Top 15 Classic Stoner Movies
We are continuing along with our series about our favorite top ten classics, but we can assure you that we are not turning into WatchMojo. Next up in our series is our top ten stoner comedies. Toking up and watching a classic stoner flick is a great way to entertain yourself during the coronavirus lockdown. It’s been 42 years since the first release of what most people would think of when they say the original stoner movie Cheech and Chong. There aren’t really any spoilers in this post, but we’ll throw in a spoiler alert here anyway here, even though these movies are all at least 20 years old. Here are our top ten stoner movies.
Classic Weed Movies with Top Notch Comedy
1. Reefer Madness (1936)
Cheech and Chong might be the original stoner movie, but Reefer Madness has it beat by many years, even though it was anything but a comedy. The sad part is that this is what people thought cannabis consumers were at this time. We’re not going to give this nonsense any more airtime, but if you haven’t seen it, you should check it out.
2. Easy Rider (1969)
While many would argue that Easy Rider came almost ten years before Cheech and Chong, it’s not necessarily a stoner movie, especially since the main characters sell coke – although they do smoke weed in the flick. It’s more of a hippie movie than it is a stoner movie, showcasing life on the road and the mindset of the 1960’s counterculture.
3. The Big Lebowski (1998)
This critically-acclaimed cult classic follows the laid-back stoner Lebowkski, aka the dude as he is mistaken for a millionaire who owes money to criminals. While The Dude would just rather be bowling, his friend Walter, played by John Goodman, schemes a plan to keep the ransom money that was meant for the millionaire’s wife. Also tieing the room together are Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, and the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman.
“Well, that’s just like, your opinion, man…”
4. Saving Grace (2000)
This underrated British stoner flick follows the widowed Grace who realizes that her late husband had died with some significant debt that she was then on the hook for. Unable to pay the debtors and facing foreclosure and repo, her stoner gardener convinces her to sell weed to pay for it. It’s hilarious to watch Craig Ferguson play a stoner gardener a few years before he replaced Craig Kilborn on the Late Late Show in December 2004. Also, who doesn’t love weed-smoking Grannies?
5. How High (2001)
How High follows characters played by rappers Method Man and Redman, who smoke weed that contains the ashes of their dead friend. Their dead friend then comes to them as an aspiration and tells them the answers to their SATs, getting them into Harvard. My favorite scene is when Meth wakes up Red to Rammstein and a phat blunt.
“Got blunt? Got weed?”
6. Friday (1995)
This flick came about because Ice Cube and DJ Pooh thought that movies about the hood were too violent and menacing, so they created Friday to point out some of the more lighthearted and funny parts of their lives there. It follows (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) who have until Friday to pay Debo.
“I know you don’t smoke weed. I know this. But Imma get you high today. Because you ain’t got no job, and you ain’t got sh*t to do!”
7. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
After filmmaker Kevin Smith wrote and directed Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma, nickel bag-selling, stoner buddies Jay and Silent Bob finally got their own movie with the classic stoner flick Strike Back. As Smith puts hit himself, d*ck and fart jokes abound as the duo tries to get to Hollywood to stop the Bluntman and Chronic movie from getting made for which they are the basis. Stoners and geeks love Kevin Smith flicks alike, as the references they make resonate with comic book lovers since the 90s. Smith does like a dozen podcasts and admittedly never shuts the hell up in real life, so you gotta give him props for creating a character that speaks once per flick. SNOOCHIE BOOCHIES!
“Lemme get a nickel bag. Fifteen bucks, little man, put that sh!t in my hand. If the money doesn’t show, then you owe me owe me owe.”
8. Dazed and Confused (1993)
Alright, alright, alright! A stoner flick that launched the career of Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck? That’s right kids, they both basically got their start in Dazed and Confused, which takes place in the 1970s and follows the high school life of kids from Texas. Party at the Moontower! Marijuana on one! Reefer on two!
“Say, man, you gotta joint? Uhh, no not on me, man. You’d be a lot cooler if you did…”
9. Half Baked (1998)
I am probably partial because this is one of my favorite comedies of all time. And it launched the career of legendary comedian Dave Chappelle. While Dave Chappelle, Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer, Harland Williams, and Guillermo Díaz might not have the star power of McConaughey and Affleck, it’s one of the best classic stoner flicks of all time. Bob Saget makes a guest appearance. Harland Williams’ character Kenny feeds a diabetic police horse too much food and kills the animal, so his buddies seed weed to get him out of jail. Do you ever read LOUD NEWS, man? You ever read LOUD NEWS, on weed?
“Lady, you want seven bucks for a used Kenny Loggins record? I’ll give you five. No, he signed it himself. Alright, I’ll give you four.”
10. Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke (1978)
Cheech and Chong had doing stand-up comedy together for about ten years before the release of their first movie. In this classic stoner flick, Cheech’s character meets a hitchhiking Chong and they go through various hilarious antics throughout the flick: including getting deported to Mexico and eventually winning a Battle of the Bands and a record deal. Up in Smoke initially got poor reviews from critics, but without a doubt was the first of the stoner flick genre.
“Hey man, give me a sip. Okay… Hey, that’s pee! I know. It’s for my probation officer. Oh. Does he drink pee?”
Mind-bending movies to watch when you’re high
After listing some comedy movies, now let’s talk about the movies that would totally go over your head if you were sober. However, since we are aware of the elevated understanding of philosophy that a ‘high’ brings with it, we recommend you watch the following:
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
This movie stars an unconventional pair of Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, the movie deals with a man who seeks help to move on and get over a failed relationship. The movie has a few twists and turns and might zonk you out while sober as it is inventive in its approach towards addressing heartbreak and moving on, so watching the movie while being high might help you laugh at the randomness of it.
2. Inception (2010)
Nolan is known for his complex films and this one is about heists happening in a dream state. This movie was subjected to a lot of criticism for its convoluted logic but this just might be the perfect movie to watch when you’re in a semi-dream state.
3. Shutter Island (2010)
This movie features the successful duo of Martin Scorsese-Leonardo Di Caprio, this is the experiment in the genre of ‘slasher films’. Full of dark atmospherics, creepy characters and a slightly disoriented protagonist – this film promises to dazzle you with its visuals when you’re tipsy
4. Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
Starring Tom Cruise, where he has to relive the day of his death several times. It is one hell of an entertaining movie with lots of warfare and shows Tom Cruise in a non-action hero light for a change. Great fun for when you’re inebriated
What Are Your Favorite Classic Stoner Flicks?
What are your favorite stoner movies? Let us know! Cannabis legalization has come a long way since Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke, but the depiction of the stoner in movies really hasn’t. It would be dope to see cannabis consumers depicted as something other than stereotypes, but there are bigger fish to fry for now.
Be Safe, Be Cool to Each Other
The pandemic is a rough time for many people, and we should all be thankful for the good people who are keeping our world running. A big shoutout to all of our true superheroes during this tough time – medical professionals, grocery store workers, essential first responders, and so on.
If you haven’t already checked out our classic video games article, be sure to do so! What other kinds of stoner entertainment should we cover during this lockdown? Connect with us on all social media platforms and let us know – @loudnews everywhere. If not, that’s cool too. Be cool to each other, stay safe, sanitize everything, and please wash your hands. Until next time, keep it LOUD!
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