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Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates: The Outlandish True Story Behind The Party Comedy Hit

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The search for the perfect plus-one is a universal struggle, but for two real-life brothers, it became a viral sensation that launched a major Hollywood film. As of today, December 19, 2025, the movie that most people are searching for when they type "need dates for a wedding movie" is the 2016 cult-favorite comedy, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. This film, starring Zac Efron and Adam Devine, remains a benchmark for chaotic wedding comedies, but its enduring appeal is rooted in an actual, bizarre-but-true story that's even more fascinating than the on-screen antics.

The movie’s premise—two hard-partying brothers forced to find respectable dates for their sister’s wedding via an online ad—was only slightly exaggerated for the big screen. The true story of Mike and Dave Stangle, who genuinely posted a Craigslist ad that went globally viral, provides a unique look into how a desperate plea for wedding dates can turn into a book deal, a movie, and a permanently altered dating life for the real-life protagonists.

The Essential Profile: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)

The film, which grossed over $77 million worldwide, is a masterclass in R-rated, chaotic comedy. It established a new standard for the "dates gone wrong" subgenre, largely thanks to its powerhouse comedic cast and a plot "inspired by a true story."

  • Official Title: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
  • Release Date: July 8, 2016
  • Director: Jake Szymanski
  • Writers: Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O'Brien
  • Inspiration: The 2015 book Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates: And a Few Things about That Weird Time We Followed the Rules by Mike and Dave Stangle.
  • Runtime: 98 minutes
  • Studio: 20th Century Fox

Main Cast and Characters

The film’s critical success is often attributed to the chemistry between its four leads, who represent the ultimate double-date disaster.

  • Zac Efron as Dave Stangle
  • Adam Devine as Mike Stangle
  • Anna Kendrick as Alice
  • Aubrey Plaza as Tatiana
  • Stephen Root as Burt Stangle (Mike and Dave's Father)
  • Sugar Lyn Beard as Jeanie Stangle (The Sister/Bride)
  • Sam Richardson as Eric

The Craigslist Ad That Changed Everything: Fact vs. Fiction

The most fascinating aspect of Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is its foundation in reality. The Stangle brothers—Mike and Dave, who are from Albany, New York—did, in fact, post a now-legendary Craigslist ad in February 2013 seeking dates for their cousin's wedding in Hawaii.

The ad was a desperate measure. The real-life Stangle family, fed up with the brothers' notorious history of drunken wedding antics, issued an ultimatum: they could only attend their sister’s wedding if they brought "respectable" dates.

The Craigslist post was witty, self-deprecating, and went completely viral, receiving thousands of responses and attracting global media attention, including appearances on major talk shows.

The Outlandish Details That Were Real

While the movie takes huge liberties, turning the dates into two equally chaotic party girls (Tatiana and Alice), several key details from the real-life saga were incorporated into the film:

  • The Viral Ad: The brothers truly did post an ad online, and it became an internet sensation, leading to a book deal.
  • The Hawaiian Wedding: The original wedding they needed dates for was indeed a destination wedding in Hawaii.
  • The "Centaur" Photoshop: The movie references a bizarre image the brothers posted in their ad. The real Mike and Dave included a Photoshopped picture of themselves riding horses with human legs, which was intended to show their fun-loving nature.

However, the on-screen chaos—the ATV crash, the accidental drugging, and the general destruction—was pure Hollywood invention. The real dates they eventually chose were much more subdued, and the wedding, while memorable, was not the scene of a cinematic disaster.

The Lasting Legacy and Why a Sequel is Unlikely

Despite the film’s success and its solid place in the comedy genre, a sequel has never materialized. While the cast and director have occasionally discussed the potential, there has been no official word on a follow-up film.

The film’s unique premise—finding dates for a wedding—is a one-time setup. While a sequel could follow Mike and Dave on a new adventure, the core conflict of the original title is resolved by the end of the movie.

What Happened to the Real Mike and Dave Stangle?

The true story of the Stangle brothers offers a unique, post-fame update that is more recent and relevant to the film's legacy. The experience of going viral, writing a book, and having a movie made about their desperate search for dates had a lasting impact, particularly on Dave Stangle.

In a retrospective interview, Dave Stangle admitted that the entire experience "ruined" normal dating for him. The overwhelming attention and the bizarre nature of their public plea meant that every subsequent date knew his story, making a genuine, low-key connection almost impossible. This is a powerful, fresh detail that adds a layer of depth to the otherwise lighthearted comedy.

The brothers have since moved on from their party-boy personas, but the film remains a permanent, chaotic record of their pre-Hollywood escapades. It serves as a hilarious warning about the dangers—and unexpected rewards—of taking a desperate search for a wedding date public.

Topical Authority: Movies Like Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

If you loved the blend of romantic comedy, raunchy humor, and wedding-related mayhem in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, you’re looking for films that capture that same chaotic energy. The movie belongs to a strong lineage of comedies that turn formal events into scenes of utter pandemonium.

Key films that share the same DNA, focusing on dysfunctional friends, family pressure, and disastrous destination events, include:

  • Wedding Crashers (2005): The gold standard of wedding-themed R-rated comedy, featuring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.
  • Bridesmaids (2011): A landmark film that proved women could lead an R-rated comedy with as much heart and chaos as their male counterparts.
  • The Wedding Ringer (2015): A film about a man who hires a best man for his wedding, playing on the same theme of desperate attempts to appear normal.
  • Why Him? (2016): A Zac Efron/Adam Devine adjacent comedy, focusing on a father's disastrous first meeting with his daughter's eccentric boyfriend.
  • Step Brothers (2008): While not strictly a wedding movie, its focus on two adult men who refuse to grow up mirrors the immaturity of Mike and Dave.
  • The People We Hate at the Wedding (2022): A more recent entry that captures the family dysfunction surrounding a wedding event.

The film’s continued popularity, even years after its release, proves that the struggle to find the perfect date—or just a date who won't ruin your life—is a comedic goldmine. Whether you are searching for the original film or new comedies in the same vein, the story of Mike and Dave remains the ultimate cautionary tale of taking your dating desperation to the internet.

need dates for a wedding movie
need dates for a wedding movie

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