So you’ve got a full 4/20 to yourself and all you want to do is stuff your stomach with high fructose corn syrup, fill your lungs with the most elegant of smokes, and go on cinematic adventures all day long. Only problem: you have no clue what adventures to take because you don’t know which movie to watch.
Luckily for you, smoking, watching movies, and hitting the spot are among my top eight life talents. Since we’re family and family looks out for each other, I’ve created a list of 15 movies that can get you through this holy day. Grab your strain of choice (I recommend a strain that’ll sit you down and keep you there for hours at a time, like GG (f.k.a Gorilla Glue)) and cue up one of these films depending on your 4/20 mood.
Stoner Classics
I couldn’t have a 4/20 list without stoner movies, right? It just wouldn’t be right. These are movies that are entirely based on/around cannabis. They’re what you watch when you want to feel like you’re getting high with the characters. (You might even get so high that you pretend you are a character.)
Half Baked
Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan hate Half Baked, but it’s still some of my favorite work of theirs. This movie just kills me because it’s so relatable on so many levels. The endless search for the good, the “quitting” for a woman–these are places we’ve all been. Also, Half Baked is just downright hilarious. That scene where Scarface quits his job? Classic.
The Friday Trilogy
What’s 4/20 without hearing the words “Ay, I know you don’t smoke weed; I know this. But I’m gon’ get you high today. Cause it’s Friday, you ain’t got no job, and you ain’t got shit to do!” I’ll answer that for you: nothing. That’s exactly why Friday is on this list, along with its sequel and sequel-sequel. You can’t just watch one without watching the others. Especially considering the fact that Next Friday is the best one, YEAH I SAID IT!
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
I put this movie on the list because it’s the sole reason that I always think about White Castle when I’m high. It’s also the sole reason there are currently 16 White Castle jalapeño cheeseburgers in my freezer right damn now, just waiting on me to take that cough-myself-into-another-level-of-high pull from the blunt that’ll cause me to munch out all 16 of them.
You watch this movie and it’s nonstop laughter because you totally understand. You’ve been in that position where you have the munchies and only one specific item will satisfy the craving. You’ve got to salute Harold and Kumar’s refusal to settle.
Damn, That Was Messed Up
This is when you want to watch a movie that not only makes you sad, but maybe even a little bit angry. Not “Fuck everyone” anger, but moreso “Wow, the world can be so trash sometimes” anger. If that’s what you’re looking for, break down some green and indulge in the movies below.
Short Term 12
This is one of those movies that’ll rip your heart out and C-Walk on it for 45 minutes as you research ways to help at-risk (I’ve always hated this term) kids around the globe. It takes you through so many ups and downs that afterwards I had to load up the dugout, clean the one-hitter, and step outside for a few minutes to reflect on my life’s blessings. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that you’ll feel in the deepest pits of your stomach.
If you’ve seen Room, you should definitely check out Short Term 12, as it’s the movie that got Brie Larson the Room gig. It’s also the movie that put Lakeith Stanfield on the map.
Nocturnal Animals
I saw this movie in theaters and it absolutely messed me up. It’s just non-stop suspense and gut-wrenching action that takes so many twists and turns that you damn near want to jump into the movie screen and help Edward save his family. What makes it so messed up is you see where everything is going before it goes there, and the anticipation of it all causes your stomach to knot up the entire time.
The Basketball Diaries
I put this movie on the list because it’s an underrated classic and one of my favorite Leo DiCaprio movies ever. It’s the story of a basketball star who gets hooked on heroin and…you know exactly where that goes, my friends. You get to the end and it’s like “Wow dude…This is exactly why I don’t mess with anything but weed.” If you haven’t checked this one out, I strongly advise you and your bong do so.
Lmaooo, Yo, What the Hell Did I Just Watch?
These are the movies that aren’t about shit, but you still laugh because they’re so bad that they’re good. You get to the credits and it’s just like “Dude…What the hell was that?”
