The Hangover (2009)
Kernel Score: 87% · 17,873 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Comedy
Released: 2009-06-02
Runtime: 100 minutes
Is The Hangover worth watching?
Worth watching. Three friends wake up after a bachelor party with no memory and a missing groom, and the mystery drives a lot of big laughs. It is crude and unapologetic, and the sequels are weaker.
Watch it if you
- like raunchy R-rated comedies
- enjoy mystery-driven farce
- want a loud night out with friends
Skip it if you
- dislike crude humour and drug jokes
- want a clever or gentle comedy
Best for: Friends' movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Hangover
- Stream: Paramount+, YouTube TV
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
When three friends finally come to after a raucous night of bachelor-party revelry, they find a baby in the closet and a tiger in the bathroom. But they can't seem to locate their best friend, Doug – who's supposed to be tying the knot. Launching a frantic search for Doug, the trio perseveres through a nasty hangover to try to make it to the church on time.
The Hangover parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that this R-rated bachelor-party comedy revolves around heavy drinking, drug use, and raunchy Las Vegas debauchery.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Comic mayhem including a person being hit with a tire iron and other slapstick-style physical gags.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — An R-rated stag-night comedy set in Las Vegas strongly implies crude sexual content and nudity.
- Language: Strong — Consistent with the R rating for this raunchy comedy, expect frequent strong profanity.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Intense — The entire plot springs from a blackout-drunk night plus explicit drug use in Vegas; alcohol and drugs are constant.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Hangover
If you liked The Hangover, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) — 95%: Excess and bad behaviour told with dark comedy
- Sideways (2004) — 79%: Buddy road-trip comedy with an adult edge
- Rain Man (1988) — 87%: Las Vegas-set road trip, with more heart
- War Dogs (2016) — 76%: Wild comedy about unlikely, reckless young men
Director
Cast
- Bradley Cooper as Phil Wenneck
- Ed Helms as Stu Price
- Zach Galifianakis as Alan Garner
- Justin Bartha as Doug Billings
- Heather Graham as Jade
- Sasha Barrese as Tracy Garner
- Jeffrey Tambor as Sid Garner
- Ken Jeong as Mr. Chow
- Rachael Harris as Melissa
- Mike Tyson as Mike Tyson
The Hangover FAQ
Is The Hangover worth watching?
Worth watching. Three friends wake up after a bachelor party with no memory and a missing groom, and the mystery drives a lot of big laughs. It is crude and unapologetic, and the sequels are weaker.
Where can I watch The Hangover?
In the US you can stream The Hangover on Paramount+ and YouTube TV and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Hangover OK for kids?
The Hangover is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that this R-rated bachelor-party comedy revolves around heavy drinking, drug use, and raunchy Las Vegas debauchery.
What movies are like The Hangover?
If you liked The Hangover, try The Wolf of Wall Street, Sideways, Rain Man and War Dogs.