Pineapple Express is a 2008 American stoner action comedy film directed by David Gordon Green from a screenplay written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Starring Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez and Danny McBride, the film centers on a process server (played Rogen) and his marijuana dealer (played by Franco), who attempt to escape from hitmen and a corrupt police officer (played by Perez) after witnessing them commit a murder. Producer Judd Apatow co-wrote the story with Rogen and Goldberg after previously collaborating on the 2007 films Knocked Up and Superbad.
Pineapple Express was released by Sony Pictures Releasing via its Columbia Pictures label on August 8, 2008. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $102.4 million worldwide on a $26 million budget and has since developed a cult following. For his performance in the film, Franco was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy.