financial success demonstrated strong audience appetite for the Palmer-SZA partnership and the film’s comedic approach to millennial financial struggles.
The movie’s theatrical performance was complemented by exceptional streaming success, with the film maintaining a position in Netflix’s top 10 movies list for three consecutive weeks. This dual-platform achievement indicates broad audience appeal that extends beyond traditional theatrical demographics to include streaming-focused viewers.
Industry observers note that the combination of theatrical and streaming success provides studios with multiple revenue streams while demonstrating the versatility of content that can perform across different viewing platforms. The financial model established by One of Them Days could influence future comedy film distribution strategies.
The movie’s budget-to-revenue ratio represents a particularly attractive outcome for Sony Pictures, as lower-budget comedies that achieve significant returns provide studios with profitable content that carries less financial risk compared to high-budget action or fantasy productions.
Creative team reunion builds on established success
Most of the original film’s creative team is expected to return for the sequel, including the core creative elements that contributed to the first movie’s distinctive comedic voice and visual style. This continuity approach aims to maintain the specific tone and chemistry that resonated with audiences while expanding the story universe.
Director Lawrence Lamont, who helmed the original production, brings experience working with the cast and understanding of the comedic timing that made the first film effective. His return provides stability and creative consistency that could be crucial for maintaining audience expectations and franchise coherence.
Producer Issa Rae’s involvement in the sequel continues her expanding influence in comedy film production, building upon her track record of successful projects that center diverse voices and contemporary cultural themes. Her production involvement helps ensure creative authenticity and industry credibility for the follow-up project.
The retention of key behind-the-scenes personnel suggests that Sony Pictures views the original film’s success as resulting from specific creative choices and collaborative relationships rather than purely market timing or promotional factors.
Palmer and SZA partnership proves commercially viable
The successful collaboration between established actress Keke Palmer and Grammy-winning musician SZA demonstrated the commercial potential of cross-industry partnerships in film projects. SZA’s acting debut generated significant attention while proving her ability to transition between entertainment mediums effectively.
Palmer’s experience in both comedy and dramatic roles provided a stable foundation for SZA’s first film performance, creating a mentoring dynamic that translated into authentic on-screen chemistry. Their real-world friendship, which developed during their 2022 Saturday Night Live appearance, contributed to the believable relationship portrayed in the film.
The pairing attracted both Palmer’s established fan base and SZA’s substantial music following, creating a broader potential audience than either performer might have achieved individually. This cross-pollination effect represents a strategic approach to audience development that could inform future casting decisions.
Industry professionals note that successful musician-to-actor transitions remain challenging, making SZA’s effective film debut particularly significant for future cross-media collaboration opportunities and her potential continued involvement in film projects.
Comedy addresses contemporary financial pressures
One of Them Days resonated with audiences partly due to its authentic portrayal of millennial financial struggles, particularly housing costs and employment challenges in major urban areas. The film’s central premise of roommates scrambling to make rent reflects widespread economic anxieties that many viewers experience personally.
The comedy’s approach to serious financial topics through humor provided audiences with both entertainment value and relatable content that acknowledged real-world stressors without becoming overwhelmingly serious. This balance between comedy and social commentary contributed to the film’s broad appeal across different demographic groups.
Los Angeles serves as more than just a setting in the film, functioning as a character that represents both opportunity and financial pressure for young adults pursuing creative careers. The city’s role in the story reflects broader discussions about urban affordability and career development challenges.
The sequel’s development suggests that audiences responded positively to comedy that addresses substantive life challenges while maintaining optimistic and humorous perspectives on difficult circumstances.
Supporting cast contributes to ensemble success
The original film featured notable supporting performances from established comedy actors including Lil Rel Howery, Janelle James, and Katt Williams, providing experienced comedic talent that enhanced the overall production quality. These performers brought proven audience appeal and professional expertise to support the lead actresses.
Maude Apatow’s participation connected the project to established comedy film lineages while representing younger generation perspectives within the story. Her involvement helped bridge different comedic traditions and audience segments within the same production.
Keke Palmer’s mother Sharon Palmer made a memorable cameo appearance that generated positive audience response and added personal authenticity to the family-oriented themes within the broader story. This family involvement contributed to the film’s genuine emotional resonance with viewers.
The effectiveness of the supporting cast in the original film will likely influence casting decisions for the sequel, as proven chemistry between ensemble members represents valuable creative assets for franchise development.
Streaming success demonstrates platform versatility
The film’s sustained performance on Netflix’s top 10 list indicates strong repeat viewing potential and word-of-mouth recommendation patterns that extend beyond initial theatrical audiences. This streaming success provides additional revenue opportunities while demonstrating content longevity.
Netflix’s global reach allows successful films to find international audiences that might not have been accessible through theatrical distribution alone, potentially expanding the franchise’s international recognition and commercial potential for future installments.
The combination of theatrical and streaming success provides Sony Pictures with valuable data about audience preferences and viewing patterns that could inform marketing and distribution strategies for the sequel and other similar projects.
Streaming platform success also creates opportunities for increased visibility among industry professionals and potential collaborators who might not have encountered the project during its theatrical run, potentially expanding future creative partnership opportunities.
Development timeline and production expectations
Early development status indicates that the sequel remains in preliminary planning stages, with script development, casting confirmations, and production scheduling still to be determined. This timeline suggests that audiences should expect a multi-year development process before the sequel reaches theaters.
The success of the original film provides the sequel with increased production resources and industry attention compared to the first installment, potentially allowing for expanded creative scope while maintaining the intimate character-driven approach that made the original effective.
Sony Pictures’ commitment to the sequel reflects confidence in the franchise potential while acknowledging market demand for the specific type of comedy content that One of Them Days represents within the current entertainment landscape.
Industry observers will monitor the sequel’s development as an indicator of studio commitment to diverse comedy content and the viability of building franchises around unconventional star partnerships and contemporary social themes.
