Since time immemorial, stoners and cinema have gone hand in hand together. Naturally, this holy arrangement engendered the rise of stoner films, which are movies that generally feature laid-back, or eccentric characters who like getting high and tend to find themselves in hilariously outlandish situations. These films are known for their counter-culture attitude, adventurous storylines, and liberal depiction of mind-altering substances. In short, these films are fun.
Among these films are stories that are bizarre and outlandish and characters who are, for the most part, just trying to have a good time, man. From the madness of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to the laid-back buddy antics of Up in Smoke, this list ranks the all-time best stoner films.
10
‘How High’ (2001)
Directed by Jesse Dylan
“I figure if I study high, take the test high, get high scores.” This is the mantra of underachieving stoners Silas (Method Man) and Jamal (Redman), who, after smoking a batch of magical marijuana, are given the answers to a college admission exam by their deceased friend Ivory (Chuck Deezy). Their unexpectedly high scores land them an invitation to go to the prestigious Harvard University, where the two hilariously clash with the university’s uptight culture and faculty in Jesse Dylan‘s How High.
How High is a film that fully embraces the absurdity of its premise by pairing supernatural weed logic with slapstick over-the-top college satire. The chemistry between one of the most iconic duos in stoner history is undeniable, as Meth and Redman find themselves in a series of hilarious situations. From pulling pranks and developing a truth serum, to an attempt at smoking a dead person with the intent of acquiring their knowledge, How High is a film that consistently embraces its silliness. It’s no wonder How High remains a must-watch film for science expert Neil deGrasse Tyson.
How High
- Release Date
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December 21, 2001
- Runtime
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93 minutes
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Method Man
Silas P. Silas
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Obba Babatundé
Dean Carl Cain
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9
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
Directed by Danny Leiner
After getting baked, straight-laced investment banker Harold Lee (John Cho) and his laidback stoner pal Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) see an enticing advertisement for White Castle. Naturally, this inspires the two burners to travel to the nearest White Castle in pursuit of some of these savory burgers. But the two men find that satisfying their munchy craving is not as easy as it seems in Danny Leiner‘s Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is one of the all-time best stoner movies because it perfectly captures the weird, adventurous experience of grabbing late-night munchies. Any stoner worth the paper they roll up with has a surreal story about a time they went out for a fast-food run only to confront the deepest mysteries of the universe. Harold and Kumar’s munchy run spirals into an odyssey of cheetahs, gunshot surgeries, campus police, and hitchhikers on ecstasy. Before you watch him in the new Dexter series, catch Neil Patrick Harris in one of his funniest early roles. With its over-the-top episodic structure and unforgettable cameos, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is a classic in the pantheon of stoner flicks.
8
‘Friday’ (1995)
Directed by F. Gary Gray
Craig Jones (Ice Cube) and his friend Smokey (Chris Tucker) are just two unemployed slackers living in 1990s South Central Los Angeles. Craig doesn’t really smoke weed, but Smokey assures him that since it’s Friday, and “he ain’t got no job,” he’s going to get him high. Unfortunately for Craig and Smokey, this decision causes problems since the weed was supposed to be sold by Smokey to make a profit for his drug supplier, Big Worm. Friday marks Cube’s first foray into film, and is a cult classic that inspired an entire franchise.
Friday’s a stoner classic that was written to counter the violent portrayals of hood films, and is a personal film that draws on Cube and DJ Pooh’s own experiences. This stoner masterpiece is full of quotes that have expanded the stoner cultural lexicon and inspired dozens of memes. Most people who grew up with this film have heard quotes like “Bye Felicia”, or Smokey’s exuberant “You just got knocked the **** out”, repeated by one person or another. Deebo (Tommy Lister Jr.) remains one of the most memorable villains of the ’90s, and with the recent announcement of a new sequel in development, there’s no better time to give Friday another watch.