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite is one of those movies that you either love or hate. There’s no in between. If you’re among the former group then bring it in, let’s hug it out; we’re family now. If you’re in the latter group, 4/20’s a great day for you to get high, rewatch it, and realize that your opinion is wrong. Because this shit is sooooo funny. And sooooo stupid. And sooooo “Dude, what the hell is this? Lol.”
At least once a day I think about that “Your mom goes to college” scene and I fucking DIE. By the way, never forget: Nap D had a $400k budget and did $46 million at the box office.
Pootie Tang
I don’t even know the words for this one. I have absolutely no clue how to explain Pootie Tang to you; it’s that bizarre and outrageous. Basically, it’s a movie about an R&B singer/superhero who takes on a dirty pimp with nothing but ladykiller intuition and a belt as his main weapon…written and directed by Louis C.K. It’s one of the most “HAHAHAH WHAT AM I WATCHING” movies I’ve ever watched.
Black Knight
This movie is absolutely terrrrrible, and that’s why it’s on the list. You probably haven’t seen it, and if you have, you definitely forgot Martin Lawrence made it. But not me. Because it’s the one example I’ll always use to justify the “Man, sometimes it’s just for the check” decisions I make in my mega-successful future. I mean, really, a movie centered around a black dude getting knocked out and being sent way back into the past? There’s a reason this movie lost $10 million in the box office. Watch it and report back to me on how stupid you think it is.
Wow, That Was a Good-Ass Movie
These are the movies you watch when you want that feel-good warmth that comes from acknowledging you have emotions. That doesn’t mean each movie ends on a positive note, but they’ll still make you feel like you embarked upon an emotional cleanse.
Her
Dude, this movie is so damn beautiful. That’s the only word I can use to describe it. You walk into it thinking, “A guy falling in love with his computer? This is going to be stupid,” and you walk out of it thinking, “I can’t wait for my laptop to break my heart.”
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I rewatched this movie the other night and man…Jim Carrey’s range as an actor is so understated. He’s played it all. Eternal Sunshine is a movie about a couple that goes through a bad breakup so the woman has her memories of him erased from her mind. After finding this out, the man goes through the same procedure, only it’s not as easy for him to erase the love of his life. If you watch this and aren’t touched by it, stay far away from me because you probably have no soul.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
If you haven’t seen this movie, just watch it. I don’t even want to tell you anything about it because it’s so good that I don’t want to spoil a single element of its screening. Just know that you will definitely want to fall in love after watching it so if you’re one of those “I never want to get married” people, make sure you brace for impact.
I Need Some Inspiration
These are the movies you watch when you feel stuck in life, but aren’t sure how to get out of the rut. You don’t know what you want to do with your life but you know the current state of it isn’t good enough, so you need to watch a movie about someone chasing their dreams or doing once-in-a-lifetime type shit to put a little pep into your step.
The Pursuit of Happyness
I’m one of those get-high-and-ponder-my-dreams kind of people and this is 100% my favorite movie to do that to. It hits the spot every single time. We go through life complaining about the opportunities we aren’t given, then you watch this movie and realize that life’s all about taking chances, even when you can’t be certain that it’ll work out for you.
Paper Towns
Yes, this is one of those coming-of-age teen movies, but guess what? I. STILL. LOVE IT. If you’re stuck in a job you hate, or wish you could just up and travel the world, this is the movie you want to smoke and watch. It’s so damn good and will definitely pump some “Fuck it. I gotta live” juice into your heart. In addition to that, it’ll also remind you of your inner kid and that life isn’t always meant to be taken so seriously.
The Devil Wears Prada
Light up. Watch it. Trust me. I watch TDWP every single time I see it on TV. And EVERY single time it causes me to pop open my laptop and let my fingers carry me into a 1,500 word article about life and everything it has to offer. That’s why it’s on this list.
