Classic Stoner Movies

As the ground outside begins to be covered in a thin blanket of snow, there’s no better time to grab your favourite snack and cozy up with a classic stoner movie. Since the 1970’s stoner films have created a market of thier own, with the release of Cheech & Chong’s first stoner flick, Up In Smoke (1978). 

Since then, cannabis-inspired films have become a mainstream part of media. Albeit, with many of these films being made in the 80’s and 90’s, majority of them emphasize the stereotypical aspects of cannabis culture which we have since progressed past. Nevertheless, we- the very productive and successful stoners - have compiled this list in good fun to get ready for the upcoming holiday season. 

Up in Smoke (1978)

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong’s first feature length film where they star themselves as two stoners who unknowingly smuggle a van made entirely of cannabis. 

The template for stoner comedies was set in this movie, which remains Cheech and Chong’s best film (by a long shot). It nimbly sketched the outline of dozens of weed films to follow, and permanently grafted drug humor onto any number of sturdy comedy tropes.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

This film perfectly captures the magical vibe of the 1970’s, featuring an ensemble cast of future Hollywood big names celebrating the restless spirit of high-school life in an unapologetic manner. Dazed and Confused is a funny, affectionate and expertly crafted coming-of-age drama that covers the adventures of various groups of teenagers during their last day of school in the summer of 1976.

Half Baked (1998)

Half Baked is known for its alternately broad jokes, with the disjointed rhythm often making it feel slapped together, like a corporate training video trying to seem cool for the youth demographic. Screenwriters Dave Chappelle and his “Chappelle’s Show” co-creator Neal Brennan prefigured an early 21st century sensibility in much of the giddily profane jokes and certain non-sequitur sequences still sing to this day. It’s also one of the rare stoner comedies helmed by a woman, “Billy Madison” director Tamra Davis.

Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000)

Think of Dude, Where's My Car? as the slightly less funny, stoner forefather to The Hangover. Except instead of losing their best friend, Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott lose Kutcher's car and get the dumbest tattoos possible while trippin' out on their wild night. It just goes to show, drugs can make you do dumb shit and make even dumber movies.

Harold and Kumar go to Whitecastle (2004)

Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) decide one stoned evening to head to the mini-burger palace of White Castle to satisfy their munchies. The trip quickly goes off the rails as they run into a surprise surgical session, sexual propositioning, Neil Patrick Harris, cops, a cheetah and naturally, plenty of weed. 

Pineapple Express (2008)

A disenchanted process server, Dale (Seth Rogen), becomes reluctant friends with his weed dealer, Saul (James Franco), when they witness a murder at the hand of Saul's supplier. Of course, being the stoners they are, they blow up their own spot by leaving a joint of the mega rare strain of cannabis known as Pineapple Express at the scene of the crime. There are some ninjas, Rosie Perez, a Daewoo Lanos, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride, and you're salty the whole time that you will never get to puff anything that can be equated to.