Chapter 139: [The Hangover] Success
....
The theatrical run of [The Hangover] had finally come to an end - closing out with an astonishing $620 million at the global box office.
That was $2 million higher than even the boldest industry forecasts.
In true Hangover fashion, it defied expectations until the very last dollar.
More than just a hit, the film had sparked something larger - it was a cultural jolt.
Suddenly, comedy wasn't the B-list genre studios churned out for filler content anymore. It was the main act.
Unlike [Following] or [Death Note] - both critically praised but risky territory no studio dared to replicate - [The Hangover] sent a different message: comedy was back, and it was bankable.
Studios, always hungry for the next easy win, began to take note.
Comedy was accessible, or at least it seemed that way.
Everyone thought they could pull it off.
The budgets were low, the returns absurdly high - it was a formula too tempting to ignore.
Whether they would succeed or crash and burn trying to replicate the magic was something only time could tell.