Thanks to several well-known and high-quality titles, the1990srepresent the peak ofstonercomedies. Dozens of them came out in this decade alone. And while not all of them hold up to any notable degrees, we’ve selected nine titles that without a doubt provide laughs today. These are among the most famous movies of the decade, and they’re still cited by fans as essential stoner comedies.
Nearly every movie on this list was made by a talented director, and they all feature star-studded casts. Without a doubt, most of them will appear familiar, but along the way, you may learn about a new title. All that said, these are nine stoner comedies from the 1990s that still hold up today.
9Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
A spoof of hood films,Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood(1996) was directed by Paris Barclay. It stars Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who also hold co-screenwriting credits alongside Phil Beauman. The plot homes in on two cousins who traverse the unpredictablelandscape of South Central Los Angeles.
A Fan-Favorite Spoof
Despite garnering negative reviews from critics,Don’t Be a Menacehas built a strong cult following in recent years. Even upon release, stoners held this movie in high regard. Not much has changed there, nor should it ever. This is a well-known entry of 1990s cinema, and it holds up as a hilarious stoner comedy all these years down the line.Not Currently Available to Stream or Rent
8Half Baked (1998)
Starring Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer, the former co-wrote the script forHalf Baked(1998) alongside Neal Brennan. Directed by Tamra Davis, the product resonated with few critics when it hit theaters in the ’90s. For the most part, its legacy revolves arounda committed cult following.
An Iconic Stoner Stint
Without a doubt, this is one of the most iconic stoner comedies ever made, let alone from the decade at hand, and that’s not just thanks to the appropriately named title. Chappelle and Breuer show up with two of the funniest performances of the decade, with fans, in turn, citingHalf Bakedas one of the most uproarious movies therein. And justifiably so.Rent on Apple TV
7Homegrown (1998)
Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal with Nicholas Kazan as his co-writer,Homegrown(1998) is among the most underrated stoner comedies ever. It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria, and Ryan Phillippe as marijuana harvesters, whose business is invaded by various parties, including the police and the Mafia.
Thrilling Undertones
A comedy at its core,Homegrownfeatures thrilling and mysterious undertones once the group’s supplier (played by John Lithgow) ends up murdered. All the actors perform brilliantly under Gyllenhaal’s direction, and the plot is perfectly paced until the fireworks of the film’s finale. Although some audiences are likely unfamiliar withHomegrown, it deserves far more love today as a ’90s stoner comedy that still holds up.Stream on Tubi
6Mallrats (1995)
More of a fan-favorite comedy than it was a critical darling,Mallrats(1995) is the second film to ever fallunder the View Askewniverse banner. It revolves around best friends Jeremy London as T.S. and Jason Lee as Brodie — a pair of slackers who visit the mall after being dumped by their girlfriends.
Hilarious Dialogue with Charismatic Performances
Aside from the leads, the cast ofMallratsconsists of Claire Forlani, Ben Affleck, and Joey Lauren Adams. Everyone lets loose hilarious dialogue, especially Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith (the latter is the creator of the Universe at hand, writing and directing every movie therein), who show up as Jay and Silent Bob. Though the smoking is minimal on screen, their parts renderMallratsan essential stoner comedy from the 1990s.Stream on Prime Video
5Friday (1995)
Co-starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, the former co-wrote the script forFriday(1995) alongside DJ Pooh. In the director’s chair was F. Gary Gray — making his debut, no less — while other names among the cast include Nia Long, Regina King, and Bernie Mac. They all provide essential efforts in a famous stoner plot that still provides laughs nearly three decades down the line.
A Simple Yet Famous Plot
It homes in on a slacker named Craig Jones (played by Ice Cube) and a small-time street dealer named Smokey, who’s played by Tucker in one of the funniest performances of his career. The two co-protagonists are at odds with a local bully, Deebo (portrayed to an iconic degree by Tiny “Zeus” Lister Jr.), but the true plot kicks off when it’s revealed Smokey owes money to his supplier. It’s a famous film that features several stand-out moments of comedy, with fans still quotingFridaywell into the 21st Century.Rent on Apple TV
Related:The 20 Funniest Movies of the 1990s
4Clerks (1994)
Though not every character inClerks(1994) fits the bill of a stoner, Jay and Silent Bob undoubtedly do. They loiter outside the Quick Stop (the primary setting of the film, where writer-director Kevin Smith worked at the time of filming), smoking and selling the devil’s lettuce while Dante and Randall — played by Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson, respectively — are inside making honest livings.
