Top 25 Weed Movies That’ll Leave You (Half) Baked
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The post Top 25 Weed Movies That’ll Leave You (Half) Baked appeared first on Consequence.
This 4/20, we’re celebrating the best intersections of weed and pop culture. After reading through this list of the best weed movies, be sure to also check out the 50 Best Stoner Albums to Give You a Contact High and Country Music’s Complicated Relationship with Weed in 10 Songs.
Assembling a list of the best weed movies ever is a bit tricky, considering that the difference between a film that happens to be a great celebration of smoking marijuana and a genuinely great film can be pretty vast. Yet there’s a sweet spot to be found here, as exemplified by the movies listed below, which range from dreamy mysteries to sweet and chill comedies to wild descents into madness.
In the 2000s, marijuana legalization efforts — and more importantly, the financial success of comedies like Knocked Up and Pineapple Express — led to an explosion of weed-friendly features concerned less about the law and more about a good time. While this gave us a wide range of options from that decade, there are still plenty of films from the 20th century below, because while every generation might like to believe that they’ve discovered drugs, the fact is that people have been getting high for a lot longer than they’ve been making movies.
Top 50 Stoner Albums to Give You a Contact High
Thus, some of the best films on this list come from a time when it might not have been legal, but it sure as hell was popular. And even if you don’t personally partake, you can appreciate the impact that pot has had on our culture. Doesn’t matter if you toke up before watching — the contact high will be real.
— Liz Shannon Miller
Senior Entertainment Editor
Editor’s Note: Elevate your watching experience while you view these classics by checking out the 4/20 sale on the Consequence Shop, where all CBD, Delta-8, and THC-O products and accessories are buy one, get one 25% off now through April 30th, 2023. You can also pre-order the new GWAR Bud of Gods line, New Dank Ages, featuring all sorts of CBD treats and merch.
25. Ganjasaurus Rex (1987)
Grab your funniest friends and dust off your Mystery Science Theater 3000 impressions — Ganjasaurus Rex is the best worst movie you’ve never seen. A prehistoric terror is awakened by helicopters from the War on Drugs, and the world’s only hope is a ragtag band of pot farmers. The budget is as small as Rex is big, and the monster’s roar is very clearly an unedited man saying, “Roar!” Honestly, it’s one of the more convincing performances. But this satire of Reaganism and the militarization of police has enough conviction in its own goofy premise to make Ganjasuarus Rex worth a watch. — Wren Graves
24. Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000)
Dude, Where’s My Car? (20th Century Fox)
In 2000’s Dude, Where’s My Car?, Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott are on another level of himbo irreverence. As they waltz around Southern California looking for their vehicle, they encounter a series of wacky characters that are somehow more outlandish than them: aliens in disguise looking for a device called the “transfunctioner,” a weird UFO cult leader named “Zoltan,” a French ostrich farmer, and several more eccentric figures. Now serving as a cult film and a time capsule to the early 2000s’ low-hanging humor and overall foolishness, the best moment of Dude, Where’s My Car? arrives when the duo realizes they got tattoos on their backs the previous night: One says “dude,” the other says “sweet.” Our modern-day Abbott and Costello end up asking each other repeatedly what their tattoos say, ending up in a cyclical, escalating argument that will still have you in stitches. — Paolo Ragusa
23. Magical Mystery Tour (1968)
Magical Mystery Tour (Channel Thirteen)
Psychedelic, grandiose, but a little messy, The Beatles crafted a haphazard drug-fueled fever dream, in which The Fab Four embark on a coach bus tour through the English countryside — until hijinks ensue at the hands of rogue magicians. Magical Mystery Tour was largely improvised, and it shows within the tangled web of sketches and jumbled plotlines. The saving grace of the film comes from the music: Hits such as “I Am the Walrus,” “All My Loving,” and “Hello, Goodbye” are all performed throughout the movie. – Grace Ann Natanawan
22. Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (Paramount)
Have you ever wondered what the titular heroes of Beavis and Butt-Heat would do without their television? The 1996 movie answers that question: Go on an epic quest for another. Along the way they are entangled in a plot by Muddy Grimes (Bruce Willis) to kill his wife (Demi Moore), they meet a pair of former roadies who might very well be their fathers, Beavis accidentally ingests way too much peyote, and they never, ever score. In the end they end up right back where they began. It’s Homer’s Odyssey if Odysseus’s wife were a television and Odysseus himself were two horny idiots. — W. Graves
21. Knocked Up (2007)
Knocked Up (Universal)
Key to Judd Apatow’s breakthrough comedy hit Knocked Up is the odd couple pairing at its center, with tightly-wound Allison (Katherine Heigl) and stoner Ben (Seth Rogen) doing their best to figure out if they can make unplanned parenthood work. But many of the film’s funniest scenes come from Ben’s equally stoned friends (an ensemble including Apatow stalwarts Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Martin Starr, and Charlyne Yi). From the development of a website devoted to celebrity nudity to outlandish bets to a house-wide epidemic of pinkeye, there’s something relatable and also enviable about watching the gang just hang out in a crappy Valley living room. All that, plus Pete (Paul Rudd) and Ben’s hallucinogen-fueled hotel room freakout, ensures this film’s status as a 420 must-see. — L.S. Miller
20. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (Miramax)
Although there are plenty of high points (sorry) in the very meta and self-referential comedy, no one is going to say that Kevin Smith’s fifth film as director is his best. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back does represent a true achievement in the annals of pot comedy, however, thanks to the live-action Bluntman and Chronic film-within-a-film inspired by Jay and Silent Bob. Three words: Blunt. Bong. Saber. That is all. — L.S. Miller
19. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (New Line Cinema)
A long-ass fucking time ago, two stoners embarked on an epic journey of tasty licks, raunchy jokes, and weed, all in the name of paying their rent. With Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Jack Black and Kyle Gass crafted a genuinely exciting, surprisingly catchy, perfectly dumb romp for any musically inclined cannabis-enjoyer. It’s a fun time sober and an exquisite time high, so make like Kage, smoke away your rent money, and enjoy the D’s transformation from underachievers to rock gods. – Jonah Krueger
18. Your Highness (2011)
Your Highness (Universal)
This is the only film on this list that has even a passing interest in the genitalia of a minotaur — which is to say, Your Highness is a stoner movie in part because those involved were clearly stoned while they wrote it. Building on his success with Pineapple Express, director David Gordon Green reunited key members of that team for this bawdy medieval tale of two princely brothers, Thadeous (Danny McBride) and Fabious (James Franco), on a quest to save the latter’s intended bride (Zooey Deschanel). Your Highness cost more to make than Pineapple Express and made less at the box office, but the hilarious antics, not to mention a delightful Natalie Portman in her post-Black Swan “sure, why not?” era, go a long way towards maintaining this film’s relevance. — L.S. Miller
17. A Serious Man (2009)
A Serious Man (Focus Features)
The Coen brothers’ A Serious Man is one of the bleakest portrayals of suburban life ever presented on screen – and it’s absolutely hilarious. On paper, the black comedy reads as a straight tragedy, with a protagonist who can’t win no matter how hard he tries. But that Sisyphean absurdity is where the humor lies; it’s life’s greatest punchline. Of course, it helps to grease the wheels with a certain plant-based relaxant so that the dark comedy leads to laughter rather than a panic attack. The film all but explicitly endorses bringing out your bong, as the potty-mouthed, weed-smoking, shit-head kids fare the best out of anyone by the time the credits roll. As far as we’re concerned, the secret of life might truly be a little bit of ganja and Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love.” – J. Krueger
16. Yellow Submarine (1967)
Yellow Submarine (United Artists)
Ever since Bob Dylan corrupted the Fab Four with a little taste of the devil’s lettuce, The Beatles have become icons of drug culture. Their musical psychedelia is, of course, their most notable contribution, but the trippy experimentalism translated to the silver screen as well. Yellow Submarine, the animated what-the-fuck-is-happening jukebox musical, is one of their most successful attempts at stimulating the inebriated — even if they didn’t actually voice themselves in the film. With a signature Beatles-esque art style, made-up internal logic, and an absolutely banging soundtrack, it doesn’t matter if you’re able to follow along or not, because your eyes are glued to the screen. – J. Krueger
15. Superbad (2007)
Superbad (Sony)
Of all the movies about high schoolers on a quest to vanquish their virginity, Superbad might be the only one that’s actually aged really, really well. The 2007 comedy eschews rape culture, celebrates male vulnerability, and hinges its punchlines on the sheer goofiness of its characters, rather than the low-hanging fruits of sexism, racism, or homophobia. Despite Seth Rogen co-writing and starring in the film, it isn’t explicitly a “stoner movie,” but it yields a certain comforting quality that pairs perfectly with the green stuff. Idiocy has rarely been conveyed as brilliantly as it was in Superbad, and we’ll gladly light up for that. — Abby Jones
14. Saving Grace (2000)
Saving Grace (20th Century Fox)
After the success of The Full Monty, there was a flood of “British people getting up to naughty shenanigans in quaint villages” productions, a pattern which definitely led to the making of the 2000 dramedy Saving Grace. The film is about a recent widow (Brenda Blethyn) who discovers that her dead husband’s terrible business decisions have put her in jeopardy of losing everything she has. Fortunately, she has a talent with plants that gives her gardener Matthew (Craig Ferguson) ideas — and soon enough, Grace’s greenhouse has become a hydroponic haven for marijuana. Saving Grace is a bit slight, mistaking charm for substance, but the winning performances make it a low-key feel-good viewing experience, packed with proper British grannies baked out of their gourds. — L.S. Miller
13. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Universal)