Friday
- Release Date
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April 26, 1995
- Runtime
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91 Minutes
7
‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ (1998)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 black comedy adventure film based on the novel of the same name by Hunter S. Thompson. What begins as a journey to cover the Mint 400 Motorcycle Race swiftly dissolves into a convoluted drug-fueled adventure into the deepest depths of Las Vegas as journalists Raol Duke (Johnny Depp) and his lawyer Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) indulges in everything from hash to adrenochrome.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is without a doubt one of the wildest films ever directed. Depp’s transformation into Thompson remains one of his greatest acting achievements, and with a co-star as phenomenal as Del Toro, who’s completely uninhibited in one of his most essential roles as the drug-addled Dr. Gonzo, Fear and Loathing remains a staple of ’90s cinema and stoner culture. The film is a merry-go-round of psychedelic madness that features numerous depictions of the character’s experiences under the influence of a variety of drugs, including an acid-fueled encounter with reptilian bar patrons, and a nightmarish scene involving adrenochrome. Each scene is rendered in vivid detail, making the entire film feel like one long fever dream. For stoners who appreciate a film that’s a little edgier, Fear and Loathing is essential.
6
‘Smiley Face’ (2007)
Directed by Gregg Araki
Jane F. (Anna Faris) is a slacker and former economics major who loves her mattress, root beer, and, of course, getting baked. She hangs out taking bong rips, and collecting money for unemployment and a recent commercial she did. Her life is pretty chill. But things take a turn for the worse when Jane gets high and eats her creepy roommate’s (Danny Masterson) cupcakes which, unbeknownst to her, were baked with weed as well. Realizing her roommate is likely to kill her if she doesn’t replace the cupcakes, Jane goes through a series of misadventures to remedy the situation in Gregg Araki‘s stoner classic Smiley Face.
Faris is at the height of her comedic powers in one of her best roles as the hopelessly blasted Jane F. who manages to screw up even the simplest of tasks. Faris’ anxiety-ridden performance and the way she constantly gets lost in her own stoned thoughts feels true to life for any viewer who has ever felt the unforgiving wrath of an edible that was too powerful. Each scene captures the paranoia and disorientation of being two high. From beginning to end, Smiley Face delivers a series of some of the funniest scenes in the history of stoner cinema. One of the best scenes of the film features a hysterical monologue from Jane, who considers putting a portrait of President Garfield in her home in honor of her love of lasagna, which is precisely the type of high idea one would have under the influence of a dozen weed cupcakes.
Smiley Face
- Release Date
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November 16, 2007
- Runtime
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84 Minutes
5
‘Dazed and Confused’ (1993)
Directed by Richard Linklater
Dazed and Confused is Richard Linklater‘s sophomore film, and a classic stoner coming-of-age comedy film. It follows a group of Texas teenagers on the last day of school in 1976 as they navigate house parties, hazing rituals, and the aimless thrill of summer freedom. The ensemble cast features Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, and Matthew McConaughey in his breakthrough role as David Wooderson, a character who was partially inspired by McConaughey’s fascination with legendary Doors frontman, Jim Morrison.
There simply aren’t many coming-of-age films that capture the freedom, rebellion, and looseness of high school summer break like Dazed and Confused does. Linklater’s coming-of-age masterpiece is a perfect slice-of-life film that flawlessly recreates the hazy thrill of the ’70s in all its bongwater glory. This is one of the all-time best stoner movies because it’s funny, laidback, and has just the right amount of nostalgia to take viewers on a smooth trip down memory lane. The film’s cast of burnouts, slackers, and mellow pacing, coupled with a killer soundtrack and iconic one-liners solidify Dazed and Confused’s position on the Mount Rushmore of stoner cinema.
4
‘Half Baked’ (1998)
Directed by Tamra Davis
Stoner roommates and lifelong friends Thurgood Marshall (Dave Chappelle), Scarface (Guillermo Diaz), Kenny (Harland Williams), and Brian (Jim Breuer) share an apartment together in New York City where they hang out after work and take turns hitting the bong. But one night after a smoking session, Kenny, the gentle kindergarten teacher of the group, goes out for a munchie run where he accidentally kills a diabetic police horse after feeding it too much junk food. This tragic misstep lands Kenny in jail and forces the rest of the gang to sell weed to make bail for their imprisoned buddy in Half Baked.
