When it comes to weed-themed content, it’s tempting to dismiss every film or television show as a stoner bro comedy. However, the streaming era has brought a variety of cannabis stories to the forefront, including cannabis-themed cookery shows, documentaries, dramas, and — yes — the ageless and adored easy-going films.
You can never go wrong with “Dazed and Confused,” a 1993 coming-of-age indie classic (and probably the best stoner movie). From its speech about George Washington being a member of a cult to Matthew McConaughey’s “Fine, alright, alright,” it’s as much a comedy as a tribute to youth. Choose Paul Thomas Anderson’s hazy neo-noir crime film “Inherent Vice,” starring Joaquin Phoenix as Larry “Doc” Sportello, a drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator.
Watch “Broad City,” a sitcom about best friends and good friends, if you like television shows. “Weeds,” a cult hit from the aughts that pioneered cannabis-themed television. Choose the Netflix Original comedy “Disjointed,” about a modern dispensary managed by cannabis activist Ruth Whitefeather Feldman (Kathy Bates). Or watch HBO’s “High Maintenance,” a dramedy that unfolds through a series of vignettes and connects the lives of several New Yorkers through their weed deliveryman.
Variety has compiled a list of the greatest cannabis-themed movies and shows to watch on Amazon Prime, Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu from 4/20 through the end of the year. All you have to do is log in, light up, and grab whatever snacks you want.
Browse Seed Supreme to learn more.
Table of Contents
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
This iconic film, along with “Friday” and “Half-Baked,” is one of the few stoner comedies to feature men of color, starring John Cho and Kal Penn as the titular and boisterously funny Harold and Kumar. The film depicts an office worker (Cho) and his stoner friend (Penn) on a risky journey to get White Castle burgers (which includes a raccoon, an encounter with a racist police officer, crashing a college dorm, and a horny Neil Patrick Harris).
Reefer Madness
In a roundabout way, this 1936 propaganda film on the perils of marijuana (which the film claims leads to violent tendencies, among other horrors) is rather humorous when viewed through a current lens. Because of its campy nature and melodramatic preaching, the morality story became a cult favorite in the 1970s. It’s been dubbed “the worst movie ever filmed,” and it’s bound to be more enjoyable with a joint in hand.
Dazed and confused
The exploits of Texas high school and junior high students on their last day before summer vacation in May 1976 are chronicled in Richard Linklater’s landmark ’90s stoner dramedy. It’s impossible not to experience a tint of nostalgia as you indulge in the teens’ active rebellion as they negotiate relationships, popularity (or lack thereof), and the start of a new era as the adolescents navigate relationships, popularity (or lack thereof), and the start of a new era.
The Gentlemen
In “The Gentlemen,” Matthew McConaughey reprises his stoner persona from “Dazed and Confused” as an American ex-pat attempting to develop a cannabis empire in London. Following that is a series of bribery and blackmail methods to remove his stake in the game. The film also stars Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Colin Farrell, and Henry Golding.
The Marijuana Show
This reality television show is the best show to watch and legal cannabis industry’s counterpart of “Shark Tank.” Each episode follows cannabis entrepreneurs battling for money and mentorship from investors such as Jamie Perino, co-founder of Euflora cannabis dispensaries, Brian Ruden, owner of Starbuds, and Joel Sherlock of Doventi Capital which invests in legal weed.
Birds of Passage
The Colombian crime thriller film, released in 2018, chronicles the roots of the country’s drug traffic through the eyes of an indigenous Wayuu family who became involved in the thriving cannabis selling business in the 1970s. The Oscar-nominated “Embrace of the Serpent” directors Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra investigate the aftermath of what happens when greed, passion, and honor combine, resulting in a fratricidal war that destroys cultural traditions and lives.
Pineapple Express
Seth Rogen’s film, which he wrote with collaborator Evan Goldberg, generated a real marijuana strain named after the fictional one at the film’s core, which may be a first for any stoner flick. This 2008 comedy, which also stars James Franco and Rosie Perez, is a must-see for anyone who wants to smoke and watch the same thing.
High Maintenance
The critically acclaimed free-form dramedy series connects the inner lives of New Yorkers through a common denominator: their cannabis man, affectionately known as The Guy (Ben Sinclair, who also co-created the series with Katja Blichfeld). The series, which will make you laugh and weep, shows the best of what cannabis has to offer – fun with friends, a relaxing break, and pure hilarity.
Inherent Vice
Paul Thomas Anderson’s surreal mash-up drama follows Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix), a weed-fueled Los Angeles private investigator, as he investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend in the 1970s. Along the journey, he encounters an eccentric cast of personalities and a slew of concerns involving politics, cults, prostitution, the drug trade, and more. Also starring are Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, and Katherine Waterston.
Cooked with Cannabis
A cannabis-themed cookery show? Say fewer words. “Cooked with Cannabis” follows three chefs as they prepare three-course cannabis-infused dinners for a $10,000 prize. Co-hosts Kelis and Leather Storrs judge the contestants with the help of their best friends who appear on the show as guests, such as Elle King and Amanda Seales.
Weeds
“Weeds,” the first mainstream cannabis series, portrays Mary-Louise Parker as a suburban housewife who turns to sell cannabis to sustain her opulent lifestyle after her husband’s death. The eight-season crime dramedy is a must-see, with a sequel in the works at Starz, with Parker attached to star and executive produce. The new show will pick up 10 years after the events of the original series, during the legalization era.
Weediquette
Weed is a multidimensional narcotic that impacts culture, economics, politics, and medicine. Viceland’s educational documentary explores marijuana’s connection with society, legalization, and medical and recreational usage. Vice correspondent Krishna Andavolu investigates the expanding “green” economy, from soldiers using cannabis to treat PTSD to families using medical cannabis for children with cancer.
