The Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski is a beloved cult comedy about Jeff 'The Dude' Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), an easygoing slacker who gets caught up in a case of mistaken identity involving a millionaire also named Jeffrey Lebowski. While the film is a quirky mystery-comedy, The Dude's lifestyle frequently involves marijuana use, which is portrayed as part of his laid-back personality rather than a source of major conflict or addiction. The film features a fantastic ensemble cast and is known for its eccentric characters, quotable dialogue, and unique blend of humor and absurdity. While drugs are present, they are more of a character detail than the central theme of the movie.

Denis Villeneuve's Sicario is a tense and atmospheric thriller that plunges into the brutal world of the war on drugs along the US-Mexico border. Emily Blunt plays an idealistic FBI agent who is recruited to a government task force aiming to take down a powerful cartel leader. The film is less about drug use itself and more about the morally ambiguous and violent efforts to combat the drug trade. Known for its stunning cinematography by Roger Deakins and Jóhann Jóhannsson's unsettling score, Sicario is a gripping, intense look at the difficult choices and grim realities faced by those fighting on the front lines of this conflict.

Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction is a groundbreaking masterpiece of non-linear storytelling, featuring interconnected crime stories in Los Angeles. While the film covers various criminal activities, drug use and dealing play a significant role, particularly in the storyline involving hitmen Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and their boss's wife, Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman). The film's famous adrenaline shot scene is directly related to drug overdose. Pulp Fiction is celebrated for its sharp, witty dialogue, stylish direction, and iconic characters, becoming one of the most influential films of the 1990s. Its depiction of the criminal underworld includes the casual presence and danger of drugs.

Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street is a wild, darkly comedic ride through the excess and corruption of the 1990s stock market, led by Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort. While not solely about illegal drugs, the film features rampant substance abuse – including Quaaludes, cocaine, and more – as a constant fuel for the characters' out-of-control lifestyle. It vividly portrays the culture of debauchery and the addictive nature of wealth and power, showing how drugs were intertwined with this world of extreme indulgence. The film is known for its breakneck pace, hilarious performances, and unflinching look at greed run amok.

Based on the autobiographical novel by Jim Carroll, The Basketball Diaries stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a promising high school basketball player who descends into heroin addiction. Set in New York City, the film chronicles his fall from grace and the struggles he faces living on the streets to support his habit. Mark Wahlberg also appears in an early, notable role. While difficult to watch at times due to its raw portrayal of addiction, the film features a powerful performance from DiCaprio, capturing the desperation and pain of a young man lost to drugs. It's a poignant story about the devastating impact of addiction on potential and life.

Ridley Scott's American Gangster tells the story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), a real-life crime boss who smuggled heroin into the US in the 1970s by concealing it in the coffins of American soldiers killed in Vietnam. The film also follows the detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), who is determined to bring him down. It's a classic cat-and-mouse narrative set against the backdrop of a corrupt system. Washington and Crowe deliver strong performances, portraying two men on opposite sides of the law but sharing a certain code. The film offers a compelling look at the logistics of a major drug operation and the efforts to dismantle it.

Fernando Meirelles' City of God is a powerful and unflinching look at life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro from the 1960s to the 1980s, focusing on the rise of organized crime and the drug trade. Told through the eyes of Rocket, a young man trying to escape the cycle of violence by becoming a photographer, the film introduces a sprawling cast of characters involved in gangs and drug dealing. Shot with raw energy and featuring largely non-professional actors from the favelas, the film feels incredibly authentic and visceral. It's a stunning piece of cinema that exposes the harsh realities of poverty, crime, and the drug world's impact on a community.

Narcos dives deep into the true stories of the rise and fall of infamous drug cartels in Colombia. The series initially focuses on the notorious Pablo Escobar and the efforts of DEA agents to bring him down. What makes Narcos compelling is its blend of historical footage and dramatic reenactment, creating a docu-drama feel. The show is known for its gritty realism, complex characters on both sides of the law, and exploration of the political, social, and economic factors fueling the drug trade. It's a binge-worthy series that provides an intense look at the history and scale of the drug wars in Latin America.

