This is the unexpected stoner comedy that boosted a fast food chain’s sales by 30: with star cameos included

When Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle hit theaters on July 30, 2004, most expected it to be another throwaway buddy stoner comedy. What no one expected – including White Castle itself – was that the film would boost the chain’s burger sales by 30 percent the following week.

The Columbus, Ohio-based company was never meant to be in the movie. The writers reportedly approached other fast food chains first, but they passed. White Castle said yes. And that small decision turned into a marketing jackpot. Because the film doesn’t just use White Castle as a punchline – it makes the burgers the story’s Holy Grail.

How White Castle became a comedy co-star

As two stoned roommates travel across New Jersey on a mission to satisfy their very specific craving, White Castle is more than a setting – it’s a full-blown plot device. What starts as a joke becomes a cult comedy with heart, chaos, and a drive-thru climax.

I remember watching it back in the day thinking, “This is ridiculously funny,” while immediately craving a Slider. Turns out I wasn’t alone.

The cameos (hello, Neil Patrick Harris, hey there, nurse Ryan Reynolds), the wild twists, and Kal Penn’s and John Cho’s deadpan delivery gave the movie legs – and gave White Castle one of the most unexpected marketing wins in Hollywood history, although there have been others.

To be honest, I still think about those burgers every time I see that movie. And yes, I still laugh at the cheetah scene.

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