Before being one of the best SNL hosts, and before Chappelle’s Show, Chappelle starred in one of the greatest stoner films of all time. Half Baked is a raunchy, juvenile, silly and absurd film from start to finish. It’s probably one of the dumbest movies you will ever watch. But that’s what makes it hysterically funny. Breuer’s portrayal of the perpetually tatered Brian is one of the funniest performances in any stoner film, and Chappelle flawlessly balances two performances as the laid-back, big-hearted Thurgoood Marshall, and the zany, tortured hip-hop star Sir Smokealot. Half Baked includes a slew of awesome cameos from Snoop Dogg to Jon Stewart, and it’s a film that’s endlessly quotable. Burners interested in a gut-busting comedy that they can kick back and hit the Billy Bong Thornton too, should look no further; Half Baked is where it’s at.
Half Baked
- Release Date
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January 16, 1998
- Runtime
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82 minutes
3
‘Up in Smoke’ (1978)
Directed by Lou Adler
Up in Smoke was Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong‘s first film together, a stoner buddy comedy written by the two comedians and directed by Lou Adler. This seminal stoner film follows Pedro (Marin) and Man (Chong) as they unknowingly drive a van entirely made of marijuana (“fiberweed”) from Mexico to Los Angeles. Along the way, the two men find themselves in a series of hijinks that include jamming out with punk rockers, dodging cops, and, of course, smoking plenty of that sweet cheeba.
Marin and Chong are trailblazers (excuse the pun) who created a stoner cinema classic that paved the way for all the stoner films that would follow. Up in Smoke is a seminal smoker film that laid the foundation for the entire genre through its brazen depiction of drug use, especially marijuana-related, and its anarchic and carefree tone. Cheech and Chong’s onscreen chemistry is undeniable as they effortlessly capture the stoner mindset through their hilarious stream-of-consciousness antics that find them flowing from one bizarre scene to the next. Whether they’re getting pulled over by the cops or jamming it out in an unexpected battle of the bands, these guys keep the laughs coming in. Up in Smoke is easily their best film, and its influence on the culture is impossible to calculate, and it remains a must-see for any stoner.
Up in Smoke
- Release Date
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May 16, 1978
- Runtime
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86 minutes
2
‘Pineapple Express’ (2008)
Directed by David Gordon Green
Pineapple Express is a buddy stoner comedy film written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and directed by David Gordon Green. The film follows process server and marijuana enthusiast, Dale Denton (Rogen), and his dealer, bonafide burner, Saul Silver (James Franco), who are forced to run away from hitmen and a violent drug kingpin after they mistakenly witness a murder.
Pineapple Express was essentially Up in Smoke for the millennial generation. This is a modern classic in the catalog of films to burn a blunt to. Rogen, as always, brings his A-game to the film in the role of a panicked Dale Denton who’s desperately trying to keep it together while evading the ruthless kingpin Ted Jones (Gary Cole). His chemistry with Franco, who plays a dealer who’s permanently zonked, offers one of the funniest dynamics to witness on a screen. Craig Robinson and Danny McBride likewise add so much to this already hilarious film. Pineapple Express’s iconic set pieces, hysterical action scenes, and high-stakes drama elevated the stoner film to a whole new level, and earned its spot as one of the greatest stoner flicks of all time.
1
‘The Big Lebowski’ (1998)
Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
The Big Lebowski follows the life of Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), a slacker stoner in sunny Los Angeles who really likes bowling. The Dude is a laid-back guy who spends most of his time drinking white Russians, smoking J’s, and bowling with his friends Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi). The Dude’s life is suddenly upturned when a case of mistaken identity places him at the center of a dangerous and unpredictable kidnapping situation involving everything from nihilists, mercenaries, and an eccentric artist to a wealthy porn producer.
The Coen Brothers masterpiece is one of the funniest and most iconic stoner flicks of all time, and it remains heavily quoted today. The Dude has reached nearly messianic levels of awesome within the slacker and stoner subcultures. The Dude is such an inspirational figure that there’s even a religion based on his philosophy, aptly called “Dudeism”, which has inspired countless individuals to “take it easy” and “abide”. Goodman’s portrayal of the short-tempered Walter also features some of the funniest and most unforgettable character work in recent film history; it also enacts a subtle critique of the US involvement in the Gulf War. With a stellar supporting cast that includes Julianne Moore as the strikingly eccentric artist Maude Lebowski, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the hilariously awkward Brandt, The Big Lebowski boasts what’s arguably the greatest cast of characters in stoner film history. Although it’s difficult to choose which is the greatest stoner film of all time, it would be difficult to argue against The Big Lebowski. But of course, that’s just like, our opinion, man.
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