If you grew up in the seventies or eighties, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong weren't just comedians. They were a lifestyle. They were the guys who made the "counterculture" feel like a party you were actually invited to, provided you had a lighter and a van with shag carpeting. But for decades, the trail went cold. Aside from a few cameos and an animated project that didn't quite capture the old lightning, fans have been asking one question: is there one final ride left in the tank?
Honestly, the answer is finally here, and it's not what most people expected. We aren't getting another scripted slapstick romp like Up in Smoke. Instead, the buzz is all about Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie videos, specifically the new documentary and retrospective project that hit the circuit in 2024 and 2025. It’s a swan song that feels more like a therapy session on wheels than a stoner comedy, and that’s exactly why it works.
The Reality Behind Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie Videos
Most people searching for these videos are looking for a hidden 1980s sequel or a new scripted film. Here is the reality: the "Last Movie" isn't a fictional story. It is a 120-minute documentary titled Cheech & Chong's Last Movie, directed by David Bushell. It premiered at SXSW in March 2024 and finally rolled out to the public with a clever limited theatrical release on April 20, 2025 (yeah, 4/20).
The film is basically a road trip. The two of them sit in a car, driving through the California desert toward a place called "The Joint." They aren't playing characters. They're just Richard and Tommy. They bicker. They laugh. They talk about the massive amounts of money they lost due to a bad contract with Lou Adler. It’s raw, man.
If you’ve seen the clips floating around social media, you’ve probably noticed the animation style. They used these R. Crumb-inspired visuals to illustrate stories from their past because, frankly, there wasn't always a camera running when they were getting kicked out of clubs in the early days. These snippets are what people are usually referring to when they talk about the "new" videos. It's a mix of archival "madness" and current-day reflection.
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Why this project matters now
Let’s be real for a second. The stoner comedy genre is dead. It’s been replaced by a world where you can buy a pre-roll at a boutique shop that looks like an Apple Store. Cheech and Chong were doing this when it could get you ten years in a federal pen. Seeing them reflect on that—especially Tommy’s 2003 stint in prison for selling bongs—adds a layer of weight that wasn't there in their 1978 debut.
Critics have been surprisingly kind. Rotten Tomatoes has it sitting at an 87%, which is higher than almost any of their actual movies from back in the day. The consensus? It’s a "touching last hangout." You don't even have to be high to enjoy it, though I’m sure a lot of the audience at the Paramount Theatre premiere was definitely feeling something.
Where Can You Actually Watch It?
This is where things get a bit confusing for the casual fan. Because the distribution was handled by a smaller outfit called "Keep Smokin'," it didn't just land on Netflix and stay there forever.
- Digital Rental/Purchase: As of early 2026, the documentary is widely available on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. You can usually rent it for about six bucks.
- Physical Media: There is a 4K UHD Blu-ray available through retailers like Barnes & Noble. For the collectors who want the high-fidelity versions of those old archival clips, this is the move.
- Streaming: It has popped up on Plex and some niche services, but it isn't currently sitting on a "free with subscription" platform like Disney+ or Max.
The "videos" everyone keeps sharing are often the trailers or the five-minute clips where they talk about their breakup in the mid-eighties. That breakup was brutal. They didn't speak for years. Cheech wanted to be a serious actor (and he did it—Nash Bridges, Born in East L.A.), while Tommy wanted to keep the brand alive. Seeing them reconcile on camera is probably the most "human" thing they've ever put on film.
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The technical side of the "Last Movie"
Director David Bushell didn't just point a camera at two old guys. He used Michael Alden Lloyd and Peter Flinckenberg for cinematography, giving the desert road trip a hazy, dreamlike quality. The runtime is two hours. Some say it's a bit long, but if you’re a die-hard fan, every minute of that "archival madness" feels like a gift.
One thing that surprises people? They actually didn't smoke that much weed on camera back in the day. It was mostly herbal tobacco because they couldn't stay focused enough to hit their marks if they were actually blitzed. Tommy admits in the new film that he only started "partaking" heavily later on. It’s a weird bit of movie magic that shatters the illusion, but it makes them more impressive as performers.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Final" Status
Is this actually their last movie?
Technically, they have said it’s the final time they will collaborate on a major feature-length project. They are in their eighties now. Tommy is 87; Cheech is 79. While they still do the occasional interview or commercial for their cannabis brands, the era of them headlining a film is over. This documentary serves as the period at the end of the sentence.
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It's also worth noting that this film addresses the "missing joint" of their career: the failed scripted movie they tried to make twenty years ago. That project fell apart, and this documentary rose from its ashes. So, in a way, the "Last Movie" title is a bit of a meta-joke about the film they never got to finish.
Actionable Insight for Fans
If you want the full experience, don't just hunt for three-minute clips on YouTube. The structure of the documentary relies on the slow build of their relationship. Start by watching the original Up in Smoke (1978) to refresh your memory on their peak chemistry, then jump into the 2025 digital release of Cheech & Chong's Last Movie. Seeing the 50-year gap between the two projects is the only way to truly appreciate how much the world—and these two icons—has changed. You can find the documentary on most VOD platforms for a standard rental fee.