Dog, I Haven’t Seen This in Foreeeverrr
Simply put, this one’s for my nostalgia junkies. You either haven’t seen these movies at all, or it’s been so long that you actually forgot they exist. Light something and accept the blast from the past.
Breakin’ + Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo
The Breakin’ movies are so fun to watch that I had to include them here. I wasn’t alive when they dropped, but that hasn’t stopped me from tying a broomstick to my finger on cleaning days and dancing through my kitchen like an adult Turbo. Get high and watch these and it’ll feel like you’re at a social event because they’re both like non-stop parties. Dancing’s so fun.
The Last Dragon
The Last Dragon is another classic that you have to really dig for to find. It may only come on TV a couple of times a year, but you can definitely snatch it up from the Walmart DVD pits. It’s a movie about a karate kid in NYC who wants to be Black Bruce Lee but has to go through a lot of BS and people to get there. Ultimately, he discovers his potential and THAT’S when it gets super fun to watch. Shouts to my man Bruce Leroy.
Meteor Man
We don’t talk about Robert Townsend’s contributions enough. He’s really done a lot of good work over his entire career, and out of all of it, Meteor Man is my favorite. It’s so funny and outrageous that you can’t help but enjoy it. There are also a lot of “Yooooo, I didn’t know he/she was in this!” cameos from actors you’re definitely familiar with. Get high and watch that dance battle scene. After that, you’ll definitely understand why it’s on this list.
I’m Just Tryna Get High and Laugh
Do I really need to explain this one? I mean, seriously. These are movies you watch when you…wait for it…just want to get high and laugh for a couple of hours.
All About the Benjamins
This is one of the funniest movies of all time and anyone who disagrees can meet me in the front yard with two sets of boxing gloves. It’s also a great movie to get high to, much like anything Mike Epps is in. Watch it and you’ll have no choice but to walk into your nearest convenience store, ask for a lottery ticket, and sing “15..30..37..38..a-doodoo-doo-doo-doooooooo…45..47!”
Neighbors
Neighbors 2 was wack, but Neighbors was soooooooooo funny. I saw it in the theater and couldn’t help but walk out in tears. It’s a great movie to watch on 4/20 if all you want to do is get high and crack up. You will not be disappointed.
This Is the End
Another Seth Rogen classic that I can’t wait to watch every year. I walked in this movie knowing it would be funny, but I didn’t expect to walk out wondering if its Seth’s funniest work since Superbad. I mean, could Michael Cera be any more hilarious? That scene where he slaps Rihanna’s ass? This shit was so funny.
What Just Happened to My Brain Because My Mind Is Blown
These are the movies that completely blow your mind. You get to the end and you aren’t even sure if you understand them, but you know that you absolutely just watched some shit that’ll have you thinking for the next 86 hours.
Donnie Darko
This is one those movies that takes you all over the place and if you don’t pay attention to every second of it, you’ll definitely miss what’s going on. I had to watch it twice because I was so “Wait…What? Huh?” about it. That’s why it’s on the list, because if it’s your first time watching it, you’ll definitely feel the same. It’s basically a movie about a kid who has visions of when the world will end and how he navigates through them. That’s really the only way I can explain it.
Inception
Inception’s another Leo movie about a thief who can steal people’s thoughts from their dreams. This movie falls under the “mind-blown” category because, like everyone else, I still have no clue if he’s still dreaming at the end or not. I mean, I think yes, but this movie goes so many places that I truly cannot be certain. Like Donnie D, this is also a movie that you’ll need to hide your phone for because if you miss any key detail, you’ll have absolutely no clue what’s going on. Get high and allow your brain to be blown.
Unbreakable
I hate M. Night Shyamalan, but I can’t deny the greatness of Unbreakable. The twist at the end is so sick that I never saw it coming. That’s why it’s on the list, because when the twist hits, I actually stood up on my couch and yelled “YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!” If you liked Split but have never seen Unbreakable, it’s imperative you watch ASAP.