Steven Soderbergh's Traffic offers a complex, multi-narrative look at the drug trade from several perspectives – from the streets of Mexico and the US border to the lives of politicians, drug lords, and addicts. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro (in an Oscar-winning role), and Catherine Zeta-Jones, the film paints a comprehensive picture of the drug war's far-reaching impact. Soderbergh used distinct color palettes for each storyline to visually separate them, a clever stylistic choice. It's a gripping, intelligent thriller that highlights the difficulties and moral ambiguities involved in tackling such a vast and entrenched problem.

Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a wild, psychedelic trip based on Hunter S. Thompson's infamous novel. Johnny Depp stars as Raoul Duke, a journalist on a bizarre assignment in Las Vegas with his attorney, Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro), and a suitcase full of drugs. This film doesn't follow a traditional narrative; instead, it's a hallucinatory, satirical journey through the drug-fueled counterculture of the early 1970s. Gilliam's distinctive visual style perfectly captures the distorted, chaotic perspective of the protagonists. It's a cult classic that fully embraces its weirdness, offering a unique and often hilarious, albeit unsettling, look at excess and the end of an era.

Say hello to Brian De Palma's Scarface, a sprawling crime epic that follows Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino) as he rises to power in the Miami drug trade. This film is an absolute powerhouse, known for its over-the-top violence, iconic dialogue ('Say hello to my little friend!'), and Pacino's unhinged, unforgettable performance. It's a cautionary tale about the corrosive nature of greed and ambition, set against the backdrop of the 1980s cocaine boom. While initially met with mixed reviews and controversy, Scarface has become a cultural phenomenon, influencing countless films, music, and fashion. It's a bold, operatic, and enduring look at the American Dream twisted by the drug world.

Blow tells the captivating, true story of George Jung, played by Johnny Depp in one of his most compelling roles, who became a major player in the cocaine trade in the 1970s. This film takes you from his humble beginnings to his rise as the man responsible for importing a huge percentage of the US's cocaine supply alongside the Medellín Cartel. Directed by Ted Demme, the movie captures the era's excess and the seductive allure of wealth and power that came with the drug trade, while also showing the personal cost. Penélope Cruz is fantastic as his volatile wife, and the film features a killer soundtrack that perfectly sets the mood of the time. It's a fascinating, albeit tragic, look at the real-life journey of an American drug kingpin.

Danny Boyle's Trainspotting burst onto the scene with a kinetic energy and dark humor that was unlike anything else. Set in Edinburgh, this film follows a group of young heroin addicts navigating life, friendship, and their struggles with addiction in a gritty, yet stylish way. Ewan McGregor leads a fantastic ensemble cast, and the film's famous 'Choose Life' monologue remains an enduring piece of cinema history. Beyond the controversial subject matter, Trainspotting is celebrated for its distinctive visual style, killer soundtrack featuring artists like Iggy Pop and Underworld, and its refusal to preach. It's a raw, funny, and ultimately sobering look at youth, rebellion, and the harsh realities of addiction, cementing its place as a 90s classic.

Prepare yourself, because Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream is an absolutely shattering cinematic experience. This film doesn't just depict drug addiction; it plunges you into its nightmarish grip through four interconnected stories, showing the devastating effects not just on the users, but on their families and dreams. The film's relentless pacing, coupled with Clint Mansell's iconic, haunting score (which features the widely recognized piece 'Lux Aeterna'), creates an intense sense of unease and despair that is truly unparalleled. Aronofsky employed unique editing techniques, like split screens and extreme close-ups on drug preparation and use, to viscerally convey the characters' descent. It's a difficult watch, no doubt, but its raw honesty and artistic execution make it a powerful and essential film about the destructive nature of addiction.