The Hangover Part III
When one of their own is kidnapped by an angry gangster, the Wolf Pack must track down Mr. Chow, who has escaped from prison and is on the run.
Despite a significant budget of $103.0M, The Hangover Part III became a financial success, earning $362.0M worldwide—a 251% return.
2 wins & 7 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Alan Garner
Phil Wenneck
Stu Price
Doug Billings
Leslie Chow
Marshall
Cassie
Main Cast & Characters
Alan Garner
Played by Zach Galifianakis
Socially awkward man-child whose unintentional actions drive the plot; struggles with father's death and desire for acceptance.
Phil Wenneck
Played by Bradley Cooper
Sardonic schoolteacher and de facto leader of the Wolfpack who tries to keep the group together.
Stu Price
Played by Ed Helms
Anxiety-prone dentist seeking stability and normalcy while supporting his unstable friends.
Doug Billings
Played by Justin Bartha
The straight man of the group who gets kidnapped and serves as motivation for the others' quest.
Leslie Chow
Played by Ken Jeong
Unpredictable criminal wildcard who steals gold and manipulates the Wolfpack into helping him.
Marshall
Played by John Goodman
Ruthless mob boss seeking his stolen gold; threatens the Wolfpack to retrieve Chow.
Cassie
Played by Melissa McCarthy
Pawn shop owner and single mother who connects with Alan and offers him romantic possibility.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Chow escapes from a Bangkok prison in an elaborate breakout involving a riot, establishing him as the wild card who will disrupt the Wolfpack's lives once again.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Alan's father Sid dies of a heart attack, shattering Alan's comfortable existence and forcing the Wolfpack to reunite for the funeral and plan an intervention to get Alan into a treatment facility.. 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 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Marshall kidnaps Doug and gives the remaining three an ultimatum: find Chow and return the stolen gold within three days or Doug dies. The Wolfpack accepts the mission to save their friend., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Chow betrays the Wolfpack in Tijuana, escaping in their car and heading to Las Vegas. The false victory of capturing Chow collapses as they realize he's been manipulating them and the gold was never in Mexico., 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 (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Chow shoots Marshall's henchman Black Doug and takes Phil hostage, demanding the gold for Phil's life. The Wolfpack has lost control completely—Chow has become a genuine threat to their lives., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Alan makes the mature decision to end his friendship with Chow, choosing his real family—the Wolfpack—over the enabling relationship that kept him a child. He agrees to help Marshall take down Chow., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Hangover Part III's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Hangover Part III 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 III within the comedy genre.
Todd Phillips's Structural Approach
Among the 11 Todd Phillips films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Hangover Part III exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Todd Phillips filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Todd Phillips analyses, see School for Scoundrels, Old School and The Hangover Part II.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Chow escapes from a Bangkok prison in an elaborate breakout involving a riot, establishing him as the wild card who will disrupt the Wolfpack's lives once again.
Theme
Alan's father Sid tells him he needs to grow up and take responsibility, stating that Alan can't keep living like a child forever—foreshadowing Alan's arc toward maturity.
Worldbuilding
We see Alan's erratic behavior including buying a giraffe that causes a freeway accident, his father's sudden death from a heart attack triggered by Alan's antics, and the family's decision to stage an intervention.
Disruption
Alan's father Sid dies of a heart attack, shattering Alan's comfortable existence and forcing the Wolfpack to reunite for the funeral and plan an intervention to get Alan into a treatment facility.
Resistance
The Wolfpack stages an intervention and agrees to drive Alan to a rehab facility in Arizona. En route, they are ambushed by Marshall and his men, who kidnap Doug and demand they find Chow, who stole $21 million in gold from him.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Marshall kidnaps Doug and gives the remaining three an ultimatum: find Chow and return the stolen gold within three days or Doug dies. The Wolfpack accepts the mission to save their friend.
Mirror World
Alan reveals his secret correspondence with Chow, showing his deep but toxic friendship with the criminal. This relationship represents Alan's stunted emotional development—Chow enables his worst impulses rather than helping him grow.
Premise
The Wolfpack tracks Chow to Tijuana using Alan's correspondence. They retrieve Chow, who leads them on a wild goose chase claiming the gold is in Mexico, only to betray them and escape to Las Vegas where the gold is actually hidden.
Midpoint
Chow betrays the Wolfpack in Tijuana, escaping in their car and heading to Las Vegas. The false victory of capturing Chow collapses as they realize he's been manipulating them and the gold was never in Mexico.
Opposition
The Wolfpack pursues Chow to Las Vegas, breaking into a casino vault where Chow has hidden the gold. Alan meets Cassie, a pawn shop employee, and begins to connect with her. Chow's increasingly unhinged behavior puts everyone at risk.
Collapse
Chow shoots Marshall's henchman Black Doug and takes Phil hostage, demanding the gold for Phil's life. The Wolfpack has lost control completely—Chow has become a genuine threat to their lives.
Crisis
With Phil captured and Chow armed and dangerous, Alan must confront the consequences of his friendship with Chow. The toxic relationship that defined his arrested development has now endangered everyone he loves.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Alan makes the mature decision to end his friendship with Chow, choosing his real family—the Wolfpack—over the enabling relationship that kept him a child. He agrees to help Marshall take down Chow.
Synthesis
Alan confronts Chow at Caesar's Palace, leading to a rooftop showdown. Chow is captured by Marshall's men. Alan demonstrates genuine growth by maintaining his connection with Cassie and the Wolfpack celebrates with Doug's safe return.
Transformation
Alan marries Cassie, the pawn shop girl, surrounded by his friends. The man-child has grown up, found love, and joined the adult world—a stark contrast to the immature chaos that defined his life at the film's start.