Instead of Aspirin: Films and Series About Hangovers
Our lives are increasingly resembling a massive political-techno thriller, so what we all need from art, especially cinema, is therapy and support. The therapeutic effect of different genres of cinema varies, so it’s important to choose films based on what you need at the moment. If you’re craving dopamine and positivity, watch comedies or light melodramas. If you’re longing for justice and the inevitable punishment of evil, go for detective stories. If you want a dose of adrenaline and the thrill of escaping a nightmare, turn to horror films. And if you simply want to remind yourself that there’s always someone worse off than you, opt for films featuring characters suffering from hangovers.
The festive celebrations of Christmas and New Year may have left many of you in that not-so-pleasant state where your head feels heavy, colours seem dull, and everything around you irritates you. This means you’ll find it all the easier to empathise with the characters in our selection.
The Hangover, 2009
Characters with memory loss are typically seen in science fiction films like Total Recall or action-packed thrillers like The Bourne Identity. However, Todd Phillips chose the consequences of a bachelor party as his memory-erasing device. Instead of muscular secret agents, we meet a troublemaker (played by Bradley Cooper), a henpecked husband-to-be (Ed Helms), an immature freak (Zach Galifianakis), and Mike Tyson’s stolen tiger wandering through a hotel room.
This wild comedy about three friends who partied so hard they lost the groom and caused a series of chaotic misadventures was a box-office sensation, turning its lead actors into instant stars. The film’s mix of absurd situations, eccentric characters, and sharp humour resonated with audiences worldwide, making The Hangover a cultural phenomenon. Its success spawned two sequels, though neither matched the charm and originality of the first instalment.
Hancock, 2008
This comedic superhero action film, directed by Peter Berg, shows that a perpetually drunk and hungover superhero can cause more problems than he solves. Hancock, who resides in Los Angeles, genuinely possesses superpowers—he can fly, is incredibly strong, and is invulnerable. However, a deep personal tragedy has turned him into a bitter alcoholic, constantly seeking solace in the bottle. As a result, his heroic acts resemble the rampage of a “bull in a china shop.” While saving people or punishing villains, Hancock destroys cars, demolishes buildings, and leaves a trail of urban destruction in his wake.
The damage Hancock causes far outweighs the harm done by the petty criminals he apprehends. Despite this, his life takes a turn when he saves Ray, a PR agent, from certain death. In gratitude, Ray takes on the monumental task of rehabilitating Hancock’s tarnished public image. What follows is a journey of self-discovery, redemption, and plenty of comedic mishaps.
The World’s End, 2013
“Good food. Fine ales. Total annihilation.” This tagline perfectly encapsulates the essence of this film, which serves as the finale to Edgar Wright’s Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy. The trilogy includes Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, and The World’s End, all starring the brilliant British comedians Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. While the theme of alcohol and hangovers is present throughout, it’s especially prominent in Shaun of the Dead, where two losers drink so much beer they literally sleep through the start of the zombie apocalypse. In The World’s End, the plot is even more fantastical.
The plot revolves around Gary King, a forty-something alcoholic stuck in the past, who convinces his four childhood friends—now successful professionals in London—to revisit their hometown and complete an unfinished quest from their youth. The goal? To undertake an epic pub crawl, visiting all twelve pubs in town and completing the so-called “Golden Mile.” While the friends reluctantly agree, the adventure takes an unexpected turn during a scuffle in the fourth pub. To their shock, they discover that the town has been taken over by aliens, who replace humans with obedient and cheerful copies.
Despite the looming threat to humanity, the group remains determined to finish their pub crawl, stumbling from bar to bar while fending off robotic assailants. The film masterfully blends sharp humour, nostalgia, and social commentary, culminating in a chaotic and alcohol-fuelled fight for survival.
Obliterated, 2023
This Netflix action-comedy series shows that even the most elite special agents aren’t immune to the chaos of alcohol and mind-altering substances. Set in Las Vegas, the story follows a counter-terrorism unit celebrating their latest victory—neutralising a group of Russian terrorists and preventing a nuclear explosion. The agents, gathered in a luxurious hotel, dive headfirst into debauchery, indulging in champagne, drugs, and wild partying with strippers.
However, by the end of the first episode, a shocking twist is revealed—the supposedly defused nuclear bomb was a decoy, and the real terrorists are still at large, with their sinister plan already in motion. Now, the intoxicated agents must pull themselves together, battling hangovers, hallucinations, and their own impaired judgement, as they race against time to save the world. The series combines fast-paced action with outrageous comedy, offering a fresh and chaotic take on the spy genre.