Stoner film
Stoner film is a subgenre of comedy films that revolve around the use of cannabis. Typically, such movies show cannabis use in a comic and positive fashion. Generally, cannabis use is one of the main themes, and inspires much of the plot. They are often representative of cannabis culture.
"Stoner film" as a genre
See also: List of films containing frequent marijuana use
The series of movies in the 1970s starring Cheech & Chong are archetypal "stoner movies." The historic film Reefer Madness has also become popular as a "stoner movie" because its anti-drug message is seen by some modern viewers as so over the top that the film amounts to self-parody.
High Times magazine regularly sponsors the Stony Awards to celebrate stoner films and television. Many of these films do not fit the category of "stoner film" as a subgenre, but contain enough cannabis use to be deemed noteworthy by the periodical.
Common elements
Many stoner movies have certain elements and themes in common. The template involves two male friends who possess or are attempting to possess marijuana and have some task to complete. Often stoner films involve evading authority figures, sometimes law enforcement agents, who are portrayed as comically inept, but also parents, coworkers, friends, and security guards who disapprove of the protagonists' marijuana usage usually out of a greater lack of acceptance of their lifestyle of leisure and innocence. Most serious moments are intended ironically, often to parody overwrought counterparts in mainstream cinema. The comic story arcs often approach or fall over the line into slapstick.
Stoner films almost always have male protagonists. Smiley Face was the first to feature a female protagonist. The men are well-meaning and usually sexually frustrated, and will usually come comically close to sexual success with exceedingly beautiful women only to have the opportunity lost due to chance or ineptitude.
Notable examples
- Fritz the Cat (1972)
- The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat (1974)
- Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (1978)
- Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980)
- Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams (1981)
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
- Things Are Tough All Over (1982)
- Still Smokin' (1983)
- Far Out Man (1990)
- Dazed and Confused (1993)
- The Stoned Age (1994)
- Friday (1995)
- Bio-Dome (1996)
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
- Bongwater (1997)
- Half Baked (1998)
- That '70s Show (1998-2006)
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
- Homegrown (1998)
- The Big Lebowski (1998)
- Detroit Rock City (1999)
- Human Traffic (1999)
- Dude, Where's My Car? (2000)
- Next Friday (2000)
- Saving Grace (2000)
- Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
- How High (2001)
- Lammbock (2001)
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
- The Wash (2001)
- Scary Movie 2 (2001)
- Super Troopers (2001)
- Trailer Park Boys (2001-2007,2014-)
- Ali G Indahouse (2002)
- Friday After Next (2002)
- My Dinner with Jimi (2003)
- Rolling Kansas (2003)
- Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
- Soul Plane (2004)
- Without A Paddle (2004)
- Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)
- Clerks II (2006)
- Grandma's Boy (2006)
- Puff, Puff, Pass (2006)
- Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)
- Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006)
- Super High Me (2007)
- Smiley Face (2007)
- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
- Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
- Pineapple Express (2008)
- Strange Wilderness (2008)
- The Wackness (2008)
- Stone Bros. (2009)
- Extract (2009)
- Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009)
- Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day (2009)
- Due Date (2010)
- High School (2010)
- Anuvahood (2011)
- Workaholics (2011)
- A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)
- Our Idiot Brother (2011)
- Mac & Devin Go to High School (2012)
- Kili Poyi (2013)
- Hansel & Gretel Get Baked (2013)
- Idukki Gold (2013)
- Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie (2013)
- This is the End (2013)
- Go Goa Gone (2013)
- Inherent Vice (2014)
- Trailer Park Boys: Don't Legalize It (2014)
- Kid Cannabis (2014)
- Midnight Delight (2015)
