12 Best Stoner Movies of All Time

By Nick Hall - Entertainment

Published: 19 Apr 2023, Last Updated: 17 Apr 2024

April 20th is a date marked on every green thumb’s calendar for good reason. It’s the international day of smoking the finest Horticulture. And with the wider legalisation of Marijuana across the globe, it’s becoming free to celebrate the dank date all year around. If you’ve decided to spend your weed day inside for a day of entertainment, music, and movies, we have you covered with our favourite stoner movies of all time.

One of the biggest and best parts about the weed community is just how into it everyone seems to be. Bob Marley’s face is still walking amongst us, printed to the front of some stoner’s chest, while the best weed films take that to heart, with plenty of cultural references throughout.

Best Stoner Movies at a Glance

Crack out the Cheetos and strap yourself in, these are the best stone movies to watch right now.

The best stoner movie of all time: Pineapple Express
If you want to laugh your lungs out: Ted
If you’re looking to take yourself to the next dimension: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
If you’re looking to relax with a certified classic: How High

Now we’ve had a look at our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.

1. Pineapple Express

Probably the best stoner movie to come out this millennium, Pineapple Express is Seth Rogan and James Franco at their absolute peak. When disenchanted process server, Dale (Seth Rogen), witnesses a murder at the hands of his drug dealer Saul’s (James Franco) supplier, the pair must reluctantly work together to stay alive. Get ready for ninjas, Rosie Perez, Daewoo Lanos, Craig Robinson, and a whole lot of green.

Release date: 7 August 2008 (Australia)
Director: David Gordon Green
Featured song: Pineapple Express
Box office: 102.4 million USD
Budget: 27 million USD

Check out Pineapple Express Stream on Netflix

2. How High

Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man and Redman took their reputation for blunt smoking and put it on the big screen for all to see in this 2001 college hit. The pair play smokers who go to Harvard and tear it up after acing their college entrance exams with the help of a nerdy friend. How High isn’t exactly Oscar-worthy, but it’s a fun ride.

Initial release: 21 December 2001 (USA)
Director: Jesse Dylan
Box office: 31.28 million USD
Budget: 12 million USD

Stream on Netflix Shop at Amazon

3. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

One of the best stoner movies of all time, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure is a time-travelling journey through dimensions (sound familiar). When high school buddies Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) fall in danger of failing their history class, they receive help from Rufus (George Carlin), a traveller from the future. Using Rufus’ time machine, Bill and Ted travel to various points in history, returning with important figures to help them complete their final history presentation. Excellent!

Release date: 18 January 1990 (Australia)
Director: Stephen Herek
Film series: Bill & Ted
Box office: 40.5 million USD
Screenplay: Ed Solomon, Chris Matheson

Stream on Netflix Stream on Stan

4. Friday

If you were wondering if Friday was one of the best stoner movies out there, all you need to do is look at the characters’ names. Craig and Smokey spend their time wishing their day were more eventful. When encounters with their neighbours spice things up, they’ll rue the day they wish for more excitement.

Release date: 5 October 1995 (Australia)
Director: F. Gary Gray
Featured song: Friday
Box office: 28.2 million USD
Screenplay: Ice Cube, DJ Pooh

Shop at Amazon Prime Shop at YouTube Shop at Apple

5. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle

Fuelled by an insatiable desire for a different kind of munchies, stoners Harold and Kumar go on what can only be described as a mythical quest to the famed White Castle fast-food restaurant. Crazy obstacles stand in their way as they encounter cops, drug dealers, other smokers and Neil Patrick Harris.

Initial release: 20 May 2004 (Columbus)
Director: Danny Leiner
Featured song: Hold On
Budget: 9 million USD
Film series: Harold & Kumar

Stream on Amazon Prime (US only) Shop at Amazon Shop at Google

6. Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie

The best stoner movies from the best stoner due of all time. Cheech and Chong essentially launched this form of comedy into the mainstream and Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie is their crowning achievement. After Cheech loses his job, the two pot enthusiasts find themselves out on the streets, searching for a new income. When Cheech’s cousin, Red shows up, things get a little out of control.

Initial release: 18 July 1980 (USA)
Director: Tommy Chong
Box office: 41.7 million USD
Film series: Up in Smoke
Screenplay: Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong

Shop on Apple TV Stream on Amazon Prime

7. Grandma’s Boy

Video games, weed, chicken nuggets and a tiger on the loose. Grandma’s Boy is the best stoner movie you’ve never heard of. What’s more, it’s brought to you by the team behind Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. Also, sex with old ladies, be warned.

Initial release: 6 January 2006 (USA)
Director: Nicholaus Goossen
Budget: 5 million USD
Screenplay: Allen Covert, Nick Swardson, Barry Wernick
Producers: Allen Covert, Nick Swardson

Stream on Netflix Shop at Amazon

8. Soul Plane

A crushed velvet plane and Snoop Dogg as the pilot, what could go wrong with this luxury balling airline? Soul Plane tells the story of Nashawn Wade, who, after a horrible in-flight experience, sues an airline and receives a huge compensation. With wads of cash at his disposal, Nashawn makes his own airline, complete with high-flying hilarity.

Release date: 18 November 2004 (Australia)
Director: Jessy Terrero
Box office: 14.8 million USD
Budget: 16 million USD
Screenplay: Bo Zenga, Chuck Wilson

Stream on Apple TV Shop at Amazon

9. The Night Before

This weed movie is a holiday treat. Three friends celebrating one final night of holiday shenanigans before submitting themselves to adulthood, run into a boatload of trouble in New York City. The dynamic between leads, Seth Rogan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie is great. Worth it just for Seth Rogan’s drug-induced freak-out scene in a catholic church on Christmas.

Initial release: 20 November 2015 (USA)
Director: Jonathan Levine
Budget: $25–33 million
Narrator: Tracy Morgan
Box office: 52.4 million USD

Check out The Night Before Stream on Apple TV

10. Dude, Where’s My Car?

Often overlooked on these sorts of lists, Dude, Where’s My Car is a playbook on how to execute the best stoner movie. Cults, brainwashing, aliens and a year’s supply of pudding stars in this Ashton Kutcher, Seann William-Scott classic.

Release date: 29 March 2001 (Australia)
Director: Danny Leiner
Screenplay: Philip Stark
Budget: 13 million USD
Box office: 73.2 million USD

Shop at Apple TV Stream on Disney+

11. Ted

Seth MacFarlane, director of Family Guy, plays a profane, bong-hitting teddy bear brought to life by a child’s wish. When best friend John Bennett, played by Mark Wahlberg tries to grow up and move on, the Thunder Buddies come unstuck.

Release date: 5 July 2012 (Australia)
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Sequel: Ted 2
Featured song: Everybody Needs a Best Friend
Narrator: Patrick Stewart

Shop at Amazon Stream on Netflix

12. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

Easily one of the best stoner movies of our generation, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is severely underrated. Kevin Smith, the guy that brought us Clerks, Mallrats and Dogma steps in to tell the tale of two potheads on a quest to prevent their likeness from being turned into a movie. The plot is barely strung together, but it’s worth watching for Ben Affleck’s cameo.

Initial release: 24 August 2001 (USA)
Director: Kevin Smith

Stream on Amazon Prime Shop at Amazon