14 Best Classic Stoner Comedies to Watch & Chill

Since the release of Reefer Madness in 1936, arguably Hollywood’s first cult trip into the lives of potheads, the stoner comedy has quietly become one of cinema’s wildest yet entertaining genres. The best stoner movies have mostly no plot, are infused with offensive jokes, and can be so visually bizarre we can’t help but be left feeling dazed and confused. Yet, movies about rolling a joint and getting high always have fans coming back for more.

From star-filled high school adventures to buddies hanging out, stoners have graced the silver screen for decades. Whether it’s defining stoner comedies like Dazed and Confused or contemporary essentials like The Beach Bum, these are some of the most iconic movies about getting stoned.

14 ‘Dazed and Confused’ (1993)

Directed by Richard Linklater

It’s 1976 in Austin, Texas, another school year is over, and the summer break has arrived. Written and directed by Richard Linklater, Dazed and Confused follows the day in the lives of several teenagers as they set out on a night of partying and getting drunk.

Linklater’s coming-of-age comedy is a cool, smooth-talking ride that tracks teenagers getting high and having fun. It stars a band of rising, up-and-coming actors (like Ben Affleck, Cole Hauser, Parker Posey, Adam Goldberg, and so on) and features a killer soundtrack filled with ‘70s rock n’ roll. Infused with an authentic view of 1970s Americana, Dazed and Confused also starred Matthew McConaughey, who stole the show as sleazy-yet-likable slacker Wooderson. Alright, alright, alright.

Watch on Hulu

13 ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ (1982)

Directed by Amy Heckerling

Based on writer Cameron Crowe’s experience going undercover at a high school, Fast Times at Ridgemont High chronicles the life of Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and several other California high school students who learn about sex and drugs.

Directed by Amy Heckerling in a memorable film directorial debut, Fast Times at Ridgemont High is an authentic look at teenagers growing up on-screen. Raunchy and fresh, the high school comedy also boasted an ensemble cast of actors who would go on to be major stars in the industry, like Phoebe Cates and Judge Reinhold. Sean Penn also delivered a memorable star-marking performance as carefree stoner Jeff Spicoli.

Rent on Apple TV

12 ‘Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle’ (2004)

Directed by Danny Leiner

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle follows the story of best friends Harold and Kumar, who while stoned and watching television, find themselves enthralled and bewitched by a commercial for White Castle. This soon sets the duo off on a strange late-night adventure to satiate their craving, as they go face to face with a number of increasingly strange obstacles, from rednecks and cops to tigers and Neil Patrick Harris.

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle takes a hilariously simple and seemingly uneventful plot and is able to weave a tale of chaos and beauty to make it a perfect stoner comedy. Even more than simply being raunchy stoner comedies of the early 2000s, this film as well as the subsequent Harold & Kumar sequels have an undeniable charm and special aura that make them a joy to watch to this day. The film also features the perfect visualization and adaptation of what it feels to finally satiate those high-induced munchies and cravings.

Rent on Apple TV

11 ‘We’re the Millers’ (2013)

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber

When David (Jason Sudeikis), a middle-aged pot dealer, gets his stuff stolen by teenagers, he is ordered to pick up his supplier’s latest shipment in Mexico. In order to successfully carry out the mission, he creates a fake family, and they head across the border.

Filled with hilarious performances from a stellar cast (that includes the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Will Poulter, Emma Roberts, Nick Offerman, and several others), We’re the Millers is an entertaining adventure about a band of misfits smuggling drugs that became a big box office success in 2013. The Rawson Marshall Thurber-directed stoner comedy was packed with laugh-out-loud gags and great chemistry between Sudeikis, Aniston, Poulter, and Roberts.

Rent on Apple TV

10 ‘Idiocracy’ (2006)

Directed by Mike Judge

Idiocracy follows the story of Joe Bauers, who is chosen to test the Pentagon’s top-secret Human Hibernation Project thanks to his stature as quite possibly the most average American they could find. Joe is soon sent into the far-off year of 2505 alongside prostitute, Rita, only to learn that civilization has dumbed down so much over the centuries that they are the smartest people on the planet by default.

Idiocracy combines its highly creative and imaginative concept with enough simple and easy-to-understand humor to make it a pitch-perfect stoner comedy. From all water being replaced with sports drinks to the President of the United States partaking in destruction derby Colosseum events, the film is filled with a number of hilarious absurdist moments. While Idiocracy can feel weirdly prophetic considering modern-day politics, the film still features enough laughs and great moments to make it a great time.

Rent on Apple TV

9 ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’ (2001)

Directed by Kevin Smith

When Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) hear that one of their comics is being adapted into a feature-length movie, they are filled with excitement at the thought of all the money they would make from it. But, when the two discover they aren’t getting any of the profits, they set out on a mission to stop the film being made at all costs.

Everyone’s favorite Hollywood duo returned in this entertaining stoner-filled adventure-comedy back in 2001. Filled with silly jokes and plenty of cameo appearances from famous stars (like Matt Damon, Wes Craven, Carrie Fisher, and James Van Der Beek), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a stupid-yet-fun movie about two fan-favorite stoner buddies. Directed by Silent Bob himself, Kevin Smith, the film also starred Mark Hamill in a goofy and scene-stealing performance.

Watch on Paramount+

8 ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ (1998)

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp), and his lawyer, Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro), travel to Las Vegas together to report a motorcycle race. When they arrive, the pair get stoned and go on a massive drug binge. Their proceeding adventures and experiences in Vegas bring the duo to the brink of insanity as they slowly but surely succumb to their hallucinogenic fever dream.

Based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel of the same name, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a bizarre and wacky fever dream from Terry Gilliam. The comedy-adventure became one of those box office bombs that gained cult status; it contained an off-the-rails performance from Depp, was visually striking, and featured cameos from the likes of Tobey Maguire and Cameron Diaz.

Rent on Apple TV

7 ‘The Big Lebowski’ (1998)

Directed by Ethan Coan, Joel Coen

Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), a fifty-something slacker who hangs out with his pals as they go bowling and smoke pot, is mistaken for a wealthy man with the same name. When his rug is ruined, however, he seeks compensation while enlisting his buddies to help in his search to find a missing wife.

The Big Lebowski has become a cult favorite ever since it was released in 1998, gaining more fans over the years. Led by Bridge’s lovable performance as “The Dude,” The Big Lebowski is an eccentric and funny crime caper from The Coen Brothers. The film is also infused with quotable one-liners, a brilliant soundtrack, and an oddly compelling dream sequence.

Rent on Apple TV

6 ‘Hot Rod’ (2007)

Directed by Akiva Schaffer

Hot Rod follows the story of Rod Kimble (played by Andy Samberg), an accident-prone local stuntman who considered his stunts to be a way of life, despite his lack of respect from his stepfather, Frank. However, when Frank soon falls ill with a terminal illness, it becomes up to Rod and his crew to raise enough money for Frank’s operation, so that Rod can prove his manliness and kick Frank’s butt before it’s too late.

Hot Rod achieves some of the highest highs of a comedy of the 2000s, perfectly balancing the comedic stylings of the era with its awkward and non-serious underdog story. Thanks in part to the film’s spectacular ensemble of comedic stars, there is no shortage of memorable and quotable moments throughout the entire film that will have its audience in nonstop laughing fits. The film also features that perfect mix of being genuinely funny while also being undeniably stupid to make it hit that much harder as a stoner comedy.

Watch on Showtime

5 ‘Pineapple Express’ (2008)

Directed by David Gordon Green

A stoner and his drug dealer find themselves on the run from a criminal gang when they witness the gang’s boss murder someone. Together, they are chased by a crooked cop and an evil drug lord.

Another pot-fuelled adventure that has since gained a cult following, 2008’s Pineapple Express was a fun-filled romp and generated lots of box office success. The chemistry between Seth Rogen and James Franco (the latter’s misconduct allegations notwithstanding), the confident style, and a script full of low-brow laughs made Pineapple Express one of the most memorable stoner comedies in recent memory.

Watch on Starz

4 ‘Inherent Vice’ (2014)

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Adapted from a 2007 novel of the same name, Inherent Vice tracks the life of an L.A. detective in 1970s California who spends his days solving cases while taking marijuana. However, when his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend go missing, he is called into action to uncover the mystery.

While light on laughs, Inherent Vice is still infused with enough pot-smoking antics to be considered a classic in the genre of weed-centric movies. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film was also a mesmeric trip into the world of potheads and criminal bosses led by Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Larry “Doc” Sportello (whose performance earned lots of praise), which made the neo-noir thriller a critical hit in 2014.

Rent on Apple TV

3 ‘Smiley Face’ (2007)

Directed by Gregg Araki

Smiley Face follows the story of Jane, a struggling and perpetually stoned actress who has an incredibly busy day ahead of her, and ends up eating a batch of pot-laced cupcakes before leaving. This results in her embarking on a series of high-induced misadventures as she attempts to travel across the city of Los Angeles and accomplish her tasks while being completely inebriated.

While initially seeming like just another story of a character getting high and dealing with the consequences, what makes Smiley Face stand out is just how much undeniable charm and wit is present throughout. Nearly every aspect of the film and filmmaking embellishes the good vibes feeling of getting high, and it’s a feeling that is easily translated into making the audience feel just as nice as its main character. The film is genuinely one of the most simple yet fun stoner comedies, even further amplified by the terrific lead performance from Anna Faris.

Watch on Tubi

2 ‘Superbad’ (2007)

Directed by Greg Mottola

Regarded as one of the best high school movies about graduation in recent memory, Superbad became a modern classic that became a generation-defining teen comedy back in 2007. Directed by Greg Mottola, the film is about two best friends on a quest to party and get laid before graduation.

The chemistry between Jonah Hill and Michael Cera is endearing and heart-warming, with the two sharing memorable scenes of razor-sharp wit and comedy. One of the most unforgettable parts of Superbad, however, is when Fogell/McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) hangs out with two police officers (played by Seth Rogen and Bill Hader) as they smoke pot and get drunk while they bond.

Rent on Apple TV

1 ‘The Beach Bum’ (2019)

Directed by Harmony Korine

Moondog (McConaughey) is a rebellious, pot-smoking, and fun-loving free spirit who lives life on his own terms. However, after a tragic accident, Moondog is forced to leave his relaxed lifestyle to look after his daughter as he tries to write a novel.

Directed by Harmony Korine, who brought his own unusual artistic style to the story, The Beach Bum is a joyous stoner trip through Florida. Led by a wildly captivating performance from Matthew McConaughey, who is in a role of a lifetime as a beer-drinking stoner that writes poems, The Beach Bum also stars a stellar cast (including the likes of Isla Fisher and Zac Efron) and was one of the most visually colorful films of 2019.

Watch on Max

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