When thinking about weed-themed content, it’s easy to write off every movie or show as a stoner bro comedy. But the streaming age has brought diverse cannabis stories to the forefront, from cannabis-themed cooking shows, documentaries and dramas to — yes — the timeless and beloved easy-going flicks.
For film choices, you can never go wrong with the 1993 coming-of-age indie classic (and arguably best stoner movie of all time), “Dazed and Confused.” From its monologue about George Washington being in a cult to Matthew McConaughey’s “Alright, alright, alright,” it’s hilarious just as much as it is an ode to adolescence. For a dramatic fare, opt for Paul Thomas Anderson’s hazy neo-noir crime pic “Inherent Vice,” starring Joaquin Phoenix as Larry “Doc” Sportello, a drug-fueled Los Angeles private investigator.
But if television shows are more your thing, watch “Broad City,” the celebration of best friends and good buds. There’s also “Weeds,” an aughts classic that pioneered cannabis-themed television. For a modern pick, choose Netflix Original comedy “Disjointed,” about a modern dispensary run by cannabis activist Ruth Whitefeather Feldman (Kathy Bates). Or delve into HBO’s “High Maintenance,” a dramedy that unfolds through a series of vignettes, threading the lives of unique New Yorkers together through their weed deliveryman.
Whatever your favorite strain of programming, Variety has you covered with the top 19 cannabis-centered movies and series to watch on Amazon Prime, Netflix, HBO Max and Hulu from 4/20 and beyond. All you need to do is log in, light up and grab the munchies of your choosing.
Read on for more.
-
AMAZON PRIME
Image Credit: ©New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
Alongside “Friday” and “Half-Baked,” this classic pic is one of the rare stoner comedies to center men of color, featuring John Cho and Kal Penn as the titular and boisterously funny Harold and Kumar. Aptly named, the movie follows an office worker (Cho) and his stoner friend (Penn) as they embark on a perilous quest (that includes a raccoon, encounter with a racist police officer, crashing a college dorm and a horny Neil Patrick Harris) to acquire White Castle burgers.
Reefer Madness
In a roundabout way, this 1936 propaganda film about the dangers of pot (which the film claims will lead to murderous tendencies, among other horrors) is actually pretty funny through a modern lens. The morality tale became a cult classic in the ‘70s, due to its campy nature and the melodrama of its messaging. Described as “the worst movie ever made,” it’s sure to be a lot more fun with a joint in hand.
Dazed and Confused
Richard Linklater’s seminal ’90s stoner dramedy follows the misadventures of Texas high school and junior high students on their last day before summer vacation in May 1976. As the adolescents navigate relationships, popularity (or lack thereof) and the start of a new era, it’s impossible not to feel a tinge of nostalgia as you revel in the teens’ exuberant rebellion.
The Gentlemen
“The Gentlemen” sees Matthew McConaughey return to his stoner roots from “Dazed and Confused” as an American expat trying to build a cannabis empire in London. What follows is a series of bribery and blackmail schemes aimed at overthrowing his stake in the game. Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Colin Farrell and Henry Golding also appear in the film.
The Marijuana Show
This reality television series is the equivalent to “Shark Tank” for the legal cannabis industry. Each episode follows cannabis business owners who are looking to compete for money and mentorship from investors Jamie Perino, co-founder of Euflora cannabis dispnsaries; Brian Ruden, owner of Starbuds; and Joel Sherlock of Doventi Capital, which invests in legal weed.
Birds of Passage
The 2018 Colombian crime-drama film traces the origins of the country’s drug trade through the eyes of an indigenous Wayuu family that becomes involved in the booming cannabis selling business in the 1970s. Directors Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra, behind the Oscar-nominated “Embrace of the Serpent,” examine the fallout of what occurs when greed, passion and honor collide, producing a fratricidal war that threatens cultural traditions and lives.
Pineapple Express
In what may be a first for any stoner movie, Seth Rogen’s film, which he wrote alongside his collaborator Evan Goldberg, inspired a real marijuana strain named after the fictional one that is at the center of this film. Also starring James Franco and Rosie Perez, this 2008 comedy is a must-see for anyone looking to smoke and watch the same thing.
High Maintenance
The critically acclaimed free-form dramedy series threads the intimate lives of New Yorkers together through a common denominator: their weed man, aptly known as The Guy (Ben Sinclair, who also co-created the series with Katja Blichfeld). Sure to make you laugh and cry, the series presents the best of what cannabis has to offer — fun with friends, a relaxing break and humor at its purest.
Inherent Vice
Paul Thomas Anderson’s trippy amalgamation film follows a weed-fueled Los Angeles private investigator Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) as he investigates the disappearance of a former lover during the 1970s. Along the way, he encounters an odd troupe of characters and myriad issues surrounding politics, cults, prostitution, the drug trade and more. Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson and Katherine Waterston also star.