The Debut of Kevin Smith
Filmed in black-and-white and on a shoestring budget,Clerksinspired an entire generation of filmmakers to get off the couch and pick up a camera. This is partly due to the hilarious dialogue Smith wrote for his characters, but also because of the personalities thereof. Jay and Silent Bob are among themost hilarious stoner charactersin all of cinema, andClerksis the greatest film in which they’re featured.Stream on Prime Video or Paramount+
3Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Adapted from Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 novel,Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas(1998) was directed by Terry Gilliam. He adapted the script alongside three other creatives, and recruited two talented thespians to play the primary characters: Johnny Depp as Raul Duke, and Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo.
Polarizing Critics, Resonating With Audiences
Most stoner comedies from the 1990s are held in higher regard by fans today than they were by critics upon release. One such example isFear and Loathing. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds just a 50% approval rating. But considering the wit of its script and the efforts of its leads, it’s easy to see why film fans still revisit this essential black comedy today.Rent on Prime Video
2The Big Lebowski (1998)
One of the most famous entries in Joel and Ethan Coen’s legendary filmography isThe Big Lebowski(1998). It takes the status of cult classic to a new level: fans around the country worship the primary character as if his stoner, slacker lifestyle is adhered to straight out of scripture. Of course, we’re talking about “The Dude”, known in some circles by his birth name, Jeffrey Lebowski.
Iconic Characters Created by Joel and Ethan Coen
When a couple of intruders corner The Dude in his apartment and accuse him of owing a large stack of cash, it’s revealed that another Jeffrey Lebowski is living in the midst of the fan-favorite protagonist. He recruits his best bowling buddies, Walter and Donny (played by two Coen Brother collaborators, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi), to solve the mysteries at hand and retrieve the one thing that tied The Dude’s living room together: his rug, soiled on by the aforementioned intruders.
A hilarious, well-written project plays out from there, and again: The Dude is among the most iconic characters in stoner movie history. Bridges' performance makesThe Big Lebowskian essential inclusion on the list,providing memorable one-linersand sharing brilliant chemistry with each of his co-stars. There’s a reason this movie is held in such high regard today.Rent on Apple TV
Related:Best Coen Brothers Films, Ranked
1Dazed and Confused (1993)
One of the most star-studded casts ever assembled can be found inDazed and Confused(1993), written and directed by Richard Linklater. Jason London, Mila Jovovich, Rory Cochrane, Joey Lauren Adams, and Adam Goldberg — their respective characters spend the majority of the plot getting high, resulting in essential jokes and moments regarding stoner comedies in general, not just with regard to the 1990s.
Tapping into the Audience’s Nostalgia
Perhaps the most pivotal movie ever made about the high school experience,Dazed and Confusedhas all the archetypes you can muster out of a comedy of this ilk. Ben Affleck plays a jock, Parker Posey plays a ruthless cheerleader, and Wiley Wiggins plays the awkward first-year. Of course, there’s also Matthew McCounaughey, who plays slacker David Wooderson to an unforgettable degree. From asking Mitch if he has a joint to smoking on the 50-yard line, some of the movie’s most uproarious moments feature McCounaughey as Wooderson.
Alone, McCounaughey’s venerated efforts renderDazed and Confusedan essential stoner comedy. But considering the iconic nature of other personalities like Slater (Chochrane’s character) and Michelle (played by Jovovich), there’s no denying this film’s inclusion on the list. These people are all relatable, and the scenarios that play out in the plot were taken straight out of high school movie playbooks. Writer-director Richard Linklater crafted an incomparable comedy withDazed and Confused, which goes down as one of the funniest movies ever made — let alone of the decade at hand.Rent on AppleTV
