Summary
- Cheech and Chong’s impact on the stoner comedy genre is undeniable, with Up in Smoke being a groundbreaking film that set the bar high for future similar comedies.
- Cheech and Chong’s Animated Movie is a regrettable addition to their filmography, lacking humor, charm, and quality animation.
- Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie offers solid humor and enduring chemistry, making it a satisfying and successful sequel to their debut film Up in Smoke.
When it comes to stoner comedies, Cheech and Chong are the founding fathers, but some of their movies are better than others. Considered one of the best comedic duos, Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong first crossed paths in Vancouver, Canada, in the late ’60s. Initially pursuing music, their destiny took an unexpected turn when their on-stage banter eclipsed their musical endeavors. Transitioning to comedy, they unleashed a series of hit records in the early ’70s, solidifying their iconic status. The pinnacle of their influence materialized in 1978 with Up in Smoke, a groundbreaking film that laid the groundwork for countless stoner comedies to come.
Ranging from classics to forgettable misses, Cheech and Chong’s impact on the stoner comedy genre is undeniable. Known for their crude and laidback humor, the duo’s style revolves around portraying characters who are hilariously foolish and perpetually high. With a future Cheech and Chong biopic on the way, the duo’s enduring popularity is a testament to their status as comedy icons. All nine official Cheech & Chong movies offer a journey from the less memorable to the downright classic moments of their careers.
9 Cheech & Chong’s Animated Movie (2013)
A Lazy Disappointment Lacking Humor or Charm
In 2013, Cheech and Chong attempted an animated comeback with Cheech & Chong’s Animated Movie, a compilation of their classic sketches and a new plot featuring a body crab named Buster. Despite the potential for nostalgic enjoyment, this film falls flat. Labeled one of their worst, it’s a lazy and disappointing venture. The animation quality is notably poor, lacking the humor or charm expected even from a stoner comedy. While a light-hearted ride was anticipated, this movie disappoints with its consistently unappealing content. Even for enthusiasts of the iconic duo, Cheech & Chong’s Animated Movie is a regrettable addition to their filmography, one best avoided.
8 Still Smokin’ (1983)
Couldn’t Live Up To Their Previous Films
Still Smokin’ finds itself at the bottom of the live-action Cheech and Chong movie pile for various reasons. In this 1983 outing, the iconic stoner duo heads to Amsterdam for a film festival after being mistaken for celebrities. Despite the potential of the premise, the film feels disjointed and haphazardly put together, lacking the meaningful humor that characterizes their better works. The title, reminiscent of their first film, raises expectations that Still Smokin’ might recapture some of that early magic, but unfortunately, it falls short. Even with a setting known for its drug culture, the duo’s antics fail to deliver laughs, making it the least impressive live-action Cheech & Chong movie.
7 Hey Watch This (2010)
Lacks Fresh Material
Hey Watch This primarily functions as a concert film capturing Cheech and Chong’s reunion tour in the late 2000s. With occasional pre-recorded skits, the film revolves around the duo performing classic gags live. While the audience appears to relish the experience, the film lacks innovation, predominantly relying on familiar, decades-old humor. After a tumultuous 1980s falling out, the reunion was a joyful occasion to finally witness the duo’s on-stage camaraderie. Still, Hey Watch This disappoints. While not a disaster, it certainly doesn’t rank among the duo’s standout works.
6 Get Out of My Room (1985)
Doesn’t Quite Reach Expected Heights
Get Out of My Room, a 53-minute mockumentary, captures Cheech and Chong in a This Is Spinal Tap-style film, portraying themselves as they attempt to create a video album. Following a faux reporter documenting their process, the film intertwines behind-the-scenes snippets and fabricated interviews around Los Angeles with four music videos from the duo’s last album. While catering to longtime fans, the mockumentary falls short of the comedic brilliance seen in This Is Spinal Tap. Despite its short duration preventing a prolonged decline in quality, Get Out of My Room doesn’t quite reach the comedic heights expected from Cheech & Chong, making it a somewhat lackluster addition to their filmography.
5 Things Are Tough All Over (1982)
An Overlooked yet Unmemorable Installment
Tackling the theme of tough times, Things Are Tough All Over transports Cheech & Chong’s comedic chaos to Las Vegas. In this 1982 film, the duo unknowingly drives a limo loaded with $5 million from Chicago to Vegas, encountering various shady characters eager to seize the hidden cash. The plot attempts to infuse a faint sense of vitality into their fourth installment, yet it fails to revive the overall quality of the movie. Released between the well-received Nice Dreams and the lackluster Still Smokin’, Things Are Tough All Over sits somewhat overlooked among the duo’s filmography.
4 Cheech & Chong’s The Corsican Brothers (1984)
A Deviation From The Duo’s Usual Comedic Dynamic
Marking a departure from their signature stoner comedy, Cheech & Chong’s The Corsican Brothers sees the iconic duo embracing more traditional acting roles, offering a parody of classic swashbuckler tales inspired by Alexandre Dumas’s novel. While deviating from their familiar comedic style, this film is a shift in the well-known Cheech and Chong dynamic. Cheech’s desire to move away from drug humor, evident in the absence of such jokes in this movie, foreshadows a growing creative divide. Though not universally panned, The Corsican Brothers played a role in the duo’s eventual split, making it a turning point in their comedic partnership.
3 Nice Dreams (1981)
Delivers The Expected Comedy, But Just Misses The Mark
Nice Dreams, the third installment in the Cheech & Chong filmography, doesn’t quite reach the highs of their best works, despite being an improvement over their earlier efforts. The film follows the pair as they navigate a surreal version of Los Angeles, high on their supply of weed sold from an ice cream truck. While the movie captures the essence of Cheech & Chong’s signature chaos, it also signals a point where their routine starts to feel a bit worn out. Nice Dreams, with its wild escapades and bizarre situations, provides the expected comedic anarchy, but it falls short of their more memorable classics.
2 Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980)
Offers A Solid Delivery Of Humor
While not destined for Oscar glory, Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie, the duo’s second cinematic venture, has defied the usual pitfalls and endured better than many of their films. The loose narrative follows the duo’s misadventures as they seek odd jobs, and their enduring chemistry remains charming. Several sketches offer genuine stoner comedy laughs. Although the second half stumbles with Cheech’s less amusing second character, Red, the film manages to deliver bursts of solid humor. Following the madness of Up in Smoke, satisfaction continued in this 1980 sequel, a relentless exercise in comic chaos that remains a pinnacle of stoner comedy and the duo’s highest-grossing film.
1 Up in Smoke (1978)
A Classic Stoner Comedy That Created A New Genre
Up in Smoke stands tall as Cheech & Chong‘s best movie to date, a classic stoner comedy that’s the cream of their cinematic crop. The 1978 debut is a must-watch for those craving vintage, uproarious humor and even appeals to the uninitiated. The plot is delightfully simple; an anarchic journey fueled by chaos, annoyance, and a perpetual haze of marijuana smoke, crafting a stoner comedy masterpiece. While personal preferences may sway, Up in Smoke‘s non-stop laugh fest, featuring a colossal joint, a wild courtroom, and unforgettable characters gave birth to a new genre and set the bar impossibly high for their following endeavors.
