Black Friday
Black Friday Review: Story, Cast, Rating & Final Verdict
Last updated: April 10, 2026
Movie Overview: Black Friday
| Movie | Black Friday |
| Release Year | 1940 |
| Director | Arthur Lubin |
| Genre | Science Fiction / Crime / Horror / Mystery |
| Runtime | 70 minutes |
| Language | EN |
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Black Friday (1940) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Science Fiction.
Cast & Character Study
The performances in Black Friday are led by Stanley Ridges . The supporting cast, including Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi , provides the necessary layers to the central narrative.
movieMx Verdict: Is it Worth Your Time?
What Works in the Movie
While Black Friday does not fully realize its potential, it still contains moments that may appeal to viewers who enjoy Science Fiction films.
- Interesting concept or premise
- Some entertaining scenes
- Supporting cast delivers occasional highlights
What Doesn't Work
Despite its strengths, Black Friday has a few issues that may affect the overall viewing experience, particularly in terms of pacing and narrative consistency.
- Uneven pacing in certain parts of the film
- Some predictable plot developments
- May not appeal to audiences outside the Science Fiction fanbase
Story & Plot Summary: Black Friday
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1940, Black Friday is a Science Fiction, Crime, Horror, Mystery film directed by Arthur Lubin. The narrative explores futuristic concepts and technological possibilities while examining humanity. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Stanley Ridges.
Ending Explained: Black Friday
Black Friday Ending Explained: Directed by Arthur Lubin, Black Friday wraps up the main storyline while leaving some interpretation to viewers. The ending highlights the core science fiction themes developed throughout the film.
The final twist encourages viewers to reconsider earlier moments in the story, particularly in scenes involving Stanley Ridges. The interpretation of the ending may vary among viewers.
Key Elements of the Ending
- Narrative Resolution: The story resolves its primary conflict while leaving room for interpretation.
- Character Development: Character motivations become clearer by the final scenes.
- Thematic Message: The ending reinforces the science fiction themes introduced earlier in the film.
The final moments of Black Friday reflect the creative choices of the filmmakers and align with the tone of the narrative.
Black Friday Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Is Black Friday Based on a True Story?
Black Friday draws from real criminal cases and investigative records. As a science fiction, crime, horror, mystery film directed by Arthur Lubin, the production explores how real events can be adapted into a dramatic narrative.
Real Story vs Movie Version
The film takes creative liberties to strengthen its narrative. Certain scenes are likely dramatized to enhance emotional impact.
While inspired by real events, the narrative focuses more on storytelling than strict historical accuracy.
Accuracy Assessment: Black Friday uses real-life inspiration as the foundation for a dramatized narrative. The film prioritizes thematic storytelling over strict documentary accuracy.
Who Should Watch Black Friday?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Science Fiction films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Stanley Ridges or the director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: Black Friday
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $125.8K |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Black Friday Budget
The estimated production budget for Black Friday is $125.8K. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Black Friday
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Where to Watch Black Friday Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Fandango At Home🏷️ Buy on
Fandango At HomeBlack Friday Parents Guide & Age Rating
1940 AdvisoryWondering about Black Friday age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Black Friday is 70 minutes (1h 10m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.0/10, and global performance metrics, Black Friday is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1940 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Friday worth watching?
Black Friday is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Science Fiction movies. It has a verified rating of 6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Black Friday parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Black Friday identifies it as Not Rated. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Black Friday?
The total duration of Black Friday is 70 minutes, which is approximately 1h 10m long.
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How Black Friday Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Black Friday
Disappointing movie if only because Karloff and Lugosi do not share a single scene together and they pretty much play second and third fiddle to Stanley Ridges who was okay in a dual role. Otherwise a bland movie.
Stanley Ridges ("Prof. Kingsley") is seriously ill when Boris Karloff ("Dr. Sovac") performs a highly unethical operation to replace his brain with that of gangster "Red Cannon". Though successful in prolonging his friend's life, the newly invigorated Professor begins to demonstrate quite a few of the less savoury character flaws/traits of "Cannon". "Sovac" learns from one of these episodes that there is $500,000 hidden away somewhere, so he attempts to manipulate his friend to reveal the location of the loot. It's billed as a Karloff and Lugosi feature - but some recasting shenanigans meant that they never ended up appearing in a scene together, but that doesn't really matter - this is more of a sci-fi thriller than a horror film, and neither of their performance are really much to write home about, anyway. The star is Ridges who juggles his split personalities quite well whilst Arthur Lubin keeps the story moving along well enough. Sadly, though, it's all just a bit unremarkable with a fairly standard structure and ending.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.










