Ah, 4/20 — a day that many designate as a sort of “National Weed Day,” as if it were an actual official holiday.
It is a day that holds a special place in the hearts of many — perhaps even more so than the family gatherings on what many consider traditional holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving — as massive amounts of green are consumed.
Watching something while high can be a spiritual experience. A good high can provide viewers with almost superhuman senses that allow them to see and hear things they have never noticed before, even if they’ve already seen the movie dozens of times.
Here is a list of five of the top movies and shows to watch while kicking back and smoking a joint, because there is no better way to enjoy the high than by staring at a television screen for hours on end, right....right?
All of these movies and shows can be found on Netflix or HBO — the holy grail for stoners — as they can be accessed and streamed without ever leaving the couch. So kick back, relax, open that bag of cheesy puffs and enjoy!
5. Superbad (Netflix)
“Superbad,” a movie that came out in 2007 and was directed by Greg Mottola, features the dream team in terms of a comedy cast. Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Christopher Mintz-Plasse combine for a mix of dry and crude humor that’s sure to make you laugh every other second.
The movie is about two high school seniors who plan to go to a party and lose their virginity, but, as you might assume, things don’t go as planned. Without going into too much detail and spoiling the plot, the movie is a classic in the comedy world and is sure to be even funnier on Thursday.
4. Tropic Thunder (Netflix)
This movie, with all of its vivid colors and dense forests, is about a group of actors who travel into the jungles of Vietnam to shoot a movie about war. What they don’t know is that they are dropped right into the middle of an actual drug war, and the five of them are forced to fight their way out of the jungle.
The movie, which plays out as a satire of war movies like “Apocalypse Now,” isn’t an intense drama, instead focusing on satirical scenes that are sure to make you laugh. Ben Stiller wrote, directed and starred in the film.
3. The Age of Spin: Dave Chappelle Live at The Hollywood Palladium (Netflix)
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
While not a movie per se, Dave Chappelle’s stand-up is arguably some of the best of any comedian ever. Chappelle used to star in a Comedy Central show titled “Chappelle’s Show,” which consisted of skits that tackled issues of race, stardom and many other topics.
In this recent Netflix comeback stand-up special, Chappelle tackles some of those same issues including O.J . Simpson and Bill Cosby. He also addresses race and politics through crude humor that is sure to make people aware of certain issues, while also understanding that it is okay to laugh about them. Hey, and while you’re at it, watch the “Chappelle’s Show” skit about Rick James — it is comedy in its highest form.
2. Black Mirror (Netflix)
Holy hell. “Black Mirror.” Watching this show in a sober state might be just as trippy as it is when high, though smoking a joint or taking an edible can certainly enhance the viewing experience.
“Black Mirror,” originally a British sci-fi series in the vein of “The Twilight Zone,” consists of three seasons and, in almost every episode, the show explores the idea of how technology can inevitably take over our lives in ways that are very possible. It can be hard to explain, but each episode is its own story and independently entertaining, so they don’t have to be watched in order. Good luck not binging it, though.
For a true enlightening, the episode “Be Right Back” would probably be one of the best to experience when high. The episode, the first of the second season, is about Martha Atwell, a recently-widowed woman. Atwell, with the help of technological advances, is able to communicate with a virtual version of her recently deceased husband. The episode combines the perfect combination of emotion and technology, and makes for the best “Black Mirror” episode I’ve seen.
P.S. it might make you cry (I did) and it sure as hell might freak you out.
1.The Leftovers (HBO)
This show is truly something else. “The Leftovers,” which can be found on HBO, is a sad and depressing tale of how a community copes after two percent of the world’s population suddenly vanishes. The show’s plot can seem somewhat of a mess at times, leaving its audience confused.
But it’s a compilation of haywire that can make one get in touch with the inner-self. Trippy, right?
Experiencing the show while high is likely to lead one to ponder questions such as “Why?” or “What next?” much more so than when sober. Beware — the show is weird...really weird.
“The Leftovers” also consists of three seasons, though only the first two are on full display in the HBO collection. Season three is currently airing on HBO.
Matthew Narvaiz is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers women’s basketball and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz.
