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Top Stoner Movies

How high can you get watching our top stoner movies?

By Johnny HashPublished 8 years ago 8 min read
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Have you ever sat down with friends, your significant other, or just by yourself, to pick something to watch on TV? More to the point, have you ever sat there and spent the whole time you meant to be watching TV watching previews for an hour, unable to decide on what to watch? This happens to me all the time. Even when I am not stoned. It all comes down to data. How informed are you? Where can I turn to when I need a real recommendation? Sure, I could buy in to the notion that Netflix or Amazon have their amazing algorithms that determine just the right content for you to watch, but that works like shit if you have 10 family members and friends mooching off your account.

Just to be clear, the site you are on is specific to the marijuana lifestyle, so don’t expect any Academy Award winners in my list. There are two types of stoner movies, movies about weed and those best watched while smoking weed. While sometimes they overlap, it is recommended to try to keep separate lists. This list is a testament to the movies that took on the marijuana phenomenon and weed culture before they were legalizing it by the state. The ones that perfectly captured the vibe and mentality of being a stoner before it was ok to smoke with your children, providing they are eighteen or older. If weed isn't your thing, these movies are just as enjoyable while taking some rips from a CBD vape.

The 1993 cult classic Dazed and Confused takes tokers into the last day of school in a small Texas town in 1976. Watch this ensemble cast fight for their right to party, examine the life of a bored teenager, and engage in strange hazing rituals. The whole time, these kids are completely blitzed out of their skulls. If you feel like revisiting your blitzed out high school years, check this one out.

Cheech and Chong driving around in an ice cream truck distributing weed flavored ice cream that turns people into lizards. What else do you need? This film is chock full of hilarious weed related gags and features appearances by the likes of Stacey Keach and Pee Wee Herman himself, Paul Reubens. What is sure to ensue is laughter, tears, and taking an entire large pizza to the face.

James Franco and Seth Rogan team up in this action-packed buddy flick. After picking up a sack of super rare weed from his dealer Saul Silver (Franco), process server Dale Denton (Rogan) accidentally witnesses a murder, setting off an absurd chain of events. You can see their budding bromance developing as chaos ensues. No matter what sticky situation they find themselves in, these two always find to light one up.

If this movie isn’t amongst your all time favorites, then… “Well, that’s just your opinion… man.” Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) abides, taking it easy for all our sins. A pothead bowling enthusiast gets sucked into some serious intrigue due to some nomenclature confusion. The Dude is a weed smoking Buddha, as he navigates a seedy underworld of pornographers and nihilists with impressive levels of detachment. There is literally nothing this man couldn’t handle after a joint and a White Russian. This Coen brothers classic leaves stoners in stitches every time.

Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) get into it with the local weed kingpin, Big Worm (Faizon Love), and if they don’t get his money, it’s like they’re playing with his emotions. The weed jokes in this movie are endless and top notch. Just stay clear of Deebo (Tiny “Zeus” Lister) before you get knocked out.

The first installment of the Harold and Kumar series begins while the two friends are hanging out and watching TV. Geeky accountant Harold (John Cho) and his stoner friend Kumar (Kal Penn) get stoned and become obsessed with the idea of finding a White Castle to cure a serious case of the munchies. They are convinced there is one nearby, but their judgement is clouded by the weed, and they wind up on an interesting and hilarious quest to find the beloved burger joint that serves the sliders.

Silas (Method Man) and Jamal (Redman) are two potheads with a dream of being the first in their families to graduate from college. Silas is a botanical genius who grows the most potent marijuana strains in town. When their book smart friend, Ivory, dies in a series of freak accidents, they put his ashes in the soil of one very special weed plant. Much to their surprise, when they spark up, Ivory’s ghost is there to give them all the answers to the entrance exam and they go to Harvard. Hilarity ensues… and when we say hilarity ensues, we mean guarantee that you do not stop laughing through this entire film.

