This 420 there’s no more authentic way to celebrate than sparking up, laying back, and watching some movies. That’s why in this list, we’ve compiled some of history’s most iconic stoner flicks. So, keep reading to see which classic stoner movies you should put on this 420.
Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke
Up first on our list of stoner movie classics is perhaps the most iconic piece of stoner media of all time: Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke. The story begins when Anthony Stoner (played by Tommy Chong) leaves home and is picked up as a hitchhiker by Pedro de Pacas (played by Cheech Marin). While traveling on the road, the two share a comically large joint and are eventually arrested. Luckily both avoid jail time when it’s revealed that the judge was drinking vodka during the trial.
Throughout the movie, the pair is on the hunt for some smoke, which leads them to Pedro’s cousin Strawberry’s house. Eventually, immigration services come to deport everyone on the premises. Pedro reveals that his family called immigration on themselves in order to get a free ride down to Tijuana for a family wedding. So, they all head down to Tijuana on the immigration bus. From here, Anthony and Pedro look for Pedro’s Uncle’s upholstery shop to pick up a car that they can drive back to America. Instead, they mistakenly stumble upon a drug smuggling front disguised as an upholstery shop. None the wiser, the two are sent off to go back to America in a car made entirely out of weed. Hilarity ensues on this road trip as they are chased by incompetent police officers who are unable to catch the two at every turn.
Pineapple Express
Another classic stoner movie you’ve got to watch this 420 is Pineapple Express. The story follows Dale Denton after he picks up a rare strain of weed called Pineapple Express from his dealer Saul. While sitting in his car smoking a joint of this strain, Dale witnesses a murder take place in a nearby home. Freaked out, he throws his roach out of his car window and makes a less-than-graceful escape. The murderer and his accomplice see this and run outside, where they find his joint on the ground. Unfortunately, the murderer is a local drug lord who recognizes the elusive strain that Dale was smoking. Following this, the murderer sends his henchmen to find the person who saw him. From here, Dale and his dealer Saul go on a wild adventure to avoid being caught by this drug lord for fear that they may be his next victims.
Dude Where’s My Car
Another classic stoner movie to enjoy this 420 is Dude, Where’s My Car? This movie follows two friends, Jesse and Chester, after a night of partying and shenanigans. Unfortunately for the duo, they have no recollection of the previous night’s events. Once they exit the house, they realize their car is nowhere in sight. While on the journey to recover their car, Jesse and Chester run into a slew of wacky characters. Eventually, the men are approached by two groups of aliens searching for their “Continuum Transfunctioner” that the two had accidentally acquired the previous night. To describe the zaniness of this film any further is a moot point. We recommend you put it on this 420 to see what transpires for yourself.
Dazed & Confused
Moving along our list of classic stoner movies to watch this 420 is Dazed and Confused. The film has no single protagonist or central conflict. Instead, it follows interconnected plot threads among different social groups and characters. These include rising ninth graders undergoing hazing rituals, a football star’s refusal to sign a clean living pledge for his coach, and various characters hanging out at a pool hall. As the night progresses, students loiter around the local pool hall, listen to rock music, and cruise the neighborhood. After the pool hall closes, an impromptu keg party is planned in a field under a moonlight tower. This funny yet heartwarming coming-of-age comedy shows a little slice of life of what it was like to be a teenager in the 70’s.
Grandma’s Boy
Lastly, the final stoner movie on our list this 420 is Grandma’s Boy. The story follows Alex, a single 35-year-old video game tester who lives with his friend Josh. When it’s revealed that Josh has been spending all of their rent money on Filipino hookers, the two are promptly evicted from their home. In his search for a new place to stay, Alex tries first to stay with his weed dealer Dante. When this doesn’t work out, he ends up spending the night at his coworker Jeff’s. After an embarrassing encounter with Jeff’s mother, Alex eventually decides to live with his grandmother and her two eccentric friends Bea and Grace.
In an attempt to make this situation seem cooler than it is, Alex tells his co-workers that he’s living with “three hot babes”. His co-workers believe him and assume that these “hot babes” are the ones “wearing him out” every day. In reality, Alex is worn out every day due to him spending late nights trying to create his own video game. This task proves difficult though, as his grandmother and her roommates constantly distract him.
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Which is to say, cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Therefore, do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Furthermore, there may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. To sum up, keep out of the reach of children.