The Hangover (2009) runs 100 minutes, or 1 hour 40 minutes, in its US theatrical cut, carrying an MPAA R rating for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and drug material, according to The Numbers. Home video adds a second cut: Warner's Unrated version runs 108 minutes, about 8 minutes longer. That gap between the theatrical and extended cuts also shows up in the UK, where regulators classified two separate versions under two separate ratings. The sections below break down each version's length, what the extra minutes actually contain, how the disc release packaged them, and what plays during the end credits.
Table of Contents
- How long is The Hangover?
- What's different about the Unrated and Extended versions?
- Where to find each version
- What happens during the end credits?
- Frequently Asked Questions
How long is The Hangover?
The US theatrical version clocks in at 100 minutes and was rated R by the MPAA for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material, per The Numbers. That is the cut that played in American theaters in 2009 and the one most streaming and cable listings still reference.
In the UK, the theatrical cut ran shorter: the British Board of Film Classification passed it at 96 minutes with a "15" certificate in May 2009, according to the BBFC. The four-minute difference between the US and UK theatrical runtimes reflects separate certification cuts rather than a single universal theatrical master.
What's different about the Unrated and Extended versions?
Warner Home Video's 2009 Blu-ray and DVD releases include a separate Unrated cut running 108 minutes, roughly 8 minutes longer than the 100-minute theatrical version, according to a library catalog record. In the UK, the BBFC classified a comparable Extended Version at 103 minutes in January 2010, about 7 minutes longer than the 96-minute UK theatrical cut, per the BBFC.
The extra footage carries consequences for the rating. The BBFC raised the Extended Version to an "18" certificate, up from the theatrical "15," because it restores brief but graphic sexual images, including an oral-sex scene that is pixellated in the "15"-rated theatrical cut, according to the BBFC. That detail explains why the longer cut isn't simply "more movie" — it specifically restores sexual content the shorter version obscures.
- Theatrical (US): 100 minutes, rated R
- Theatrical (UK): 96 minutes, rated 15
- Unrated (US home video): 108 minutes
- Extended (UK home video): 103 minutes, rated 18
Where to find each version
Warner Home Video released The Hangover on DVD and Blu-ray on December 15, 2009, packaging both the theatrical and Unrated cuts together on the same disc, along with a gag reel and picture-in-picture commentary, according to The Washington Times. A viewer doesn't need to track down separate editions — selecting the Unrated version is a menu option on the same disc that holds the theatrical cut.
The Blu-ray edition presents the film in 1080p widescreen at a 2.40:1 aspect ratio with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English audio, matching the two-cut disc described above, per the same library catalog record. Anyone comparing formats should expect identical picture and audio specs whether they select the theatrical or Unrated cut from the disc menu.
What happens during the end credits?
The end credits run a still-photo montage framed as pictures recovered from a found camera, reconstructing the group's blacked-out night in Las Vegas, according to the American Film Institute Catalog. The images include shots of Mike Tyson, who plays himself in the film, and Stu's impromptu wedding to Jade.
Director Todd Phillips has said publicly that these photos were real photographs taken during production in Las Vegas, not staged stills built for the credits sequence, according to IMDb news coverage of his comments. That detail matters for anyone rewatching the credits looking for continuity clues: the images function as documentary evidence of the shoot itself, not a separately art-directed sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Unrated version just the theatrical cut with extra scenes added?
It runs 108 minutes versus the theatrical cut's 100 minutes, and per the BBFC's Extended Version rating, the added footage includes sexual content that the theatrical cut obscures rather than simply new unrelated scenes.
Do I need a separate disc to watch the Unrated version?
No. Warner's December 15, 2009 Blu-ray and DVD release packaged the theatrical and Unrated cuts on the same disc, selectable from the menu.
Why is the UK Extended Version rated 18 instead of 15?
The BBFC raised the rating because the longer cut restores a graphic sexual image, including an oral-sex scene pixellated in the 15-rated theatrical version.