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Leaving Las Vegas

Play trailer 2:49 Poster for Leaving Las Vegas R 1995 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Adapted from the novel by John O'Brien, this acclaimed drama follows alcoholic screenwriter Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage) as he drinks himself into oblivion in Las Vegas. When Ben meets the beautiful prostitute Sera (Elisabeth Shue), they strike up an unconventional relationship -- one where she can't ask him to curb his drinking, and he can't fault her for her job. Though they offer each other support, Ben's self-destruction threatens to eclipse their bond.
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Leaving Las Vegas

Leaving Las Vegas

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Critics Consensus

Oscar-awarded Nicolas Cage finds humanity in his character as it bleeds away in this no frills, exhilaratingly dark portrait of destruction.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 02/23/2018
A love story like no other, Mike Figgis's Leaving Las Vegas is a bleak, mesmerizing rhapsody of self-destruction, defiantly uninterested in peddling Hollywood-style uplift. Go to Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/12/2017
B+
This movie was like watching a car crash in slow motion. You knew there was going to be a crash, but I just wished it would just happen already, and not have spent two hours getting to the impact. Go to Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly 09/07/2011
A-
Dark and giddy at the same time, Leaving Las Vegas takes us into dreamy, intoxicated places no movie about an alcoholic has gone before. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com May 22
4/5
…there are no winners in this story, but that’s not to say that Leaving Las Vegas isn’t rewarding...Mike Figgis’ melancholy movie captures a poetry in the predicament of those dealt the harshest of lessons by luck and love…. Go to Full Review Jack Hawkins HeyUGuys May 19
3/5
Leaving Las Vegas is best viewed as a weepie melodrama with noirish aspirations rather than a serious observation of alcoholism. Go to Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street 04/25/2022
It is the most boring film ever made -- worse than a documentary. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rafi M @RT61647557 May 21 Harrowing depiction of an all-too-common scenario - an AA veteran friend of mine who I saw this with said she had heard many stories at AA meetings describing lots of people doing exactly this: 'Suicide by Drinking.' Team him up with a deep, jaded, beautiful sex worker - and the chemistry is incredible. Amid the pathos, two people are finally, totally honest about everything, baring their souls and giving searing, genuine performances. See more Whiskey R. @WhiskeyRiver Dec 19 This is simply one of the best movies ever made. See more Max A. @snednurse78 Dec 4 This film has haunted me for years. The journey that the characters embark upon is intense, heartbreaking, and bare bones. You feel for the characters, but don’t get too close as sometimes you don’t like what you see. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 17 I can see why some would find it a boring movie, but I liked it. It's a little inappropriate though. See more josh H. @RT33825296 Nov 10 A bleak affair. See more Gina R @GinaG Oct 28 This movie was like watching a car crash in slow motion. You knew there was going to be a crash, but I just wished it would just happen already, and not have spent two hours getting to the impact. See more Read all reviews
Leaving Las Vegas

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Cast & Crew

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Mike Figgis

Director

Nicolas Cage

Ben Sanderson

Elisabeth Shue

Sera

Julian Sands

Yuri

Richard Lewis

Peter

Valeria Golino

Terri

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Leaving Las Vegas

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Leaving Las Vegas

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Movie Info

Synopsis Adapted from the novel by John O'Brien, this acclaimed drama follows alcoholic screenwriter Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage) as he drinks himself into oblivion in Las Vegas. When Ben meets the beautiful prostitute Sera (Elisabeth Shue), they strike up an unconventional relationship -- one where she can't ask him to curb his drinking, and he can't fault her for her job. Though they offer each other support, Ben's self-destruction threatens to eclipse their bond.
Director
Mike Figgis
Producer
Annie Stewart, Lila Cazès
Screenwriter
John O'Brien, Mike Figgis
Distributor
United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Studio Canal, Initial Productions, Lumiere Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 27, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 4, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$29.9M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Surround