Top Five 4/20 Movies You Might Not Have Thought Of

The average stoner movie with its stereotypical character and plot is well and good and has its place, but it leaves some wanting more. When I smoke, I tend to appreciate a well thought out story line involving weed, or some kind of fantastical, mind-expanding, reality-bending adventure. This 4/20, when your friend suggests watching Harold and Kumar or Half-Baked, try one of these instead. Who knows, it may just become your next 4/20 classic.

1.  Leaves of Grass     

Written and Directed by Tim Blake Nelson
Starring Edward Norton, Keri Russell, and Henry Max Nelson
Length: 99 minutes

Edward Norton plays two twin brothers. One is a philosophy professor at Harvard, and the other is a weed farmer. The philosophy professor returns to his hometown when his mother becomes sick and tries to avoid being lured into his brother’s plan to take down a rival. This is an excellent movie that combines border-line stoner humor with ivy-league wit and intelligence to weave a wonderful story. Edward Norton’s acting is superb and he is able to play two twin brothers in the same scene very convincingly. An excellent choice the next time you are looking for a more mature 4/20 movie. 
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2.  Big Trouble in Little China  
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Written by Gary Goldman, David Z. Weinstein, and W.D. Richter
Directed by John Carpenter
Starring Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, James Hong, Dennis Dun, and Victor Wong
Runtime: 99 minutes

This is over the top 80’s style at it’s best, with a dose of Chinese spirituality and a healthy amount of Kurt Russell. This is one of John Carpenter’s best films, and includes plenty of humor and exaggerated fight scenes. However, this movie also has a deep mystical side, and leaves the viewer with the sense that there is an underlying magical reality existing right under our very noses. We just have to choose to see it. Kurt Russell’s character gets a few glimpses of this underlying mystical state at the beginning of the movie before diving right in and becoming fully immersed in the battle between two Taoist sorcerers in an attempt to save a kidnapped girl. ​

3.  The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Written by Terry Gilliam and Charles McKeown
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Starring Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, and Heath Ledger
Runtime: 123 minutes 

Dr. Parnassus is a thousand year old being that has made a deal with the devil trading all of his children on their 16th birthday for immortality. It is now present day and his current daughter is about to turn 16. A new deal may be available, but can he succeed and save his daughter’s life? A wildcard is thrown into the equation. They find a man (Ledger) hanging from a bridge on the verge of death and save his life. He may just be the charm that they need to win, or he may bring about their very downfall.

This movie is a great mix of trippy visuals and wonderful storytelling. Heath Ledger passed away during the making of this movie, but a few other actors stepped in to finish the role in this movie. Surprisingly, it works. This movie is a deep, imaginative exploration of the subconscious mind and the consequences of the choices we all make everyday.    

4.  Visioneers    
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Written by Brandon Drake
Directed by Jared Drake
Starring Zach Galifianakis, Judy Greer, and Mia Maestro
Runtime: 94 minutes

Zach Galifianakis in a dark comedy with people exploding from stress. Need I say more? Set in a not too distant future, a giant corporation has taken over the government. Happiness devices begin to get implanted. ZG’s character must find a way to escape. A look at the place of emotions within a corporate schema. Is it ever possible to be truly happy? How can corporations and other businesses deal with the stress caused on their employees? All of these topics and more are explored in Visioneers. Sort of like 1984 meets Dumb and Dumber.  ​

 5.  Dope   
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Written and Directed by Rick Famuyiwa
Starring Shameik Moore, Rakim Mayers (A$ap Rocky), and Blake Anderson
Runtime:  103 minutes

Three hip-hop geeks from the worst neighborhood in Los Angeles become entangled in a drug dealing operation. How will this help them get into college? You’ll have to watch it and find out.

This is a very original Netflix Original. This movie gives you a raw view into the realities of growing up in a bad neighborhood. The name of this neighborhood is “The Bottoms”. You can imagine how bad it is. The movie shows you all of the fun and humor associated with high school under these conditions, but also all of the destruction and danger. Somehow the sudden entanglement in drugs and criminal activity lands the main character a chance to attend Harvard. The Godfather meets Revenge of the Nerds. ​

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CODY PEPIN

Cody Pepin is an adventurer, poet, and mystic. He enjoys exploring the spiritual and intellectual heritage of humankind. He currently lives by the ocean in Marshfield, Massachusetts and continues to delve deeper into the unknown.​