If you’re a fan of the 2008 comedy classic Pineapple Express, chances are you have a taste for irreverent humor, ridiculous scenarios, and of course – weed. Lots and lots of weed. The magic formula of Pineapple Express was combining stoner comedy with an action-packed buddy adventure, led by the pitch-perfect comedic duo of Seth Rogen and James Franco.
Directed by David Gordon Green, the movie follows process server Dale Denton (Rogen) and his spacey drug dealer Saul Silver (Franco) as they go on the run from a corrupt cop and a ruthless drug lord after Dale witnesses a murder. Fueled by the rare strain of weed known as Pineapple Express, the two unlikely friends stumble into increasingly dangerous and hilarious situations.
Pineapple Express was a major hit, grossing over $100 million worldwide on a modest $26 million budget. Critics praised the clever writing by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the surprisingly thrilling action, and the undeniable chemistry between the leads. In the years since, it has only grown in popularity as a quotable cult classic.
But once you’ve watched Pineapple Express for the 37th time, you may find yourself craving something new to satisfy your stoner comedy fix. Luckily, there are plenty of great movies out there that share Pineapple Express‘s affection for weed, dumb criminals, and bromances. Here are 15 of the best:
1. This Is the End (2013)
This Is the End feels like a spiritual sequel to Pineapple Express in many ways. It reunites Rogen and Franco, along with an all-star cast of their frequent collaborators including Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, and Craig Robinson – all playing exaggerated versions of themselves.
The meta comedy finds the group attending a party at Franco’s house when the biblical apocalypse suddenly strikes. Facing demons, the rapture, and the worst in each other, the frenemies must band together to survive. Like Pineapple Express, it deftly balances crass humor with genuine peril and heart.
2. Superbad (2007)
Before Pineapple Express, writers Rogen and Goldberg broke out with the raunchy and heartfelt coming-of-age comedy Superbad. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera star as high school seniors determined to lose their virginity before graduation. Their quest for alcohol and female attention leads them on a wild, unforgettable night full of escalating hijinks.
With a breakout performance by Christopher Mintz-Plasse as the infamous McLovin, Superbad captures the joys and humiliations of teenage friendship in hilariously crude fashion. It laid the groundwork for the Apatow-produced comedies to come.
3. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
For a certain generation, the names Harold and Kumar are as synonymous with stoner comedies as Cheech and Chong. John Cho and Kal Penn star as the titular potheads, who embark on a late-night odyssey through New Jersey in search of the perfect burger.
Like Dale and Saul in Pineapple Express, Harold and Kumar are a classic odd couple – the straight-laced Harold reluctantly dragged into trouble by the hedonistic Kumar. Their slapstick misadventures, which involve racist cops, a horny Neil Patrick Harris, and riding a cheetah, set the standard for stoner road trip comedies.
4. Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000)
The title of Dude, Where’s My Car? perfectly sums up its gloriously stupid premise. After a night of heavy partying, two dimwitted friends (Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott) wake up with no memory of where they left their car.
Their attempts to retrace their steps lead them into a bizarre world involving a transsexual stripper, a cult of ostrich-worshipping nudists, and alien beings in the form of hot women. It’s the kind of aggressively dumb but quotable comedy that plays best when you’re a little baked.
5. Half Baked (1998)
Half Baked stars Dave Chappelle, in his first major film role, as a janitor who resorts to selling stolen medical marijuana to raise bail money for his incarcerated friend. Co-written by Chappelle and Neal Brennan before Chappelle’s Show, it’s a goofy, ramshackle comedy full of weed-based sight gags and silliness.
While critically panned at the time, Half Baked has gained a cult following over the years, especially for its depiction of different types of stoners and Chappelle’s irreverent charm. It also features cameos from cannabis icons like Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, and Tommy Chong.
6. Friday (1995)
The 1995 stoner classic Friday stars Ice Cube as Craig, a South Central LA resident who loses his job and spends a memorable day on his front porch with his shiftless, weed-dealing friend Smokey (Chris Tucker). Over the course of a single Friday, the two get into misadventures with oddball neighbors, gang members, and romantic interests.
Written by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, Friday is a laid-back, day-in-the-life comedy that finds humor in its characters’ aimless, blunt-smoking existence. It launched a franchise with two sequels and has been endlessly quoted and referenced in hip-hop.
7. Smiley Face (2007)
Smiley Face stars Anna Faris as Jane, an aspiring actress who accidentally eats an entire plate of cannabis cupcakes and embarks on a bizarre, paranoid LA adventure. The little-seen indie comedy allows Faris to show off her impressive physical comedy skills as she stumbles through one awkward interaction after another.