Weeds
The first mainstream series exclusively about cannabis, “Weeds” stars Mary-Louise Parker as a suburban mom who turns to selling cannabis in order to maintain her lavish lifestyle following her husband’s death. The eight-season crime dramedy is a must-watch, with a follow-up to the series currently in development at Starz with Parker attached to star and executive produce. The new show will pick up with the family 10 years after the events of the original series, set in the era of legalization.
Weed the People
“Weed the People” chronicles the stories of children living with cancer, and their families, who rely on medical cannabis to deal with their illness, battling mean-spirited legislation and former United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ plan to roll back marijuana reforms in states like California. The emotional doc examines the country’s backwards laws regarding scientific research on and usage of the substance, as well as the legal and technical barriers families face in trying to care for their children.
Friday
“Friday” has a special place in the culture for spawning the famous “Bye Felicia” line. But the rest of the film, which follows best friends played by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker as they attempt to find $200 to pay off a local drug dealer, is hilarious outside of the internet memes. Featuring a stacked cast with supporting performances from Nia Long, Bernie Mac and Regina King, it’s one of the funniest and best stoner comedies of all time.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Kevin Smith’s fifth installment in the Jay and Silent Bob cinematic universe, the 2001 comedy follows the titular characters (played hilariously by Jason Mewes and Smith) as they attempt to wreck the film adaptation of the “Bluntman and Chronic” comic books, which are based on the stoners’ lives. A classic road-trip stoner movie, you’ll be rooting for Jay and Silent Bob the entire time as they slander the movie online and crash a Hollywood studio in their bid to protect their namesakes.
-
NETFLIX
Image Credit: Robert Voets/Netflix Disjointed
Canceled far too early after two seasons, “Disjointed” offers a modern, comedic take on the cannabis-themed series, following a new age dispensary helmed by cannabis legend Ruth Whitefeather Feldman (Kathy Bates) and her rag-tag team of employees.
Cooked With Cannabis
A cooking show about cannabis? Say less. “Cooked with Cannabis” follows three chefs concocting three-course cannabis-infused meals for the chance to win $10,000. Co-hosts Kelis and Leather Storrs judge the contestants with the assistance of their best buds who guest star on the show, such as Elle King and Amanda Seales.
Dude
While almost universally panned, “Dude,” starring Lucy Hale, Kathryn Prescott, Alexandra Shipp, Alex Wolff and Awkwafina, is nonethelss a breath of fresh air. Featuring a tight-knit squad of high school stoner girlfriends, the movie tackles the changes that come when leaving one’s adolescence behind. Oh, and there’s a lot of wonderful bong puns.
Family Business
The Netflix France Original comedy “Family Business” unfolds as Jospeh Hazan (Jonathan Cohen), a failed entrepreneur, decides to transform his father’s kosher butcher shop into the first cannabis coffeeshop with the help of family and friends, meanwhile facing rival gangs, balancing child care and dealing with his dysfunctional family. What could possibly go wrong, right?
Grass Is Greener
This 2019 Netflix documentary, directed by Fab 5 Freddy and starring Snoop Dogg, examines the United States’ fraught — and racist — history with cannabis. The doc expertly unpacks the government’s War on Drugs, mass incarceration and state propaganda, while teasing out the relationship between weed and the music industry.
-
MAX
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO High Maintenance
The critically acclaimed free-form dramedy series threads the intimate lives of New Yorkers together through a common denominator: their weed man, aptly known as The Guy (Ben Sinclair, who also co-created the series with Katja Blichfeld). Sure to make you laugh and cry, the series presents the best of what cannabis has to offer — fun with friends, a relaxing break and humor at its purest.
-
HULU
Image Credit: Guy D'Alema / FX Atlanta
“Atlanta” oscillates constantly between low-stakes hangouts and surreal existential horror, but at its core is a classic stoner comedy friend group. Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry) may be an up-and-coming rapper, but he spends most of his time smoking with his right-hand-man Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) and his cousin (Earn). The three get into weed-related mishaps over the course of the show, as does Earn’s ex-girlfriend Van (Zazie Beetz), who has a memorable Season one plot line about trying to pass a drug test after a night out on the town.
Broad City
One of the most warm-hearted stoner TV shows you can find, Comedy Central’s “Broad City” traces the friendship of Illana Wexler (Ilana Glazer) and Abbi Abrams (Abbi Jacobson), two twenty-somethings making their way in New York City. The five-season show features the duo in a host of weed-related misadventures, including the season 2 premiere “In Heat,” where they revisit their old NYU dorms and uncover their old supply from their college days. A perfect show for smoking with your bestie.