There’s nothing better than a midweek movie after what often feels like the eternal stretch that is those Monday and Tuesday blues…

If it’s any good, the right movie can break-up the week with 90 minutes of pure cinematic escapism. So, to ensure you choose the perfect distraction from those hump day errands, we’ve made an executive decision on what you should binge tonight. And in news that’ll excite stoners the world-over, it’s Richard Linklater’s 1993 flop-turned-classic Dazed and Confused. The film, which follows Texan high-schoolers in the lead up to their graduation in the late ‘70s, has become near-mythic among movie buffs, and for good reason. Here’s a list of 5 said reasons why you should rewatch Dazed and Confused tonight. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aQuvPlcB-8

A launchpad for future A-listers.

Linklater’s ensemble cast is so starry it’s like it’s own constellation. Most notably, it features pre-fame performances from two of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men- Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey. Now known as Oscar darlings, Dazed and Confused casts the pair as a pre-pubescent footballer and a since-graduated stoner, and seeing the pre-heartthrob actors embody these descriptors is like watching a couple of stars-in-the-making. They weren’t the only soon-to-be A-listers to audition for the film, with Linklater passing on the likes of Brendan Fraser and Vince Vaughn. When such big names are considered passable, you know that Dazed and Confused spotlights only the cream of the Hollywood crop.

From flop to cult classic, it’s aged like a fine wine. 

When it was first released in 1993, Dazed and Confused was considered a box office flop. Maybe it’s because it would go on to launch half a dozen careers, or because audiences rightfully decided to watch it over a spliff, but these days the film is considered a cult classic among stoners and critics alike. It is, first and foremost, a seminal weed-infused comedy, with enough lowbrow humour and sexed-up hijinks to keep even the most bloodshot of eyes entertained (Linklater admitted that most of the cast was high in some scenes). But apart from that, Dazed and Confused is a quintessential indie film, with costume and set design that perfectly encapsulates coming-of-age among the thralls of schoolyard politics. So, pot-heads and cinephiles can equally rejoice! 

The big-budget soundtrack. 

The title of Dazed and Confused is itself a reference to Led Zeppelin’s track of the same name, but if that wasn’t enough to sell you on the legendary soundscape of the film, then Linklater’s later directorial credits on School of Rock (2003) will. If you can believe it, the head-banging soundtrack of the Jack Black comedy doesn’t even compare to Linklater’s predecessor, with Dazed and Confused featuring tracks from iconic artists from Aerosmith and Bob Dylan. So important were the ‘70s tunes that Linklater spent a whopping one-sixth of the film’s budget on securing the big-name music rights. 

Quentin Tarantino Approved

Much-loved in our office and across the world, the one and only Quentin Tarantino has continually cited Dazed and Confused as one of his favourite films of all time. From 2002-2012, Tarantino listed the film alongside cinematic giants like Taxi Driver, The Great Escape and Carrie; no small feat for a film that doesn’t really have a solid storyline or structure. In a quote that perfectly summarises the mostly-plotless movie and in itself warrants another reason on this list, Tarantino called Dazed and Confused “one of the greatest hangout movies ever made.”

Alright, alright, alright. 

Need we say more? Matthew McConaughey’s infamous three-word catch phrase was first uttered on the set of Dazed and Confused, and the repetitive quote and the career-making character behind it have become synonymous with McConaughey ever since. After all, David Wooderson is the quintessential McConaughey character- a scene-stealing postgrad with a signature coolness and steeze. The catchphrase was so sticky that McConaughey would go on to quote it in his Oscar speech alongside another Dazed and Confused line; “just keep livin’.” Touchè, McConaughey. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuER2Puym4I

So, gather some of your closest buds and enjoy one of the dope-st movie-going experiences of all time. Check back again next week, when we’ll take the guesswork out of your midweek movie with another Executive Decision.