The perfect stoner film is the sum of its parts, and the addition of the perfect soundtrack is more than a necessity. Let’s take a look at just a few of the absolute best stoner film soundtracks of all time! Some of these are worth a thorough listen, even if you’re not a pothead yourself.
Videos by American Songwriter
1. ‘Dazed And Confused’
Since it’s basically the stoner film of all stoner films, it’s not exactly surprising that Dazed And Confused produced one of the best film soundtracks ever. This 1993 stoner film boasts a killer soundtrack full of classics, from “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith to “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper to “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan.
The movie’s director, Richard Linklater, said that he considered the film to be a “rock and roll movie” more than anything. That much is pretty obvious.
2. ‘Grandma’s Boy’
This stoner comedy from 2006 wasn’t as music-focused as Dazed And Confused, but it did boast a surprisingly good soundtrack. The Grandma’s Boy soundtrack features quite an eclectic tracklist. “Windowlicker” by Aphex Twin makes an appearance, as does “Helicopter” by Bloc Party and “Night On Fire” by VHS Or Beta.
3. ‘The Big Lebowski’
Stoner film soundtracks don’t get better than this one, y’all. The Big Lebowski isn’t just one of the most well-loved stoner films ever, but one of the greatest films of all time… at least in terms of popular culture.
The soundtrack for this 1998 film is similarly great. The whole record is essential listening, loaded with hits like “The Man In Me” by Bob Dylan, “I Hate You” by The Monks, and a rendition of “Hotel California” from Gipsy Kings.
4. ‘Friday’
Stoner film soundtracks are often rock-focused, and Friday is a breath of fresh air with its well-curated soundtrack full of hip-hop classics. Naturally, Ice Cube contributes a song or two to the soundtrack, particularly with the film’s title track. DJ Muggs, Dr. Dre, DJ Pooh, E-Swift, Roger Troutman, and quite a few others contribute songs to the soundtrack as well.
The “extended” version of the soundtrack, Old School Friday (More Music From The Original Motion Picture), features tracks from Rick James, War, The Temptations, and more.
Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
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