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Leaving Las Vegas

  • 19951995
  • RR
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
123K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,507
440
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera.
Play trailer2:48
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance

Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-... Read allBen Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera.Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
123K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,507
440
  • Director
    • Mike Figgis
  • Writers
    • John O'Brien(based upon the novel by)
    • Mike Figgis(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Elisabeth Shue
    • Julian Sands
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mike Figgis
  • Writers
    • John O'Brien(based upon the novel by)
    • Mike Figgis(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Elisabeth Shue
    • Julian Sands
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 379User reviews
    • 107Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 32 wins & 29 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:48
    Trailer

    Photos133

    Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Elisabeth Shue and Mike Figgis in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Elisabeth Shue and Mike Figgis in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Elisabeth Shue and Julian Sands in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
    Mike Figgis in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage
    • Ben Sandersonas Ben Sanderson
    Elisabeth Shue
    Elisabeth Shue
    • Seraas Sera
    Julian Sands
    Julian Sands
    • Yurias Yuri
    Richard Lewis
    Richard Lewis
    • Peteras Peter
    Steven Weber
    Steven Weber
    • Marc Nussbaumas Marc Nussbaum
    Kim Adams
    • Sheilaas Sheila
    Emily Procter
    Emily Procter
    • Debbieas Debbie
    Stuart Regen
    • Man at Baras Man at Bar
    Valeria Golino
    Valeria Golino
    • Terrias Terri
    Graham Beckel
    Graham Beckel
    • L.A. Bartenderas L.A. Bartender
    Albert Henderson
    • Man at Strip Baras Man at Strip Bar
    • (as Al Henderson)
    Shashi Bhatia
    • Hispanic Prostituteas Hispanic Prostitute
    Carey Lowell
    Carey Lowell
    • Bank Telleras Bank Teller
    Anne Lange
    • Business Colleagueas Business Colleague
    Thomas Kopache
    Thomas Kopache
    • Mr. Simpsonas Mr. Simpson
    Vincent Ward
    Vincent Ward
    • Businessman #1as Businessman #1
    Lucinda Jenney
    Lucinda Jenney
    • Weird Womanas Weird Woman
    French Stewart
    French Stewart
    • Businessman #2as Businessman #2
    • Director
      • Mike Figgis
    • Writers
      • John O'Brien(based upon the novel by)
      • Mike Figgis(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Because his wife left him and took his son with her, screenwriter Ben Sanderson has started drinking, a lot. He's getting more and more isolated and he troubles women in bars because he wants to have sex with them. When he gets fired, he decides to leave everything behind and move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. In Las Vegas he meets Sera, a prostitute with some problems as well who he moves in with. —Marco van Hoof <k_luifje7@hotmail.com>
    • alcoholism
    • alcoholic
    • falling in love with a prostitute
    • based on novel
    • prostitute
    • 107 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for strong sexuality and language, violence and pervasive alcohol abuse
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Author John O'Brien, on whose novel this movie is based, committed suicide two weeks after the movie went into production. Director Mike Figgis contemplated abandoning the project, but decided the film would make a good memorial for O'Brien.
    • Goofs
      When supposedly playing blackjack, Ben and Sera are sitting at a Caribbean Stud Poker table.
    • Quotes

      Ben Sanderson: I don't know if I started drinking 'cause my wife left me or my wife left me 'cause I started drinking, but fuck it anyway.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits do not appear until fifteen minutes into the film.
    • Alternate versions
      LaserDisc version is unrated and contains more sexually explicit footage. First pressings of the VHS versions also contained this footage but later pressings did not. The Unrated Edition has also been released on DVD and runs 112 min.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Vampire in Brooklyn/Mighty Aphrodite/Copycat/Leaving Las Vegas/Never Talk to Strangers (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Angel Eyes
      Written by Matt Dennis and Earl K. Brent
      Performed by Sting
      Courtesy of A&M Records, Inc.

    User reviews379

    Review
    Top review
    Bravura Cage & Shue; latter day "Days of Wine & Roses"; flawless tragic love story
    LEAVING LAS VEGAS (1995) **** Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands. (Cameos: Richard Lewis, Steven Weber, Carey Lowell, French Stewart, Julian Lennon, Mariska Hargitay, R. Lee Ermey, Ed Lauter, Danny Huston, Lucinda Jenney, Lou Rawls, Laurie Metcalf, Shawnee Smith, Bob Rafelson,Xander Berkley). Uncompromisingly bleak and powerful portrayal of unconditional love between two tragic misfits. Cage in a bravura performance, that justifiably garnered him a Best Actor Oscar, vows to give up on life and heads to Vegas to drink himself to death where he meets and falls for pretty victimized hooker Shue (the performance of her career, and Best Actress nominee) who decides to love him for what he is. Excellent rapport and believably realistic performances and excellent adaptation of John O' Brien's semi-autobiographical novel of total despair. O' Brien committed suicide shortly after his novel was being produced into a film. Filmed in grainy 16MM and blown up to 35MM gives it an all too natural look. Look sharply for the film's director Mike Figgis as a goateed thug after pimp Sands.
    helpful•32
    17
    • george.schmidt
    • Apr 11, 2003

    FAQ3

    • What are the differences between the R-Rated and Unrated Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 9, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Rời Khỏi Las Vegas
    • Filming locations
      • Cock & Bull Pub - 2947 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Lumiere Pictures
      • Initial Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,600,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $32,029,928
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $70,864
      • Oct 29, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,029,928
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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