How The Hangover faked its wildest Las Vegas scenes in secret locations
Many fans of The Hangover believe the film’s wildest moments took place inside Caesars Palace. But behind the scenes, the production used a mix of real locations, soundstages, and clever filmmaking tricks. Some of the most iconic scenes weren’t even shot in Las Vegas at all.
This article was first published on March 25, 2024, as part of the Vegas Myths Busted series on Casino.org.
The film’s opening wedding scene was actually filmed at Villa Vera in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Later, the group’s chaotic arrival at Caesars Palace included real footage from the hotel’s valet, registration desk, and elevator lobby. However, the infamous hallway and escalator scenes—where the gang stumbles through the casino—were shot at the now-demolished Riviera, not Caesars.
The suite where much of the chaos unfolds doesn’t exist in real life. Producers built the Hangover Suite on a soundstage at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. The decision came after no hotel agreed to let a live tiger, a chicken, and a baby destroy a real room. Even the rooftop toast scene, where the group drinks Jaegermeister and Rohypnol, was filmed on the Forum Tower’s roof—a restricted area that guests can’t access. Trespassing there could lead to a lifetime ban from all Caesars properties or even a trip to a Las Vegas jail. Other scenes took the crew far from the Strip. The desert where the gang wakes up was near Newberry Springs, California. Meanwhile, the tiger’s home was the Kangaroo Wildlife Park near Los Angeles. The Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace also made an appearance, though it was later revealed not to be part of the villa’s interior.
While The Hangover made Caesars Palace famous in pop culture, much of the film relied on sets and locations outside Las Vegas. The fictional suite, the rooftop, and even some casino scenes were created elsewhere. For more debunked Vegas myths, Vegas Myths Busted publishes new entries every Monday, with bonus editions on Flashback Fridays. Past articles can be found at VegasMythsBusted.com.
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