Ostensibly about gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is actually an experimental film about taking drugs that also happens to be entertaining while taking drugs. Terry Gilliam’s bonkers cinematic adventure is only connected to reality by strong performances from Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro, who manage to strike the perfect tone of pitch-black comedy and outright psychosis. Take anything too strong and you might find yourself disassociating into all the Fear and Loathing, but in the words of the characters, “a little grass” will mellow you right out. — W. Graves
12. Inherent Vice (2014)
Inherent Vice (Warner Bros.)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s film adaptation of the 2009 Thomas Pynchon novel follows hippie private investigator Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) through a thick cloud of weed smoke, as Doc tries to track down his suddenly missing ex-girlfriend Shasta Fay Hepworth. Unlike a traditional murder mystery that gets to the point, Inherent Vice plays more like a hazy recollection of events through Doc’s stoned eyes, with narration by Joanna Newsome and strange interactions with strange characters like heroin addict/musician Coy Harlingen (Owen Wilson) and Black Guerrilla Family member Tariq Khalil (Michael K. Williams). This movie definitely gets some points for its stunning cinematography that captures the essence of ’70s counterculture in California, with a psychedelic folk soundtrack composed by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood helping set the film’s tone. Inherent Vice reminds us that it’s not always the destination, it’s about the journey. — Sun Noor
11. Half Baked (1998)
Half Baked (Universal)
Half Baked pokes fun at stoner stereotypes in a lighthearted manner, creating an infinitely quotable classic for the ages. The plot follows the four stoner friends Thurgood (Dave Chappelle), Scarface (Guillermo Diaz), Brian (Jim Breuer), and Kenny (Harland Williams). When Kenny gets arrested and sent to jail for accidentally killing a diabetic police horse, requiring a million-dollar bail, the friends map out a master plan to raise those funds… during a smoke session. As you might expect, said master plan thus leads to a chaotic and hysterical adventure, featuring a handful of unexpected celebrity cameos including Snoop Dogg, Bob Saget, Willie Nelson, Tommy Chong, and more. Whether or not you’re stoned, Half Baked guarantees lots of unrestrained laughter. — S. Noor
10. Super Troopers (2001)
Super Troopers (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Oh, the shenanigans! This 2001 cult classic from Broken Lizard is one of the great slapstick films of the 2000s. The plot revolves around a drug-busting operation, but honestly, who can remember the plot? Far more memorable are pranks at Farva’s expense and wondering just meow fast you were going right meow. Despite the pretended anti-drug message, Super Troopers takes place in an idyllic world where the snozzberries taste like snozzberries and you’ll never say no to a mustache ride. — W. Graves
09. Smiley Face (2007)
Smiley Face (First Look International)
You’re reading this list right now, so we’d bet that at some point in your life, you’ve found yourself in a situation like Smiley Face, an uncharacteristically lighthearted comedy flick from arthouse auteur Gregg Araki. Jane (a delightful Anna Faris) is an aspiring actress who has a particularly busy day ahead of her; as fate would have it, she starts it by accidentally consuming way too many edibles. The result is a hilarious Cheech and Chong-meets-Uncut Gems disaster complete with absurdist editing, a killer soundtrack, and a surprising supporting role from John Krasinski before Hollywood realized he was a hunk. — A. Jones
08. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (New Line Cinema)
Racist police are scary but Neil Patrick Harris is scarier in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, a movie whose title is a quest, a challenge, and a promise. For a couple of stoners (John Cho and Kal Penn) trying to get some mid fast food, the insane difficulty is part of the joke. The three Harold & Kumar flicks mock the very idea of a payoff worth the effort, with prizes ranging from tiny bland hamburgers (…Go to White Castle), to attending an ex’s wedding (…Escape from Guantanamo Bay), to a dead tree (A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas). Never mind the destination, the Harold & Kumar franchise celebrates unexpected journeys with good bud and better friends. — W. Graves
07. Reefer Madness (2005)
Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (Showtime)
The television adaptation of Kevin Murphy, Dan Studney, and Andy Fickman’s 1998 musical is a cannonball of fun, satirical absurdity. The original stage musical parodies the 1939 propaganda film Reefer Madness by depicting a group of young high schoolers who become addicted to the chronic, and in a state of crazed inebriation, begin to worship Satan and participate in obscenities. The 2005 film takes all the hilarious musical numbers and crazy hallucinations and adds more production value, making these ridiculous sequences of pot-induced benders feel larger than life. Its satirical message — which deftly skewers a whole generation’s paranoia and bias around marijuana — is still relevant today, as the film’s creators opted to make Reefer Madness a campy celebration that might just blow your mind. — P. Ragusa
06. Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke (1978)
Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke (Paramount)
The godfathers of pot comedy, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong headlined several films built on their weed-infused humor, with Up in Smoke remaining their first and freshest offering. Playing two relative strangers who bond instantly after discovering a mutual affection for pot, the resulting adventure soars thanks to Marin and Chong’s natural chemistry and some bonkers plotting (which sees “Man” and “Pedro” in constant pursuit by the cops until they stumble their way into a rock band competition). Up in Smoke created a proud tradition of anarchic buddy comedy pictures with a certain distinct aroma to them. They’re icons for a reason. — L.S. Miller
05. Friday (1995)
Friday (New Line Cinema)
A franchise was born and careers were launched on the porch of a South Central LA house, where Craig (Ice Cube) and his best friend Smokey (Chris Tucker) spend their time on a lazy jobless Friday. As Ice Cube reflected to Rolling Stone in 2017, “We wanted to make what we called a ‘hood classic,'” and director F. Gary Gray was successful; its light look at life in that community is a huge aspect of its charm. A sweet haze of smoke also hangs over the film, with a major sequence devoted to Craig enjoying his first joint, as it becomes a love letter to kicking back with your friends and enjoying the freedom life offers. — L.S. Miller
04. Pineapple Express (2008)
Pineapple Express (Sony)
In this bawdy romp, Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) and his mild-mannered dealer Saul Silver (James Franco) smoke the rarest strain of weed in the world, known as the “Pineapple Express.” The same night, Denton witnesses a murder and the pair are hunted down by the biggest drug lord in town, and an action-packed, weed-infused journey ensues. The movie was the first “marijuana-themed” comedy to gross over $100 million worldwide; overflowing with dick jokes and Rogen-esque stoner humor, Pineapple Express is the perfect 4/20 watch. According to Twitter, Rogen even rolled every cross joint featured in the movie, adding up to about a hundred joints. – G.A. Natanawan
03. Easy Rider (1969)
Easy Rider (Columbia Pictures)
One of America’s great movies about marijuana use is also one of our great movies about America. Easy Rider was at the center of the rising counter-culture movement of the 1960s, and today it’s a remarkably Zen experience to watch “Captain America” (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper, who also directs) travel across the country via motorcycle. The full majesty of the landscape serves as a perfect background for the wild journey of two men who represent the dream of the era — all kinds of freedom and liberation, drug-enhanced or otherwise — with an ending that foreshadows darker days to come for the aforementioned counter-culture, as well as the nation as a whole. — L.S. Miller
02. Dazed and Confused (1993)
Dazed and Confused (Gramercy Pictures)
You can feel the last day of school euphoria setting in as Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused begins — and from there, the film unfolds like a delightful, deeply memorable trip. This ’70s period piece depicts the heyday of youth stoner culture in a sprawling, organic way, with characters and storylines blending in and out of focus for just one single evening. Linklater’s films highlight the beauty of insignificance; in Dazed and Confused, we’re taken through what would end up being a special day for protagonist “Pink” Floyd, but there’s no emotional climax or even a challenging conflict. Instead, we drift through this character’s environment like smoke flowing through a keg party, landing on seemingly small moments that become unsuspectingly poignant and rich. Along with Slacker, Dazed and Confused became a Gen X staple that epitomized the forgotten youth that so many enjoyed in the late ’70s. Not only that, it’s named after one of the most stoner-friendly Led Zepplin songs — the hazy bliss is right there in the title. — P. Ragusa
01. The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Big Lebowski (Gramercy Pictures)
In this Coen brothers classic, White Russian-drinking, weed-smoking, Eagles-hating slacker Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) gets mistaken for a millionaire of the same name. After some goons break into his house and pee on his rug, The Dude is dragged into the life of millionaire Jeff “Big Lebowski,” forced to cope with a kidnapping situation that goes more haywire than imagined instead of doing what he wants to do: smoke joints and go bowling with his buds.
It’s an absurdist plot that at the end of the day is almost inconsequential; what matters is how the film’s raunchy, ridiculous, and completely committed comedy helped it grow from critical shrug-off to cult favorite. The stacked cast list features appearances from Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Goodman, and John Turturro — and even a bit part for Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Flea — all delivering some of their most memorable performances. Complete with musical dream sequences, endlessly quotable dialogue, and a fantastically stoned lead, it’s no wonder why this lucid comedy has become a defining moment for both the Coens and Bridges. It’s also pretty clear why it tops this list, but that’s just, like, our opinion, man. – G.A. Natanawan
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Top 25 Weed Movies That’ll Leave You (Half) Baked
Consequence Staff
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