The Hangover Part II
Stu is getting married. Along with Doug, Phil, and his soon-to-be brother-in-law Teddy, he regretfully invites Alan to Thailand for the wedding. After a quiet night on the beach with a beer and toasting marshmallows by the camp fire, Stu, Alan and Phil wake up in a seedy apartment in Bangkok. Doug is back at the resort, but Teddy is missing, there's a monkey with a severed finger, Alan's head is shaved, Stu has a tattoo on his face, and they can't remember any of it. The wolf-pack retrace their steps through strip clubs, tattoo parlors and cocaine-dealing monkeys on the streets of Bangkok as they try and find Teddy before the wedding.
Despite a substantial budget of $80.0M, The Hangover Part II became a massive hit, earning $586.8M worldwide—a remarkable 633% return.
5 wins & 18 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Hangover Part II (2011) demonstrates strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Todd Phillips's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Phil sits alone in a Thai police station, disheveled and defeated, calling Tracy to explain another disaster. This opening establishes the "before" state of impending doom before flashing back to show how they got here.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Alan convinces the group to have "one beer" on the beach in Thailand. Despite Stu's protests and determination to avoid another Vegas situation, they agree to a single, safe drink by the campfire with Teddy joining them. The disruption: they're tempting fate again.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The group decides they must find Teddy before the wedding in a few hours. They choose to retrace their steps through Bangkok's seedy underworld rather than come clean to Lauren and her family. This active choice launches them into the mystery and chaos of Act 2., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False defeat: The group realizes they made a deal with a crime boss named Samir to deliver Mr. Chow in exchange for Teddy. But Chow dies from a speedball overdose in their hotel room. The one lead to finding Teddy is now dead, and they're holding a corpse. Stakes raised: they're now in debt to a dangerous criminal with no solution., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: They return to the hotel with no leads and no Teddy. Stu must go to his wedding and confess to Lauren and her family that her brother is missing. The moment of death: Stu's dream of a perfect wedding and redemption from Vegas dies. His relationship, reputation, and Lauren's brother are all lost., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Finale: The group races back through their clues and finds Teddy safe in the hotel elevator (he was there all along, passed out). They get him cleaned up and rush to the wedding. Stu marries Lauren, finally accepting that life can't be controlled. He embraces chaos and imperfection. Alan finds belonging. The group survives another hangover adventure together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Hangover Part II's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Hangover Part II against these established plot points, we can identify how Todd Phillips utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Hangover Part II within the comedy genre.
Todd Phillips's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Todd Phillips films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Hangover Part II represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Todd Phillips filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Todd Phillips analyses, see School for Scoundrels, Due Date and War Dogs.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Phil sits alone in a Thai police station, disheveled and defeated, calling Tracy to explain another disaster. This opening establishes the "before" state of impending doom before flashing back to show how they got here.
Theme
At the rehearsal dinner, Lauren's father grudgingly toasts Stu, saying "You're not what I would have chosen, but you make her happy." The theme: accepting imperfection and chaos as part of life, and that control is an illusion.
Worldbuilding
Flashback to Los Angeles showing Stu's upcoming wedding to Lauren in Thailand. We meet the crew: responsible Phil, control-freak Stu, awkward Alan, and Teddy (Lauren's brilliant younger brother). Stu is determined to have a safe, controlled wedding with no bachelor party after Vegas. Alan is hurt about not being best man.
Disruption
Alan convinces the group to have "one beer" on the beach in Thailand. Despite Stu's protests and determination to avoid another Vegas situation, they agree to a single, safe drink by the campfire with Teddy joining them. The disruption: they're tempting fate again.
Resistance
The guys have their beer on the beach, seemingly innocent. They toast to Stu and make amends. Cut to: the group waking up in a trashed hotel room in Bangkok - not the resort. Stu has a face tattoo, Alan's head is shaved, and Teddy is missing (only his severed finger remains). Mr. Chow appears naked in their room. They debate what to do and resist believing it happened again.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The group decides they must find Teddy before the wedding in a few hours. They choose to retrace their steps through Bangkok's seedy underworld rather than come clean to Lauren and her family. This active choice launches them into the mystery and chaos of Act 2.
Mirror World
The group finds a polaroid leading them to a strip club, where they meet Kimmy, a transgender woman who was with them the night before. She represents the mirror to their chaos - someone living authentically in a world that judges. She helps them despite their mistakes, embodying acceptance and resilience.
Premise
The fun and games: the wolfpack tears through Bangkok following clues. They survive a monk temple, get chased by criminals, deal with Mr. Chow's erratic behavior, discover they smuggled drugs, negotiate with a Russian mobster, and piece together the insane night. Each clue leads to more chaos, delivering the outrageous comedy the audience expects.
Midpoint
False defeat: The group realizes they made a deal with a crime boss named Samir to deliver Mr. Chow in exchange for Teddy. But Chow dies from a speedball overdose in their hotel room. The one lead to finding Teddy is now dead, and they're holding a corpse. Stakes raised: they're now in debt to a dangerous criminal with no solution.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies: they must dispose of Chow's body, face Samir without their bargaining chip, and time is running out before the wedding. Stu's control issues worsen as everything spirals. They discover Chow is alive (faked his death), deliver him to Samir, but Samir reveals Teddy was never with him - it was a different person. Their flaws and poor decisions compound.
Collapse
All is lost: They return to the hotel with no leads and no Teddy. Stu must go to his wedding and confess to Lauren and her family that her brother is missing. The moment of death: Stu's dream of a perfect wedding and redemption from Vegas dies. His relationship, reputation, and Lauren's brother are all lost.
Crisis
Dark night: Stu prepares to face Lauren's family at the wedding venue. The group sits in despair, having failed completely. Alan processes his guilt for drugging them again. Phil contemplates their terrible luck. Stu must walk down and admit everything, accepting total failure and humiliation.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Finale: The group races back through their clues and finds Teddy safe in the hotel elevator (he was there all along, passed out). They get him cleaned up and rush to the wedding. Stu marries Lauren, finally accepting that life can't be controlled. He embraces chaos and imperfection. Alan finds belonging. The group survives another hangover adventure together.