The Hangover trilogy from Tod Phillips was immensely successful, raking in more than $1.4 billion at the box office and acting as a major influence on many other pictures that followed in the subsequent decade.
The films that began with The Hangover in 2009 and ended with The Hangover Part III in 2013 were always intended to be a trilogy. However, after their critical and commercial success, fans have been desperate for more action from the legendary Wolfpack. Is there any chance of the franchise returning?
Original Hangover Film Was a Cultural Revelation
When The Hangover was first released, there had been few pictures like it in the same vein. It offered a fresh take on the Las Vegas bachelor party genre, with the protagonists having to retrace their steps from the night before. This method allowed Phillips to drip-feed the viewer with bits and pieces of the puzzle to hilarious effect. The concept has been used in other comedies since and was also a feature of The Hangover Part II.
One of the great things about the first picture was the way it immersed audiences in the bustling Las Vegas setting. While the city had been used many times before in film, this movie was one of the best at giving viewers a feel of what it was like on the ground. It featured some of the world’s most famous casinos, including the sprawling MGM Grand. That gambling house is still one of the biggest casinos in the world in 2023. It stands at 171,500 square feet and has 6,852 rooms. Phillips’ film gave a sense of the vastness of casinos like this, but also showed what they were like on the inside.
The Hangover Made Stars of its Cast
Part of what made The Hangover such an unprecedented success was the chemistry between its stars. Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Bradley Cooper knew other before they were cast by Phillips for the parts in the film, and this helped them work well together on screen. These players weren’t well known A-listers before the hit film, but they went on to enjoy great success afterwards.
Cooper became one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. Indeed, now with a significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s an argument to suggest he’s outgrown the comedy series that made him. Galifianakis has previously said he’d be interested in making a fourth film, but he doesn’t think any of his costars would be into the idea. It’s important to never say never in Hollywood, though, as major studios don’t like to completely bin the idea of returning to their biggest cash cows.
If The Hangover franchise does return, it may be far away in the future. When the actors are much older, it could be a great idea to revisit their characters and see where they have got to in their lives. For now, however, there’s little chance of a new picture any time soon.
