⚠️This fact has been debunked
This is a popular movie myth. While SOME clocks in Pulp Fiction show 4:20 (notably in the pawn shop scene), many others display different times. The kitchen clock reads 8:15, the retrieval scene is at 7:22 AM, and Butch's famous gold watch is never shown at 4:20. The myth likely grew from the detail about a few clocks showing 4:20—a cannabis culture reference—being exaggerated over time.
All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20.
The Pulp Fiction 4:20 Clock Myth: Debunked
You've probably heard this one before: every clock in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction is frozen at 4:20, a cheeky nod to cannabis culture. It's the kind of detail that sounds perfectly Tarantino—deliberate, subversive, and just obscure enough to feel like insider knowledge. There's just one problem: it's not true.
This is one of cinema's most persistent myths, and it's been thoroughly debunked. While some clocks in the film do show 4:20, plenty of others display completely different times.
The Evidence Against the Myth
Let's look at what's actually on screen:
- During the "Bonnie Situation" sequence, when Jimmy, Vincent, and Jules are drinking coffee in the kitchen, the wall clock clearly reads 8:15.
- When Vincent and Jules arrive to retrieve Marcellus Wallace's briefcase, the dialogue establishes it's "7:22 in the a.m."
- The most iconic timepiece in the entire movie—Butch's gold watch, complete with Christopher Walken's legendary monologue—is never shown set to 4:20.
- Even actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt fact-checked this claim on Twitter, confirming it's incorrect.
Where the Myth Came From
So why does everyone believe this? Because there's a kernel of truth buried in the fiction. A couple of clocks in the pawn shop scene—where Butch rescues Marcellus—are set to 4:20. In cannabis culture, 4:20 is a reference to marijuana consumption, making it exactly the kind of Easter egg Tarantino fans love to discover.
The problem is how myths spread. Someone noticed those pawn shop clocks, shared the observation, and somewhere along the chain of retellings, "some clocks" became "all clocks." The detail was too perfect, too on-brand for Tarantino, so it stuck—even though it wasn't accurate.
The Tarantino Factor
Why are people so willing to believe this myth? Because Tarantino does pack his films with deliberate details. From Red Apple cigarettes to Big Kahuna Burger, his movies exist in a interconnected universe full of recurring elements. When you're trained to look for hidden meanings, you're primed to accept claims about intentional symbolism—even false ones.
The takeaway? Pulp Fiction is brilliant enough without needing embellishment. The next time someone mentions the 4:20 clocks, you can set the record straight: it's a great story, but it's just not true.