'The Hangover' Movies In Order
I can't remember why I agreed to watch The Hangover (2009) in theaters with a bunch of friends from school, but I was convinced I'd hate it, and it wouldn't be my type of humor. Imagine my surprise when it became a movie that my friends and I would consistently quote to each other, and in ways where it'd make absolutely no sense in context either. It quickly became one of the most recognizable comedies of its time, and as a result, we got a trilogy.
The original story starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha is a rambunctious good time that stands out in a sea of comedies for its means of giving us a completely unique friends group. Not to mention that the outstanding chemistry shared between the actors allows it not only to provide ample laughs, but it also delivers a simultaneously wholesome movie that centers on friendship.
But while the original movie was a hit, it began falling apart with its trilogy, and there are still people to this day who probably haven't seen the remaining wild adventures. Some fans wanted a fourth movie, despite the fact that the story doesn't exactly take us there, but the three we get deliver enough entertainment for one of the most wild movie marathons a person can host. If you're thinking of starting them, here's the correct order to watch them in.
Growing up and becoming more aware of the world around us means that sometimes the movies we appreciated when we were younger might not hold up the same way. That's unfortunately the case with some of the dialogue in The Hangover and how horrifically dated it is now. But thankfully, it's not the entire movie, and there are still some gems scattered throughout that I consistently quote today, like, "Pants? Where am I gonna find pants?" (Does it make sense? Nope. But that's the fun part.)
More than anything, the way that the original movie set the stage with a genuinely riveting plot is no small feat. A bachelor party—what could go wrong? Clearly a lot when these characters are involved. But despite the wild and horrible things that happen throughout the movie, every part of it weirdly feels so organic to deliver something that's genuinely laugh-out-loud funny.
Perfect for viewers who loved the humor in Bridesmaids (2011), I tend to consider them a weird double feature that should be official. If we had a Barbenheimer phase back then, these two could've been frontrunners. (If they'd come out at the same time!)
Did we need another movie when the first one was as good as it was? No. But The Hangover 2 involves Ken Jeong, so in more ways than one, it feels relevant. This time, instead of Doug's wedding, it's Stu's turn to get hitched, so we're headed to Thailand for what's sure to be a calmer experience than Las Vegas, right?
Somewhere in the distance, a narrator rolls their eyes because, naturally, the polar opposite happens, giving the characters an even more wild experience than the original movie. Some of the jokes don't exactly hit as they did before, and elements do feel more forced, but it's an overall entertaining time that can make for a fun movie night, even if it's not as funny.
In the same way that the second movie wasn't needed, we most certainly didn't need The Hangover Part 3, despite the fact that some of the plot details actually have merit. In this one, three out of the four Wolfpack members are married except for Alan, who's not only struggling with his purpose but also his grief. If the story had chosen to be a bit more serious alongside the humor, we could've had a really incredible closure on our hands.
And while that's not the case, it's also not the worst film to ever close off a trilogy here. It still has the familiar beats that make these characters a blast to hang out with and, simultaneously, the jokes at least hit to some degree. It's far from perfect, but it does the job of providing entertainment while also strengthening the friend group in a manner that's most memorable. Ultimately, at the end of the day, it's the actors and the core group of friends that give these movies their worth, and that much doesn't change throughout the trilogy.
