Dude, Where's My Car? (2000)

"Dude, Where's My Car?" (2000) is a stoner comedy following the misadventures of Jesse and Chester, two lovable but dim-witted friends who wake up after an epic night of partying with a monumental problem: they can't remember where they parked their car. Their search quickly spirals into an increasingly bizarre and convoluted mystery, leading them on a wild goose chase through their town. Along the way, they encounter a motley crew of characters, from their enraged girlfriends and a vengeful street gang to a seductive transexual stripper and a bizarre cult obsessed with extraterrestrials. The escalating stakes involve not just finding their car, but inadvertently becoming entangled in a cosmic conflict as they cross paths with aliens disguised as humans, all searching for a powerful device that holds the fate of the world in its circuits. While ostensibly a comedy, "Dude, Where's My Car?" earns its place on a "Best Mystery Movies" list through its compelling narrative structure and the constant unraveling of unexpected secrets. The film masterfully employs the classic "MacGuffin" – the car itself – to drive the plot forward, constantly raising the stakes and introducing new layers of intrigue. The audience, along with Jesse and Chester, is kept guessing as each encounter reveals a piece of the puzzle, leading to increasingly absurd and unpredictable revelations. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its ability to transform a simple premise – finding a lost car – into a surprisingly engaging mystery filled with twists, turns, and unforgettable characters, all wrapped in a comedic package that keeps viewers laughing along the way.