With a supporting cast that includes Adam Brody, John Krasinski, and Jane Lynch, Smiley Face is a silly, shambling day-in-the-life comedy anchored by Faris’s endearingly spacey lead performance. It captures the aimless, easily distracted mindset of being super duper high.
8. The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Coen Brothers’ 1998 cult classic The Big Lebowski stars Jeff Bridges as The Dude, a laid-back, White Russian-sipping bowler who gets pulled into a convoluted kidnapping plot. More of a neo-noir comedy than a straight stoner movie, it nonetheless features one of cinema’s most iconic potheads in Bridges’ shaggy, bathrobe-clad slacker.
Full of surreal dream sequences, mistaken identities, and endlessly quotable dialogue, The Big Lebowski has inspired a religion of devoted fans who identify with The Dude’s easygoing, weed-enhanced approach to life’s complications. Careful man, there’s a beverage here!
9. Grandma’s Boy (2006)
Grandma’s Boy stars Allen Covert as a 35-year-old video game tester forced to move in with his grandmother and her two elderly roommates. His attempts to maintain his stoner lifestyle while surrounded by the geriatric set fuel most of the movie’s silly, raunchy humor.
Produced by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, Grandma’s Boy is very much in the same mold as Sandler’s trademark man-child comedies. But it distinguishes itself with some clever gaming references and the unlikely comic pairing of Covert and Doris Roberts as his sweet grandma.
10. Puff, Puff, Pass (2006)
Puff, Puff, Pass is a direct-to-video stoner comedy starring Danny Masterson and Mekhi Phifer as two potheads who run afoul of a local drug kingpin. To pay off their debt, they’re forced to go undercover wearing wires to bring down the dealer.
It’s a silly, low-budget riff on stoner tropes with a likable cast that also includes Terry Crews and Darrell Hammond. While it received mostly negative reviews, Puff, Puff, Pass has developed a following among fans of straight-to-video stoner comedies.
11. Lammbock (2001)
Lammbock is a German stoner comedy about two friends who run a gourmet pizza delivery service as a front for selling marijuana. Business is booming, but their friendship is tested when a new, more potent strain of weed hits the streets.
While the premise may sound familiar to fans of Pineapple Express, Lammbock puts its own spin on the stoner comedy with dry German humor and a unique visual style. A hit in Germany, it even spawned a 2017 sequel.
12. Mac & Devin Go to High School (2012)
Mac & Devin Go to High School stars rappers Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa as a 15-year senior and his valedictorian weed dealer, respectively. Facing expulsion, the two team up to study for their final exams.
The low-budget comedy mostly exists as a vehicle for Snoop and Wiz to extol the virtues of getting high. But fans of the rappers’ laidback personas and stoner anthems will find plenty to appreciate, including an accompanying soundtrack. It’s worth watching just to see Snoop in some ridiculous old-age makeup.
13. Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke (1978)
Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke is the OG stoner comedy, starring the legendary comedy duo as two potheads who unwittingly smuggle a van made entirely of marijuana across the border. Their hazy, meandering adventures are full of slapstick drug humor and counterculture attitude.
While some of the jokes and stereotypes haven’t aged well, Up in Smoke remains hugely influential for establishing the template of the stoner comedy. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong’s unique chemistry and love of the herb launched an empire of comedy albums and movies.
14. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a silly, self-referential comedy written and directed by Kevin Smith, spinning off the title characters from his View Askewniverse films. When Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith) discover a movie is being made about their comic alter-egos, they embark on a cross-country quest to stop the film.
Full of crude humor, celebrity cameos, and inside jokes for Smith fans, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back coasts on the duo’s vulgar stoner charm. It’s a loving tribute to two of cinema’s most enduring potheads.
15. Your Highness (2011)
Your Highness stars Danny McBride and James Franco as two princes on a quest to save their kingdom’s princess (Zooey Deschanel) from an evil wizard. McBride, who co-wrote the script, plays a lazy, weed-smoking prince who must rise to the occasion.
A raunchy twist on the fantasy genre, Your Highness is full of anachronistic humor, crude sight gags, and copious weed-smoking. While it was a critical and commercial flop, it has gained a small following for its all-in commitment to its ridiculous premise and the cast’s game performances.
Whether you’re looking for a silly stoner romp, a heartfelt coming-of-age comedy, or a surreal adventure full of weed-fueled detours, these 15 movies offer something for every fan of Pineapple Express. So roll a joint, grab some snacks, and let these hilarious comedies take you on a hazy ride. Just remember: Puff, puff, pass.