This is the film that started the phenomenon we know as Cheech and Chong. Viewers find our noble protagonists driving from Mexico to L.A. in a van… made entirely out of potent buds. One could go on all day about how this film was an indictment of the American immigration system. Hopefully viewers will be so high watching this that all they will be able to do is appreciate how funny this movie is. The part where they smoke a joint of Maui Waui with some Labrador in it? This film is comedic genius from credits to credits. The police officers in this film are buffoonish, foiled at every turn by two men, so unbelievably stoned that they aren’t even aware that they are being pursued. This film would have easily won the award for best picture at the Stoner's Choice Awards (which, speaking of, why isn't that a thing yet?).

Following the success of Clerks, Kevin Smith and the gang are back with another cult film. Smith, who wrote, directed and starred as Silent Bob, appears along side Jay (Jason Mewes). The dynamic duo learns that a film is being created based on Bluntman and Chronic, a comic book that is derived from their likeness. Once they find out they won't get any compensation for the film, they head to Hollywood to prevent the movie from being produced. Along they way, they meet thieves disguised as an animal rights group, become the guardians of an orangutan, and escape the hands of the law.

This 2007 documentary follows Kevin Benson, an avid smoker and comedian who, after avoiding cannabis for a cleansing, smokes and consumes cannabis for 30 consecutive days. During the cleanse, Benson had various tests to evaluate his mental and physical health. He then repeated these tests during the period that he was smoking. Along with documenting Benson's behavior and life, the film also includes many interviews with dispensary owners, activists, patients, and politicians who are participating in the medical cannabis movement.

Video game tester Alex (Allen Covert) is evicted from his apartment due to his roommate using all his rent money to pay for hookers. After exploring other unsuccessful, and odd, options, the single man is forced to then move in with his grandma and her two female friends. Alex embellishes his living arrangements and brags to his friends that he is now living with three sexually hungry older women. Matters get worse when the women begin to consume Alex's weed, as it is around the house in various edible forms. Aside from Alex's antics and bad luck, what's funnier than high old women? We've all seen that video of the grandma's getting high right?! This film boasts a killer cast, including David Spade, Rob Schneider, Linda Cardellini, Doris Roberts, and Jonah Hill.

Getting to see Emma Watson smash Seth Rogan in the face with an ax immediately after rescuing him makes this movie worth seeing. This is not a traditional stoner movie in the sense that it doesn't revolve entirely around marijuana. It is, however, about making hilariously poor decisions in the face of crisis, which is where most stoner movies start (plus there's plenty of weed, duh). The movie follows Hollywood stars like Franco, Rogan, and Jonah Hill trapped together in a fictional apocalyptic situation that are attempting to be responsible about their supplies and sanity and, of course, failing at both. This is something that probably happens regularly with these guys (and the idea probably hit them while hanging out super stoned one day). It sounds a little vain but it translates into unbelievable comedy.

This book turned film is based on the experiences of writer Cameron Crowe, who, while freelancing for Rolling Stone, went undercover as a student at Clairemont High School in San Diego. Following the (mis)adventures of a group of friends concentrated on sex, drugs, and rock n roll, the cast includes Sean Penn, Phoebe Cates, Nicholas Cage, Jessica Jason Leigh, and Judge Reinhold. The ensemble casts form two subplots within the film, as it documents the lives of several sophomores and seniors at Ridgemont High.

Thurgood Jenkins (Dave Chappelle) and his roommates Scarface (Guillermo Diaz), Brian (Jim Bruer), and Kenny (Harland Williams) are just an average group of potheads living together in a New York City loft. When Kenny is arrested for accidentally killing a police horse, his friends come to the rescue by setting up a popular weed delivery service. However, local kingpin, Samson Simpson (Clarence Williams III) and his army of kung fu vixens have quite a bit to say about it. Meanwhile, Thurgood pursues the love of his life, Mary Jane Potman (Rachel True), caught up between his love for the good leaf and his good woman. Watch for cameos from the likes of Jon Stewart, Janeane Garofalo, and Snoop Dogg.

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About the Creator

Johnny Hash

Born in Kingsland, Arkansas. Spent way too much time watching TV. Daily toker. Still in Kingsland, Arkansas.

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