Filming for ‘Hangover Part III’ on the 73 freeway was no joke (2024)

Four months of preparation.

That’s how long it took for a scene in “The Hangover Part III” that lasts less than two minutes.

For the crew, it’s known as the “Giraffe Highway” scene. Zack Galifianakis buys a giraffe and tows it in a trailer behind his car down the freeway. The impending disaster is that the giraffe is too tall for one of the overpasses. What happens next is a little gory.

Don’t worry, no animals were harmed in the making of this movie, though PETA was not happy with it. The crew did film a giraffe, separately, and added it into the scene later.

It was the first time a film crew had closed a highway in Orange County, said Gregory Alpert, a veteran Los Angeles-based location manager for “The Hangover Part III” as well as another movie that used Orange County, “Frost/Nixon.” The months of prep work were needed to figure out the logistics and coordinate with multiple transportation agencies and the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine and Newport Beach, where the stretch of highway that had to be shut down over a weekend is located.

The film’s director, Todd Phillips, wanted something with “the feel of the 405,” Alpert said.

“There are a handful of freeways that you can control in the greater Southern California area,” Alpert said. “You would not be able to shut down the 405 in two directions for two days.”

They couldn’t find the right look, Alpert said, until the Caltrans staff suggested the 73.

The stretch is just a couple miles long, and yes, the cars in the scene are going at full speed. Southbound interchanges with I-405 and the 55 leading onto the 73 were closed.

“It was a massive undertaking,” Alpert said. “(There were) over 30 CHP officers that were employed over those two days. … Every time before we would drive, we would have a lead vehicle to make sure, God forbid, no one got on to the freeway.”

“I think it works really well, and you also see a plane taking off from John Wayne Airport,” Alpert said. (You also see signs for the Campus Drive and MacArthur Boulevard exits.) “You immediately know you’re in Southern California.”

Filming for ‘Hangover Part III’ on the 73 freeway was no joke (2024)

FAQs

Why was Hangover 3 so bad? ›

Cooper, Helms and Galifianakis fit their roles just fine but there's just no energy to be found here. Perhaps even they knew the screenplay was lackluster. Jeong is good in small doses but putting him into so much of this just made his character annoying.

What freeway was the Hangover filmed on? ›

“There are a handful of freeways that you can control in the greater Southern California area,” Alpert said. “You would not be able to shut down the 405 in two directions for two days.” They couldn't find the right look, Alpert said, until the Caltrans staff suggested the 73.

Where was the hangover Part 3 filmed? ›

On October 8, 2012, production moved to Nogales, Arizona, which doubled as Tijuana in the film. On October 20 and 21, a stretch of California State Route 73, a toll road in Orange County was closed for filming. At the end of the month, production moved to Las Vegas for several weeks of filming.

Did Zach Galifianakis really sing Ave Maria in Hangover 3? ›

Did Zach Galifianakis sing Ave Maria? Oh yes, in a movie I did. But not really. I mean not really, I just voiced it.

Is The Hangover 4 confirmed? ›

Will there be a The Hangover 4? A movie is not in development, nor has one been confirmed. Although some cast members have expressed interest in The Hangover 4, another sequel does not seem likely to happen, at least not at this time.

Is the little boy in hangover 3 the same baby? ›

You might not know the name Grant Holmquist, but he was one of the babies from The Hangover starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis. He then returned to play the same role of Tyler/Carlos in The Hangover Part III, four years ago.

Was the giraffe in Hangover 3 real? ›

Stanley the giraffe pictured here in “The Hangover Part III.” Stanley has not physically been removed from the location for logistical reasons but was “seized” as evidence.

What rooftop bar was hangover filmed? ›

Lebua at State Tower in Bangkok is well-known for its starring role in the hit Hollywood movie “The Hangover Part II.” You'll recognize the famous Sky Bar as the place where many of the film's funny scenes took place.

Was hangover 3 filmed at Caesars Palace? ›

In the final film of the trilogy, Galifianakis is featured on the roof top of Caesars Palace trying to save Cooper, who is dangling high above the ground by a bed sheet. The palace was recreated in a Las Vegas hotel and casino in a sound stage in order to shoot the scene.

Is the hotel room in The Hangover real? ›

>>>Lots of people come to Caesars Palace and want to stay in room 2452, the room featured in the movie “The Hangover.” It was inspired by parts of the Forum Classic Emperor Suite, but the room you see in the movie was just a set built for filming.

Did they use Mike Tyson's real house in The Hangover? ›

Mike Tyson's former £1.5m Las Vegas mansion was used in The Hangover, boasts infinity pool, two spas and a waterfall. THIS is the house where Mike Tyson became a Hollywood star.

Where did they get the baby in The Hangover? ›

It turns out, Carlos ended up being the baby of the stripper Stu married at a Vegas chapel—of course, without remembering it. The baby's real-life name is Grant Holmquist, and he was less than a year old when he starred in the film.

Was Mel Gibson in Hangover? ›

Then it was revealed that after objections from some members of the film's cast and crew, Gibson had been dropped from the film.

Did Bradley Cooper star in The Hangover? ›

Cooper starred in 2009's “The Hangover” alongside Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha and Ken Jeong. The original raunchy comedy film spawned two sequels: 2011's “The Hangover Part II” and 2013's “The Hangover Part III.”

How old was baby Carlos in The Hangover? ›

While both Grant and Avery were just babies on the first movie, Grant was four by the time the third movie came around. According to Carrie, he actually has quite a few memories from working on that project. "Even though he was 4 1/2, Grant remembers a lot about being on set for H3," she explained.

Was the hangover 3 good? ›

Hangover Part 3 is better than Part 2 but not better than Part **** that makes sense. It is Different, It looks good and is funny to watch and rewatch(this is Ironically the 3rd Time I'm rewatching this). 7/10, it's a solid, great film, could it be better?

Was hangover 2 a flop? ›

Box office. The Hangover Part II grossed $254.5 million in North America and $332.3 million in other territories for a worldwide gross of $586.8 million, against a budget of $80 million. It was the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2011.

Which hangover movie is the best? ›

The Hangover is the highest-ranked movie in the franchise because of its originality. The jokes were fresh, the storyline was out of this world, and the cast was even better. The film follows Doug, who is having his bachelor party in Las Vegas with his two best friends and new brother-in-law Alan.

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