Stoner films and why they rock

I love stoner films. I'm too young to have grown up with Cheech and Chong, but watched many stoner movies during my time in the dorm. What do you think makes them so appealing?

So many movies these days try to make a social/political statement. They always try to make people feel good about their country, or ashamed of it. They also try to tackle "real world issues" to scare the crap out of people.

Then you've got the irritatingly predictable chick flicks, where the chick always ends up with the man of her dreams and then goes off to live in her castle in the clouds. Most of the characters seem like they were ripped from the pages of a harlequin romance novel.

Stoner films, on the other hand, attempt to do none of that. Jesse and Chester just want to find their car (and yes, they save the universe in the process), Harold and Kumar just want to eat White Castle burgers, and Jay and Silent Bob just do their thing. Characters you find in stoner films are the most human. They can be inconsiderate and thoughtless, but are basically excellent to each other. They just want to get work out of the way, so they can unwind.

And no, I'm not a stoner myself. I just like those movies.

I would have to agree with you there. Drugs believe it or not have had a very big impact on your society and it is not entirely negative. Weed has done some great things and personally I think it allows one (depends on the user) to see past typical irrational thoughts. These movies are great because they are made to exemplify that, the ability we have to see through the chaos of everyday life.

Best "stoner" movie i've seen was "Dazed and Confused", directed by Richard Linklater.

What would you classify as a stoner movie though?
Any film that features the use of drugs by the characters, and their subsequent (mis)adventures? or does it include films like "Wayne's world" or "Bill and Ted's excellent adventure/Bogus Journey", even though they don't actually take any drugs in the movie?

I wouldn't even classify "dazed and confused" as a stoner movie, though it has one of the best stoned characters in it.
It's interesting to note though that in some movies, like Rhah mentioned, you have characters that are obviously stoned, yet never seen smoking weed or taking any drugs. A way to keep the rating down?

Jay and Silent Bob are awesome.

"Did you know Jesus was a jew?"

Bill and Ted! Legends!

I still love Cheech and Chong!

I always liked cheech and chong, but my favorite movie of that genre would have to be Trainspotting. Not quite a pothead stoner film but good nonetheless

Well lets list the best stoner films then. My favorite is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay & Silent Bob strike back.

we got pied and watched mallrats - 4 of us and we could all relate to the characters, worryingly we found someone IDENTICAL to Brodie and Jay and Willam - the guy who stares at the poster for the whole thing as well! Ts was my mate who's comming to Holland with me and ieveryone thought I was like Silent Bob.....

we skinned up a couple of blunts and watched it and it was classic, so surreal when Brodie and TS are arguing about the foodcourt!

And how could anybody forget The Big Lebowski? All The Dude wanted was a new rug. It made everything in his apartment hang together. His daily routine consisted of making White Russian cocktails, bowling with Walter, Donny, and The Jesus, and rolling with everything life threw at him. The Dude abides.

Anyone seen The Mighty Boosh? thats serious Stoner humour! classic TV series.

Would Caddyshack be considered a stoner movie? Rodney Dangerfield was great in that movie.

"You're a whole lot of woman. You must've been something before electricity."