'Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie' revisits the iconic comedy duo's wild journey

New documentary reflects on Cheech & Chong’s rise from improv troupe to counterculture legends.

Cheech & Chong. (c) Ed Caraeff

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In 1969, in a fading Vancouver improv troupe, two comedians—Tommy Chong and Richard “Cheech” Marin—found themselves the last men standing. Looking for a name with comedic appeal, “Cheech & Chong” was born. The pairing would soon become synonymous with counterculture humor, stoner wit, and a string of groundbreaking comedy albums and films. Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, a new documentary directed by David L. Bushell, offers a warm, whimsical, and occasionally sobering look back at their legacy—while showing that the magic between them hasn’t faded.

The film captures the energy and irreverence of the duo, who redefined comedy in the 1970s and early 1980s. Their skits weren’t just funny—they were trailblazing. At a time when mainstream comedy was dominated by sanitized television acts like Don Knotts and Lucille Ball, Cheech and Chong were doing something radically different: raw, R-rated, and reflective of a younger, rebellious America. Their comedy records, filled with sketches poking fun at authority, culture, and cannabis, connected deeply with a generation hungry for something new.

Comedy albums, Grammy nods, and a cult classic

Before they were movie stars, Cheech & Chong were record-breaking comedians. Their early albums climbed the Billboard charts—two even reached No. 2 in 1972 and 1973. Their material, including sketches like “Dave’s Not Here” and “Basketball Jones,” became legendary, with several comedy singles making it into the top 30. One surreal highlight of their rise: a visibly uncomfortable Ed Sullivan reading their names as Grammy nominees. It was a sign that comedy's boundaries were shifting—and Cheech & Chong were leading the charge.

But the breakthrough that truly launched them into the mainstream was 1978’s Up in Smoke. The film introduced their lovable stoner personas to the big screen. With its low budget and counterculture humor, the movie was an unexpected juggernaut, grossing over $40 million in North America—equivalent to roughly $200 million today. Despite making just $25,000 each on the film, Cheech and Chong quickly mastered the art of renegotiating contracts. Their success redefined what a comedy movie could be.

A trip through memory lane—with a twist

In Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, director David L. Bushell does more than string together archival footage. He invites the now-aging comedians—Cheech at 78 and Chong at 86—on a desert road trip that serves as the film’s narrative backbone. Along the way, memory blends with imagination. Guests like their longtime manager and music icon Lou Adler appear in the back seat. Animated sequences re-create moments that weren’t captured on film. Interviews, shot against stark white backdrops, emphasize the elusive, contradictory nature of memory.

The structure is playful and creative. When Chong recalls his first wife Maxine being cool with his infidelity, she suddenly appears onscreen to correct him. These moments are as funny as they are revealing. The film acknowledges that the personas the duo crafted—those lovable, lazy stoners—were performances. In reality, they were hardworking, fitness-minded artists. A vintage clip even shows them jogging shirtless with Geraldo Rivera on a Malibu beach. Chong, especially, had the chiseled physique of a movie star, not the slouch of a burnout.

The politics of partying

What made Cheech & Chong’s comedy endure was its universality. Unlike contemporaries such as George Carlin or Richard Pryor, whose routines often tackled social and political issues head-on, Cheech & Chong stayed mostly apolitical. Their focus was on partying, absurdity, and pushing boundaries with good-natured irreverence. That choice may have contributed to their shorter time in the spotlight. Still, the simplicity and relatability of their humor mean it holds up today.

The film doesn’t shy away from the pair’s falling out and eventual reconciliation. Tensions and legal disputes split them for years, but as Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie shows, time has healed those wounds. Seeing them together again—laughing, remembering, contradicting each other—is deeply moving. Chong’s remark near the end, “Seriously, we gotta put all that bulls— behind us,” serves not just as a moment of personal growth, but as advice for all who have lived through conflict and come out older, wiser, and still smiling.

A fresh look at legacy

Bushell’s documentary offers more than a nostalgia trip. It’s an inventive, heartfelt look at the real people behind the personas. The use of animation, clever editing, and documentary storytelling techniques makes it stand out from more traditional celebrity retrospectives. By mixing humor with introspection, Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie gives fans both a reminder of what made the duo so special and a glimpse into what keeps their bond alive.

The documentary may not try to frame them as cultural revolutionaries or philosophical sages. It doesn’t need to. The enduring appeal of Cheech & Chong lies in their ability to make people laugh—authentically, consistently, and unapologetically. That their humor still works in 2025 is a testament to their originality.

Whether you're a longtime fan who memorized every word of “Earache My Eye” or a new viewer curious about how comedy evolved before the internet, Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie offers both context and joy. It reminds us that sometimes, the best way to deal with a crazy world is to laugh your way through it—with a good friend at your side and a wild story to tell.