Cannabis is an undeniable part of American pop culture and is often referenced in weed-friendly music and stoner movies that have shaped generations of American youth. Far from the propaganda of the film Reefer Madness in the 1930s, weed movies today are less sensational and shocking and more conversational and accepting. Read below for my list of the best stoner movies on Netflix and beyond:
- Half Baked (1998): As a staple cannabis movie of the 1990s, Half Baked is well known by Generation X and Millenial potheads alike. This movie follows a group of lovable stoners who steal pot from a pharmaceutical laboratory and become weed dealers after their friend accidentally kills a police horse by feeding it junk food. Starring Dave Chapelle, Jim Breuer, Guillermo Diza, and Harland Williams, Half Baked is one of the most popular stoner movies – IMDb gives it 6.6 stars.
- Dazed and Confused (1993): While this is not one of the weed movies on Netflix, this film can be streamed on Peacock. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, and Jason London, this movie takes place on the last day of school in 1976. Full of witty oneliners, classic cars, old-school hijinks, and fresh-faced future stars – Dazed and Confused is a truly funny stoner movie. With an IMDb rating of 7.6, people seem to agree that this marijuana movie is a keeper.
- Friday (1995): Set in Compton in the mid-90s, Friday follows the main characters on the day after Craig (Ice Cube) gets fired for stealing boxes from his job. Since he has nothing better to do on this particular Friday, he hangs out with his friend Smokey (Chris Tucker) on the porch and experiences the spectrum of urban life. Movies about weed rarely touch on social issues like Friday does. From crackheads to shootouts, Friday sheds light on life in the ‘hood. Like all of the best weed movies, IMDb rates Friday high – at 7.2 stars.
- Grandma’s Boy (2006): When video game creator Alex (Allen Covert) can’t pay his rent anymore, he moves in with his quirky grandma (Doris Roberts) and her roommates (Shirley Jones and Shirley Knight). What follows is a crude, cheesy, geeky combination of gamer and stoner humor. This weed movie follows Alex as he tries to adapt to his new living arrangements and woo his new manager (Linda Cardellini) with the help of his best friend Jeff (Nick Swardson). With plenty of nudity, laughs, fart jokes, and a 6.9 IMDb rating, Grandma’s Boy is one of my favorite funny movies for stoners.
- The Night Before (2015): Not just another funny weed movie, The Night Before is also a Christmas holiday film. This movie follows a group of best friends, Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen), and Chris (Anthony Mackie), and their annual Christmas Eve tradition of hilarity and debauchery. This will be the trio’s final Christmas Eve together as Isaac and his wife, Besty (Jillian Bell), are expecting a baby. As one final hurrah, Betsy gives Isaac a box of illicit goodies for his last night of freedom. What follows is chaos and comedy. IMDb does not share my sentiments, as this movie only received 6.3 stars on the platform, but it’s my favorite stoner Christmas movie, and I watch it every holiday season.
- The Big Lebowski (1998): One of the most popular cult movies of all time, this hilariously sharp-witted film by the Coen brothers is an excellent dark comedy movie for stoners. After the consummate slacker Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is mistaken for an affluent man with the same name, shenanigans ensue. The Dude enlists his bowling buddies, including Walter (John Goodman), to unravel the mystery of his mistaken identity and the other Jeff Lebowski’s missing wife, Maude (Julianne Morre). Not another stupid stoner movie, The Big Lebowski is snarky, smart, and well written – and IMDb agrees with its 8.1-star rating.
- Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (2004): The original Harold and Kumar movie was a big hit and has earned its place on any list of good stoner movies. This film follows Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) on a cannabis-fueled adventure to find their nearest White Castle after toking up and seeing a commercial for the crave-worthy sliders. As expected, the duo faces multiple hilarious challenges on their journey deep into New Jersey. With an IMDb ranking of 7 stars, this pothead movie is not to be missed!
- Pineapple Express (2008): Part of what makes this one of the good stoner movies is the fact that it both stars, and was written by, Seth Rogen – one of my favorite celebrity cannabis evangelists. The plot follows as stoner Dale (Seth Rogen) and his weed dealer Saul (James Franco) try to escape from a dangerous drug lord (Gary Cole) and a dirty cop (Rosie Perez) after Dale witnesses a murder. More than just your run-of-the-mill comedy movie about weed, Pineapple Express is a pseudo-action film destined to be a stoner classic. IMDb agrees with its 6.9-star rating.
- Up In Smoke (1978): No list of the best movies for stoners would be complete without this classic by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. As one of the first mainstream offerings of weed in movies, Up In Smoke tracks Cheech and Chong, who inevitably become counterculture icons, on an adventure that goes from California to Mexico, and back. Full of quippy one-liners and lots of gratuitous pot smoking, Up In Smoke is beloved by stoners of all ages. This is one of the top movies for stoners that you can watch with your parents and all laugh at. And with an IMDb score of 6.9, other stoners agree.
- How High (2001): As one of the funniest early 2000s stoner movies, How High is full of vulgar jokes and comedic banter between Silas (Method Man) and Jamal (Redman). The two friends are regular guys who smoke a magical marijuana strain that helps them to ace their college entrance exams and get admitted to Harvard. The drama unfolds as their mysterious stash runs out. With an IMDb rating of 6.2, this is clearly not the best weed movie of all time, but it’s good for a laugh if you’re toking and bored.
What are your thoughts on my list? Was your favorite classic stoner movie included, or did I forget it? Hit me up on social media, and let’s get this conversation started. I would love to hear your top movies for stoners – I am always down for a good recommendation! And if movies aren’t your thing, here are some of my other favorite things to do when stoned! Whatever your preference, have fun and stay safe!
