Alright friends, I have spent 44 orbits of the sun on this planet, and let me tell you this: nothing-absolutely nothing-beats a good stoner movie. More than just some hazy adventure packed with munchies, paranoia, and insanity one-liners, these movies set a certain vibe, a state of mind. From those smoky college days in the 90s to now, when the only time I really get to kick it with a joint or three, I have seen some gems through and through. Now, onto the ultimate list of best stoner flicks, handpicked by yours truly: get your snacks and indica edibles ready, light one up, and enjoy.
1. Dazed and Confused (1993)
Richard Linklater’s ode to the 70s? Hell yes. This was pretty much a rite of passage for any of my friends. I saw it in college, yet immediately went back to high school with it-the hazy days, at least-even though I never drove around town in any bell-bottoms. But the character’s aimlessness and the need to “just keep livin’” still resonates, especially after a good smoke.
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2. The Big Lebowski – 1998
Dazed and Confused-what can I say? Really, this could even be considered ground zero for stoner movies. I saw it so many times, I lost count when the day was spent in torpor with a White Russian in my hand. The laid-back, zen-like attitude of The Dude-every stoner wants that. Walter’s wild antics are just such a killer contrast to the laid-back atmosphere of The Dude.
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3. Half Baked (1998)
Half Baked hit at just the right point in my life. I was in college, and my buddies and I would laugh till we cried with Dave Chappelle and crew’s ridiculous adventures. It’s goofy, it’s over-the-top, and it’s exactly what you need after a few puffs. Who else could relate to quitting a job in a blaze of glory like that?
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4. Pineapple Express (2008)
Oh man, Seth Rogen and James Franco really nailed it. If you’re one of those guys that loves action-packed stoner comedies, just like buddy cops, Pineapple Express is your film, dude. I remember the first time I saw this; I couldn’t stop laughing and literally almost choked on my pizza. The highly unlikely bromance between Dale and Saul, along with car chases, is pure, entertainment gold.
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5. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
One night, a couple of buddies and I decided to hit White Castle right after Harold & Kumar came out. It was then that I thought, man-this movie gets it. It’s the simplicity of how their munchies journey was added to, with just cameos, hellos by Neil Patrick Harris, that make this an all-time classic. To this day, I still can’t eat a slider without thinking of that movie.
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6. Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke – 1978
You can’t talk about stoner movies without at least tipping your hat to the originals: Cheech and Chong. Up in Smoke is, in a lot of ways, the godfather of weed comedies, and these guys were so far ahead of their times. The general loose plot does not matter; it is the hilarious, spaced-out hijinks these two get into. Just pure nostalgia for anyone who grew up in the counterculture era.
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7. Friday -1995
You can’t get better than Ice Cube and Chris Tucker in Friday. It came out while I was in high school, and I have loved it ever since. It had everything: just the familiarity of the neighborhood stuff along with the humor, most notably with Tucker yelling, “You got knocked the f*** out!” That was on repeat in every stoner session. And in all honesty, it basically portrayed weed as that one really chill thing you do in the movie.
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8. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 1998
This is more on the weed movie-it is a psychedelic trip unto itself. Honestly, when I watched Fear and Loathing for the first time, I was not sure whether I was high or if that was that kind of a crazy movie. It’s just this visceral attack on your senses, both visually and audibly, with just Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro going full crazy in the desert. This movie makes one appreciate the controlled chaos that is Hunter S. Thompson’s world.
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9. Smiley Face (2007)
Anna Faris is just a total delight in Smiley Face. It’s one of those really low-key, very not-too-well-known stoner flicks, for sure some kind of cult one. It feels hysterically real just to watch her fumbling her way through a single day of stoned misadventure after misadventure. It’s like your buddy is stoned, making sense of life mistake after mistake.
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10. Super Troopers (2001)
Meow” anybody? Even though Super Troopers is a cop comedy by technicality, it really is just such a stoner’s delight. The pranks, the one-litters, the very idea of the entire movie makes for an easy go-to when one is really out of their mind. This is one which my friends and I still quote, especially when things get a bit too silly.
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11. Reefer Madness (1936)
Yeah, listen, bro: Reefer Madness isn’t your typical sort of stoner comedy. For sure, the original is some anti-weed propaganda from the ’30s. But over the years, it has kinda turned into an ironic classic. It was wild seeing one night after smoking how hilariously wrong this film got marijuana. It is, like, rad-a throwback, really, which is great for any old-school stoner movie marathon.
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12. How High (2001)
Method Man and Redman really live the dream of any stoner in How High. What is the concept in which they smoke this magical weed and become as bloody genius smart? What wouldn’t you want? The movie came out when I just started my career, and it was the film I wanted to watch after a very tiring day in the office.
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13. This Is the End (2013)
Not your normal stoner movie, but finds a place, for sure. You take Seth Rogen, James Franco, and most of the funniest guys in Hollywood playing over-the-top versions of themselves, and you get one comic movie: This Is the End. Apocalyptic meets weed comedy in just the best possible way: an absolutely absurd plot with a cast having so much fun that you cannot but laugh along.
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14. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny – 2006
Stoner rock? Check. Funny quest? Check. Jack Black doing his thing, over-the-top? Double check. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny is purely a stoner-crafted rock opera. Ridiculous musical numbers, demonic guitar battles, and tons of weed references-if that is your thing.
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15. Soul Plane (2004)
Probably doesn’t make too many of these stoner movie lists is Soul Plane, but take it from me, some of these moments are really classic. The pilot here is Snoop Dogg, and most of the airtime in this is like flying in a party in the sky: over-the-top, goofy, just another good choice when one wants to go really light and silly.
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16. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back 2001
Of course, stoners Jay and Silent Bob are staples in Kevin Smith’s repertoire, but their solo flick hands down beats the rest out. Chock full of ridiculous cameos, comic book nerdiness, and tons of weed humor, as a super fan of Smith’s movies, this one just felt like the ultimate love letter to stoners everywhere.
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17. Grandma’s Boy (2006)
Extremely underrated, Grandma’s Boy is based on the story of a video game tester who, after being evicted from his apartment, lives with his grandma. The whole movie is one huge stoner laugh fest, replete with loads of gaming references and weed jokes, with some really memorable characters. Bonus points, too: it is just great to see a grandma accidentally get high.
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18. Mac & Devin Go to High School (2012)
Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa in one movie? Count me in. Mac & Devin won’t win any critical battles, but man, is it a lot of fun. The storyline in the movie is loose at best, but if one is coming to see this, they’re likely not coming for the story. It’s all about the chill vibes and the music.
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19. Inherent Vice (2014)
One is more of a stoner detective noir, but this one belongs right here. Joaquin Phoenix plays the part of a hippie private detective who stumbles his way through some hazy labyrinth of mysteries. Trippy, beautiful to watch, and that slow, hazy pace is just perfect for a smoke session.
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20. The Beach Bum (2019)
Matthew McConaughey plays a literally stoned version of himself in The Beach Bum, and I am here for that. It’s about a washed-up poet living in Florida, getting into all types of trouble. Sheer, unadulterated McConaughey is on, and it is actually what one needs when one is in the mood for a breezy, entertaining stoner flick.
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That’s the list! If you haven’t seen some of these yet, then, man, you’re missing out on some totally classic stoner moments. Whether you’re in the mood for laughs, action, or just a chill vibe, each of these movies brings something to the table with plenty of hazy fun. So the next time those urges to couch surf come along with a joint in hand, just put on any one of these films and let the good times roll.
