Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

The Hangover

The Hangover is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

The Hangover is a 2009 American comedy film about four friends who lose the groom during a wild Las Vegas bachelor party and must piece together the night to find him.

What it is

Directed by Todd Phillips and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha. It follows Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug as they wake up with no memory of the previous night and discover Doug is missing. The story was partly inspired by a real bachelor-party incident involving producer Tripp Vinson.

Why it matters

Released on June 5, 2009, The Hangover became a massive box-office hit, grossing over US$467 million worldwide. It was the highest-grossing R-rated comedy in the United States at the time and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Its success launched a franchise with two sequels and cemented the 'wolfpack' characters in pop culture.

Key details

The film was produced by Legendary Pictures and Green Hat Films, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, and shot largely in Nevada. It runs 99 minutes. The Hangover was widely released in Canada as part of its North American run and remains a familiar comedy to Canadian audiences.

In short

  • Four friends lose the groom after a Las Vegas bachelor party and must retrace their steps.
  • Directed by Todd Phillips; stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha.
  • Grossed over US$467 million worldwide; won Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy.
  • Sparked two sequels: The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover Part III (2013).
Canadian angle

The Hangover was widely released and popular in Canada as part of its North American theatrical run, and it remains familiar to Canadian audiences as a major Hollywood comedy from the late 2000s.

Quick questions

What is The Hangover about?
It follows four friends whose Las Vegas bachelor party goes wrong when they wake up with no memory and find the groom missing.
Who directed The Hangover?
Todd Phillips directed the film.
Was The Hangover successful?
Yes, it grossed over US$467 million worldwide and became one of the most successful R-rated comedies of its time.

Sources

  1. Warner Bros. Pictures — https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/hangover
    Supports: Official film release information, synopsis, and studio credit
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10010667-hangover
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, rating, release date, runtime, and box office
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119646/
    Supports: Plot premise, cast, release year, and production details
  4. Encyclopedia-style reference source — https://www.encyclopedia.com/film/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hangover
    Supports: General overview, release context, and franchise information
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hangover
    Supports: Supplementary confirmation of production companies, awards, and sequel information