By Jennifer Gallagher
The advent of high-quality cheap cannabis seeds makes cultivating a stash of premium buds easier than ever. Once you’ve harvested the fruits of your labor, what better way to enjoy your haul than watching a classic weed movie?
You’re here for some great movie suggestions, so let’s jump in. Below, in no particular order, are six of the best flicks to enjoy with a well-packed bowl of buds.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Over fifty years after its release, 2001: A Space Odyssey is still one of the most visually impressive stories ever. On top of its spectacular imagery, it tells a riveting tale about humanity and AI.
After discovering an alien monolith on the moon, Earth sends a ship towards Jupiter to learn more. With most of the crew in stasis, HAL 9000, an advanced artificial general intelligence, primarily handles the vehicle’s functions.
A seemingly innocuous order given to HAL spirals into a terrifying sequence of events with enormous ramifications for all humanity. If you like thought-provoking cerebral sci-fi, 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the best movies to watch while high.
2. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Rob Reiner’s 1984 debut is a masterwork of mockery. This Is Spinal Tap features Reiner as Marty DiBergi, an amalgamation of Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, Steven Spielberg, and Federico Fellini.
The fictional DiBergi goes on the road with the hardworking rock band Spinal Tap during a US comeback tour. The group has the dubious honor of being “England’s Loudest Band,” played by Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer.
The mockumentary is a tongue-in-cheek look at the world of eighties heavy metal. Equal parts realistic and ridiculous; it’s a must-see for music fans.
3. Half Baked (1995)
Half Baked is an all-time stoner favorite. Despite tanking at the box office, it’s garnered a cult following among potheads everywhere, and with good reason. Dave Chappelle, who wrote and produced the movie, stars in the lead role as Thurgood, the janitor.
One day, he discovers his workplace is lab-testing potent marijuana (Maui Wowie, to be precise). Thurgood “procures” a sample to share with his three best buds, with whom he shares an apartment.
After several hits from “Wesley Pipes” and “Billy-Bong Thornton,” the gang is thoroughly blazed and in desperate need of snacks. When a resupply run involving a Funyuns-loving police horse goes wrong, one of the group ends up incarcerated.
The rest of the gang spring into action (after a quick joint, of course) and begin formulating a plan. Eighty-two minutes of laughs, gaffes, and relatable stoner humor follow. Half Baked is one of, if not the absolute best high movies from the nineties.
4. Pineapple Express (2008)
If Half Baked is the best example of stoner cinema from the nineties, Pineapple Express takes the title for the noughties. Seth Rogen stars as Dale, a pothead process server who’s started buying weed from dealer Saul, played by James Franco.
After indulging in some exotic Pineapple Express weed, Dale returns to work. While taking a smoke break, he witnesses Ted Jones, a ruthless drug kingpin, murder a man with the assistance of a cop.
In his haste, Dale discards his half-finished joint on the street, which is later identified by Jones thanks to its unique contents. This discovery sends Dale and Saul on the run from some heavy-duty criminals.
If you’re looking for a fabulous 420 movie, this comedy thriller deserves a place on your to-watch list.
5. Friday (1995)
This 1995 movie is another buddy stoner movie written by and starring Ice Cube. He plays Craig, a slacker living in Los Angeles with his best friend and small-time dealer Smokey, played by Chris Tucker.
After getting high on Smokey’s supply, the pair run afoul of not-so-small-time dealer Big Worm. Upon finding out they smoked all his product, he issues an ultimatum: either they pay for the product, or he kills them both.
The movie follows Craig and Smokey as they spend the rest of their Friday desperately trying to come up with the cash. Despite terrible reviews, this weed movie spawned a series of sequels beloved by potheads everywhere.
6. Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke (1978)
Many people credit this 1978 flick for establishing the stoner movie genre. The film stars countercultural comedy duo Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong as Pedro de Pacas and Anthony “Man” Stoner.
After being kicked out by his parents, Anthony finds himself hitchhiking on the freeway with nowhere to go. The earnest Pedro picks him up, and the two share an absurdly large joint that seals their friendship.
What follows is a series of encounters, each wackier than the last, fueled by copious amounts of pot. The duo’s journey takes them from the USA to Mexico and back again via a van made entirely of weed.
While some may find the humor here a little too silly, for stoners, this funny and farcical flick is mandatory viewing. If you enjoy their first outing, the iconic dopey duo has lots more material for your viewing pleasure.
Turn On, Spark Up, Have Fun
This short list of stoner cinema should keep you entertained for at least a few hours. While being high isn’t required to enjoy most of these movies, they’re worth watching after a few tokes.
Jennifer Gallagher
Jennifer Gallagher, an experienced cannabis grower at SeedSupreme Seedbank. During a 7-year career in the marijuana growing business, Jennifer has gained a high competence in this field. As far as weed is concerned, she knows it all inside out. Jennifer is an expert in pot-growing, as well as cannabis types and their effects. She’s also familiar with all legislation nuances.
