Stoner comedies have been around since the unintentionally hilarious release of Reefer Madness in 1936. However, the subgenre really didn't emerge until the late 60s and early 70s when the hippy counterculture became more mainstream. Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider is often cited as one of the earliest examples, although it fits more in the mold of a buddy-road adventure than a wacky comedy.

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In the 70s, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong led the charge of mainstream stoner comedies with their series of films. With the subgenre evolving quite a bit since then, here are the 10 Best All-Time Stoner Comedies, Ranked by IMDB.

Leaves Of Grass (2009) 6.4/10

Edward Norton gives one of the two best performances of his career as diametrically opposed twin brothers in the screwball crime-comedy Leaves of Grass.

Written and directed Tim Blake Nelson (who also stars), the film concerns uptight Ivy League Professor Bill Kincaid (Norton) who's spent his whole life shedding his Oklahoma heritage. When he receives a call claiming his twin brother Brady (Norton) has been murdered, he returns home. Brady is not only alive and well, but insistent on roping Bill into his weed-growing business and fighting off his angry rivals.

Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) 6.8/10

It'd be nearly impossible to comprise a stoner comedy list without at least one Kevin Smith joint. But since Jay and Silent Bob have their own two-hours to shine in Strike Back, the definitive stoner duo takes the cake and eats it.

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The film follows the two lovable losers who, upon hearing Hollywood is making a movie based on their comic-book likeness, travel from New Jersey to California to stop the production in its tracks. Jay and Silent Bob meet a slew of wacky characters along the way but never miss a chance to roll up a doobie and relax.

Half Baked (1998) 6.7/10

Despite its abysmal 16/100 Metascore, Half Baked is one of the most beloved cult-stoner-comedies ever assembled. Written by and starring Dave Chappelle, the film follows a threesome of moronic stoners who concoct a series of lame-brained schemes to get their friend out of jail.

Directed by Tamara Davis, the crux of the plot concerns Thurgood Jenkins (Chappelle) and his pals dealing high-grade weed that eventually upsets rival dealer Samson Simpson (Clarence Williams III).

Pineapple Express (2008) 6.9/10

Pineapple Express

Much like the cross-joint Seth Rogen tugs on in the film, Pineapple Express proved to be a massive hit upon its release in the summer of 2008. The David Gordon Green film starts off as a chill stoner comedy but quickly escalates into a full-blown action flick.

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When Dale (Rogen) accidentally witnesses a murder perpetrated by his weed dealer Saul's (James Franco) boss, his life is put in direct danger. Dale leaves a clue to his presence behind, a roach for the rare Pineapple Express strain of weed sure to implicate him.

Up In Smoke (1978) 7.0/10

Cheech and Chong made a cottage industry of silly stoner comedies in the 70s and 80s, but none hit harder than their first outing, Up in Smoke.

When Pedro (Cheech) picks up a Man (Chong) hitchhiking, the only thing the two men have on their minds is scoring dope. After being deported to Mexico, their search leads to unknowingly obtaining a van comprised entirely of high-grade weed that they use to return to the U.S. On their heels at every turn is Narcotics Agent Seargent Stedenko (Stacy Keach).

Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (2004) 7.1/10

After roughly a decade-long absence of stoner comedies in the mainstream, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle reinvigorated the subgenre while also redefining its stereotypes.

Korean-American Harold (John Cho) and Indian-American Kumar (Kal Penn) are two roommates who bond over smoking weed together every day after work. While zonked out of their minds, the two besties see TV-commercial for White Castle and make an almost-sobering sojourn to eat their favorite fast food, meeting one wacky character after another along the way.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) 7.2/10

Amy Heckerling's Fast Times At Ridgemont High is at once a coming-of-age high-school rom-com as well as an outright stoner comedy. Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), the bong-ripping surfer dude who orders pizza to his history class has to be included on the Mt. Rushmore of cinematic stoners.

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Story-wise, most of the drama centers on Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a teenage girl undergoing a profound sexual awakening. As she tries to find a suitable mate, a series of adolescent hijinks ensue.

Friday (1995) 7.3/10

The bona fide cult-classic Friday isn't just a comedy with hilarious stoners in it, but the entire plot revolves around its central characters having to sell weed in 24 hours or else they'll have hell to pay.

When Smokey (Chris Tucker) convinces his recently laid-off friend Craig (Ice Cube) to smoke weed for the first time on a Friday, all seems well. But when weed-dealer Big Worm (Faizon Love) shows up and threatens Smokey at gun-point, Craig becomes implicated in the drug deal as well.

Dazed and Confused (1993) 7.6/10

Three boys from the cast of Dazed and Confused laughing

Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused is the definitive hangout movie. The plotless story finds a cross-section of students on the final day of school in 1976 partying hard with booze and weed until the sun comes up.

Much of the focus lies on Mitch Kramer (Wiley Wiggins), a soon-to-be freshman desperate to fit in with the older crowd and avoid hazing rituals from the cruel upperclassmen. When a big rager at Kevin Pickford's house is canceled, the end-of-school party moves to the Austin Moon Tower where legions of stoned-out teenagers enjoy the night away.

The Big Lebowski (1998) 8.1/10

Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, and John Goodman in The Big Lebowski

According to IMDB, no stoner comedy ranks higher than the Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski. The film is a hilarious take on the Raymond Chandler-style murder mystery with a zen-like hippy stoner as the primary investigator.

Jeff Bridges gives a career-defining turn as Jeff Lebowski, a glorified bum and ardent bowler who has his rug stolen one day. When Jeff realizes he shares the same name with a rich philanthropist, he becomes entangled in a harrowing kidnapping plot with his friends Walter (John Goodman) and Donnie (Steve Buscemi).

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