Half Baked

Three party-loving friends get pulled into a tense mission when their buddy Thurgood Jenkins, played by Dave Chappelle, a marijuana enthusiast, faces jail time. The film follows Thurgood and his crew as they scramble to help, chasing a plan that seems foolproof at first but quickly spirals out of control. Instead of a clean rescue, they stumble into a string of disastrous mishaps as crooked cops, eccentric criminals, and their own bad luck complicate every move. Their loyalty and nerve under pressure keep the energy high as the plan folds into one misadventure after another. What started as a favor becomes a chaotic test of friendship, with punchlines that land through sight gags, wordplay, and rapid-fire banter. Chaos bites back.

Directed by Tamra Davis, Half Baked was written by Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan. Released in 1998, the film blends urban humor with a streetwise vibe and helped launch Chappelle's feature film career and broaden his television fame at large.

The film earned about 17,460,020 dollars worldwide on an eight million dollar budget, delivering a modest profit and establishing Half Baked as a cult favorite among fans of 90s comedy. Its theater run reflected demand for improv driven humor in theaters.

Half Baked helped plant Dave Chappelle's stand up persona in mainstream cinema, with Thurgood Jenkins and his alter ego Sir Smoke-a-Lot echoing in clips and references. The movie became a reference point for fans of late 90s stoner comedies, spawning shout outs and reruns on cable and in dorm rooms.

Critics noted the brisk pace and energetic performances, though some called it uneven. The film centers on friendship, improvisation, and the consequences of reckless plans, delivering jokes while poking at loyalty and the gray area between ambition and trouble. Its humor relies on setups and escalating absurdities for audiences everywhere.