Phillips agreed to work for scale in exchange for equity participation and Hollywood continues to be the one industry that pays talent as though they were investors. “The Hangover 2” is already pencilled in for Memorial Day weekend 2011.

It’s only through the magic of inflation, of course, that “The Hangover” is surpassing “Beverly Hills Cop,” which really was a pop-culture phenomenon. In inflation-adjusted dollars — thanks, BoxOfficeMojo.com! — after the jump, get the list of the highest-grossing comedies, in 2009 dollars. (I’m not counting kidflicks like the Shrek series or ‘Around the World in 80 Days,’ which is primarily an adventure): 1. The Graduate $614 million

2. Ghostbusters $508

3. Beverly Hills Cop $482

4. American Graffiti $472

5. Blazing Saddles $454

6. Animal House $430

7. Tootise $409

8. Smokey and the Bandit $408

9. Men in Black $392

10. It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World $387

11. M.A.S.H. $385

12. Mrs. Doubtfire $378