2 of My Absolute Favorite Throwback Movies Are on Netflix's Top 10 List Right Now

I've developed a habit of checking Netflix's top ten list of movies whenever I aimlessly browse through the streaming service for my next binge. Nine times out of ten, I'll spot a few throwback titles that I love, whether it's the Rush Hour franchise or The Matrix. This time, I was delighted to see that not one, but two of my faves are now trending—and I just might binge them both tonight.

F. Gary Gray's iconic buddy comedy, Friday, is currently number five on Netflix's top ten list, and the sequel, Next Friday, is number seven, surpassing Sonic 2, Sicario and Venom: The Last Dance. Both films, which were released more than two decades ago, soared to the top ten after they were added to Netflix on March 1st, which means I'm not the only one who's been craving nostalgic content these days.

If you're unfamiliar with the franchise, the first film revolves around Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker), two unemployed friends who have quite an eventful Friday in South Central L.A. As they try to figure out how to pay back a drug dealer by the end of the day, the duo encounter odd neighbors, confront a bully and narrowly avoid being shot at in a drive-by. The sequel is just as action-packed with Craig forced to leave South Central to escape a vengeful criminal and move in with his uncle, who won the lottery.

Both movies were major box office successes, and it's easy to see why. The first installment boasts an extremely talented cast (from Regina King to Bernie Mac), memorable characters (Smokey!), comedic sequences that are laugh-out-loud funny (remember Craig's encounter with the Jehovah's Witness?) and unforgettable one-liners ("Bye, Felicia"). Also, it brilliantly touches on themes of loyalty, friendship, bullying and even gun violence, all while highlighting the comedy in tragedy.

The second film is also entertaining and star-packed, featuring the likes of Mike Epps, John Witherspoon and Tamala Jones. It increases the stakes and further explores complicated family dynamics, but still maintains a light-hearted and playful tone.