Las Vegas is one of the most famous places on planet earth. It’s renowned for its hotels, casinos, gaming, restaurants, nightlife and it’s huge value as the entertainment capital of the world. So, it comes as no surprise that there have been numerous films shot in Las Vegas over the years, with many of the movies going on to become iconic. Let’s look at some of the best scenes from movies shot in Vegas and what makes them standout.
The Hangover
The Hangover, which stars the likes of Bradley Cooper, Zach Galfianakis and Ed Helms, is a film which centres in Las Vegas itself. Doug, played by Justin Bartha, is accompanied by his three friends as they drive to Las Vegas for what turns out to be a very memorable stag party. Before the shenanigans get underway, the gang arrive at the iconic Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, with the scene memorable for being filmed in the hotel’s lobby.
Con Air
In Con Air, Nicolas Cage takes on the role of a paroled army ranger who is heading home aboard a plane dubbed “Jailbird” as he’s travelling alongside some of the worst criminals alive. During the flight, some of the prisoners put into action an escape plan which they have hatched, forcing the plane to crash land in Las Vegas, with the Hard Rock Café appearing in one of the most famous scenes of the movie.
Rain Man
Rain Man, which sees Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman star as the main characters, is one of the most popular films of all time. Raymond, played by Hoffman, is autistic and possesses a brilliant card counting ability that Charlie, played by Cruise, wants to use to help clear his mounting debts. The two brothers travel to Vegas and stop at Caesars Palace as they go in search of some big wins. There are many classic Vegas scenes in the movie, with one being where the pair are seen going down an escalator, or another while they’re at the tables in Caesar’s.
Casino
Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese, and featuring a star-studded cast with the likes of Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone involved won numerous awards. The film centres on a casino and the running of it and it manages to feature Las Vegas a total of 33 times, with many different locations included. With so many scenes to mention, it’s hard to pick out just one, but the casino scenes themselves really stood out. They were filmed in the Riviera Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip.
As you can see, there are numerous films which have all featured memorable scenes shot in Las Vegas. You can certainly see why Sin City is the ideal place to film due to it offering everything you could ever need, especially when it comes to famous landmarks and locations such as casinos, hotel lobbies and the famous sign.