The Top 5 Movies That Take Place Over 24 Hours...

...are also some of the best stoner movies ever made. Coincidence? I doubt it.

Disclaimer:All the movies are listed in order of my personal preference, with number 1 being most preferred. NOT according to quality -- technically, cinematically, or otherwise. If they were, 1 would be 1, 2 would be 4, 3 would be 5, 4 would be 3, and 5 would be 2. This is not a complete list of all the movies that take place over 24 hours or the best stoner movies. It's a list of movies I consider to be the best of both worlds.


5. American Graffiti (1973)

Don't get baked before running to the video store, or you may come back with More American Graffiti, which would really, really blow. Hard.

This may not be a straight up drug movie, but it is definitely a good movie to watch “under the influence.” The plot(s), while many and varied, are simple and easy to keep track of, and some jokes that now seem dated, are downright hilarious while baked. Assumedly because today’s youth doesn’t quite understand all the zany slang, and there’s nothing funnier to a stoner than gibberish. Also, any habitual pot smoker can relate to driving aimlessly through one’s hometown and stopping to eat every half hour.

4. The Breakfast Club (1985)

There’s nothing my generation loves more than the 80’s. We don’t know, or care why, we just love them. Everyone has their personal favourite of John Hughes’ classics made during the iconic decade, and while this isn’t mine (Sixteen Candles, thank you very much) it does follow the criteria of taking place over 24 hours, and being a great stoner movie. Again, riddled with humour best saved for the times when you’ll laugh at anything, this movie has even less plot than American Graffiti. The kids actually smoke pot at one point, and just tell me that lunch scene doesn’t inspire a ravenous case of the munchies.


3. Harold and Kumar go to White Castle (2004)

If it wasn't for weed, I don't think we'd be friends.

Potentially one of the best stoner comedies ever made (I’m not prepared to call it THE best) this movie calls for a giant helping of cannabis to fully enjoy it as it was meant to be seen. A sober mind would ask too many questions, like “Where did the cheetah go, was it all a dream?” “Is there a warrant out for Harold now since he escaped from prison?” “Did Kumar grab the weed when he left?” A toasted mind, however, just sits back and lets it flow by. But if you think you can watch the whole thing and not desperately crave White Castle burgers, you’re too stupid to be using drugs.


2. Dazed and Confused (1993)

"That's what I love about these high school girls man. I get older, they stay the same age."

While Richard Linklater’s undisputed masterpiece is the epitome of both qualifiers, it’s just not quite number one on the list. Where would the stoners of today be without Wooderson and Slater to quote incessantly while fried out of their skulls? That’s a world I just don’t want to live in, man. This movie is so heavy with marijuana references, it’s basically a 2 hour infomercial for the stuff. “Smoke pot and girls will like you! You’ll win fights! Beer will magically appear in your hand and the cool kids will want to hang out with you!!” Not the most accurate portrayal of a chronic pot-head’s lifestyle, but who cares, you’re high as a kite! (For additional entertainment, check out the special features on the Special Edition disc. Especially the Public Service Announcements.)


1. Go (1999)

Even though only one main character smokes weed during this movie, it’s number one on the list because it’s the best movie on the list. I’m a traditionalist. More drug-y than stoner-y, it fits in because it’s trippy as all hell, especially if you’re one of those people who mixes your gear with acid. Completely unrelated to pot or the 24 hour timeline, the scene with Katie Holmes and Timothy Olyphant on the staircase towards the end is one of the hottest fully clothed sex scenes in cinematic history (number one being, of course, Rachel Weisz and Jude Law in Enemy at the Gates) and one of three reasons I watch this flick as often as I do. The others are William Fichtner’s delivery on the line, “It’s not AMWAY it’s CONFERATED PRODUCTS. A different company, a different quality of product.” and Scott Wolf and Jay Mohr talking about their girlfriends in the supermarket.