Grab That Vape! 10 Intellectual Movies To Watch While You’re Stoned

INHALE WITH: Lars Von Trier

We recommend not smoking until the start of the second chapter, “Claire,” in which the imminent end of the world is upon our unraveling main characters. Yet, there’s a moment when our deeply depressed protagonist, Justine (Kirsten Dunst), realizes that she’s no longer in control of her destiny, when all her worries melt away, leaving her worried mind and, us as viewers, oddly at peace with such dark subject matter. [Where to stream Melancholia]

INHALE WITH: Terrence Malick

No director has made us feel nature quite like Terrence Malick, whose films are boring — pretty, but boring — without some accompaniment from Mary J. Then it’s like, boom! I want to run through that river and jump off that planet too! [Where to stream The Tree of Life]

INHALE WITH: David Lynch

It begins as a brooding Hollywood tale as seen through the innocent eyes of an aspiring, naive actress, Betty (Naomi Watts). But then, in Lynchian fashion, things get really, really weird. Silencio… After Betty and Rita get it on rather boringly, they head out to the theater as lookalikes where they’re met with a nightmarish opera ballad whose beauty is often overshadowed by the bizarre. Something to keep in mind when the opera singer takes the stage: that entire moment was filmed in Lynch’s basement in one take. So close your eyes, turn up the volume, and let it soak in. [Where to stream Mulholland Drive]

INHALE WITH: Godfrey Reggio

From Francis Ford Coppola comes Godfrey Reggio’s profound documentary that mixes ominous sound with visuals that are often all around us, but often go unnoticed. In Koyaanisqatsi, Reggio’s patient camera forces us to watch, digest, and think about the big picture for 86 minutes. [Where to stream Koyaanisqatsi]

INHALE WITH: Pedro Almodóvar

Almodóvar is the reigning king of Spanish cinema, always delivering a combination of heartfelt emotions and comic sensibility to his melodramatic pictures. Volver is truly one of his best. Penelope Cruz stars as Raimunda, who, along with her sister Soledad, is still grieving the death of her parents, who died in a fire three years ago. Raimunda’s world comes crumbling down around her when her daughter, Paula, stabs Raimunda’s husband in self-defence — and the ghost of her mother comes back to live with her sister. It’s a comic drama that’s an incredible feast for the eyes. [Where to stream Volver]

INHALE WITH: Luca Guadagnino

Tilda Swinton stars as Emma Recchi, a Russian-born woman living in Milan and the matriarch of a wealthy family of textile manufacturers. She lives a comfortable, posh lifestyle that comes to a halt when she falls in love with the handsome Antonio, a chef and her son’s best friend. While the story may end tragically, Guadagnino’s film is a stunning visual experience with images of the Italian countryside and haute cuisine. Toss in the dramatics of a score provided by composer John Adams, and the mind-blowing performance from Tilda Swinton — she speaks Italian with a Russian accent! [Where to stream I Am Love]

INHALE WITH: Hans Christian Andersen

When you think “stoner pick,” Disney classics aren’t necessarily the first thing to come to mind, but just think about how perfectly they satisfy all the feelings, especially Fantasia 2000. Though the all-encompasing moment in this pick is also a slightly frightening one,  [Where to stream Fantasia/2000]

INHALE WITH: Whit Stillman

A peak into the lives of Upper East Side youth, whose privileged antics mask the fear of growing up and failing in “the real world.” There’s no particular moment that one-ups another, but the complex dialogue between his layered characters begs to be listened to while smoking. [Where to stream Metropolitan]

INHALE WITH: Paul Thomas Anderson

Maybe it’s Joanna Newsoms soothing voiceover mixed with PTA’s stunning visuals. Or maybe’s it’s just because everyone on screen is smoking too — but Inherent Vice is an arguably perfect movie to watch while you smoke if you’re looking for something clever, sexy, and California cool.  [Where to stream Inherent Vice]

INHALE WITH: Woody Allen

In an effort to prove to the woman he loves that he’s not too pathetic for war-ridden czarist Russia, Boris (Allen) and his cousin (Diane Keaton) put their sexual tension on hold in order to plot the murder of Napoleon. Allen’s neurotic wit will urge you to think about all sorts of philosophical issues, but the comedic joy is in the brilliant throwaway lines, particularly from Keaton.  [Where to stream Love and Death]