Although April 20 is not an official holiday, it has become a popular day to celebrate all things cannabis, especially given the growing legalization of marijuana across the United States. You don’t have to be a dedicated pothead to participate in 4/20 activities. Cannabis culture is as much about a particular lifestyle as it is about actual participation, as evidenced by the powerful subgenre of stoner films.
The best stoner movies focus on the attitudes and worldview that come with the stoner lifestyle, not just the characters smoking pot. Even if you’ve never lit a joint in your life, these movies can bring you simple joy and deceptively deep revelations. Sober or high, here are his five great stoner movies that you can stream on April 20th.
“The Big Lebowski”
One of the Coen brothers’ best films, “The Big Lebowski” is a seedy comedy mystery about an unlikely detective named Jeff Bridges’ laid-back stoner Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski. The man just wants to smoke joints, go bowling, and hang out with his friends, but after a group of criminals mistake him for the title character, a wealthy businessman, he plunges into a strange underworld.
Later, Dude’s efforts to replace the stolen rug lead him into a series of strange encounters, which he approaches with the same bemused amiability that he approaches the bowling match. The Coens’ filmmaking ingenuity pays homage to vintage noir and heightens the absurdist humor, and The Dude remains one of their most memorable works. No wonder this film has spawned both fan conferences and academic papers about its philosophical content.
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“Harold and Kumar go to White Castle.”
In this classic stoner comedy, a simple plan to eat a delicious cheeseburger turns into a hilarious and heart-pounding adventure. He was joined by another of his iconic duos, including Cheech and Chong and Bill and Ted. John Cho and Kal Penn play the title characters, roommates and best friends who decide to relax by smoking weed after a stressful week and naturally find themselves craving a small White Castle burger.
Satisfying that desire proves unexpectedly difficult, with obstacles including cops, wild animals, and a deranged Neil Patrick Harris (playing himself). Cho and Penn have great chemistry as friends from very different life paths, and the film subverts audience expectations for both stoners and Asian Americans. Their subsequent adventures may be uneven, but Harold and Kumar’s first film is fun, quirky, and unexpectedly heartwarming.
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‘smile’
Anna Faris gives the best performance of her career in Greg Araki’s underrated existential comedy. Faris plays Jane F., a stalker, slacker and theoretically aspiring actress who is more focused on getting high than pursuing her career. After accidentally eating an entire plate of pot cupcakes, she struggles with basic tasks, from paying the electric bill to arriving on time for an audition, not to mention replacing her roommate’s cupcakes. You will be faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of completing the list.
Araki and Faris turn their series of errands into a twisted metaphysical journey, mixing goofy lowbrow comedy with musings on the nature of the universe. Although the supporting cast includes an unforgettable cast that includes John Krasinski, Adam Brody, and Jane Lynch, Faris’ combination of Jane’s comedic oblivion and her insane acumen makes the film stand out. is in charge of
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“Unique Weiss”
Thomas Pynchon’s novels are known for being difficult and sometimes confusing reads, but the plot of this Paul Thomas Anderson adaptation is almost completely baffling. But that’s part of the point, as the film follows Larry “Doc” Sportello, a struggling private detective drawn into a labyrinthine conspiracy by his ex-girlfriend Shasta (Katherine Waterston). (Joaquin Phoenix), so it’s told from the perspective of a beach guy who’s constantly throwing rocks.
Shasta is just one player in a vast, multifaceted operation that takes Doc throughout Los Angeles, often pursued by an aggressive LAPD detective (Josh Brolin). Anderson captures the hazy atmosphere of Doc’s constant high, placing the audience alongside him as one mysterious encounter after another takes place. The sheer inscrutability of “Inherent Vice” is key to its appeal, creating surreal and often very funny wits.
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“Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical”
Created in 1936 as an anti-marijuana propaganda film, Reefer Madness went on to become a cult favorite among stoners and late-night movie buffs who poked fun at its over-the-top hysteria. Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney didn’t even have to exaggerate their hysteria all that much in “Reefer Madness,” a parody stage musical that was adapted into a movie again by original stage director Andy Fickman.
Alan Cumming plays multiple roles, including an evil traveling scaremonger who brings Reefer Madness itself to a small town and infuriates local parents about the dangers of marijuana. Murphy, Studney, and Fickman highlight the insincerity of his message with big, ridiculous musical numbers and flashy performances from Kristen Bell, Anna Gasteyer, and Steven Weber. The more cannabis smoking ruins a character’s life, the more fun the movie becomes to watch.
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