Leaving Las Vegas

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2:49

Leaving Las Vegas

R,

1995,

1h 51m,

Drama

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91%

55 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

55 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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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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David Ansen

Newsweek

Feb 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.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 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.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Sep 7, 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.

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EC Flamming

Screen Slate

Aug 21, 2026

Cage and Shue deliver impressive, dedicated performances, and Figgis narrowly avoids letting the film fall into anything too mawkish or exploitative.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

May 22, 2026

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….

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Jack Hawkins

HeyUGuys

May 19, 2026

3/5

Leaving Las Vegas is best viewed as a weepie melodrama with noirish aspirations rather than a serious observation of alcoholism.

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Draco M

Mar 20, 2019

I cant believe the ratings on this are so high. Its a Pretty Woman knockoff with awkward acting.

Feb 1, 2019

The best romance movie ever made!

Rey L

Jan 30, 2019

Leaving Las Vegas is too much of a depressing downer in its second half, but the first half is so strong and also very romantic in some parts. The score is beautiful, the relationship at the center of it works as it's so well developed and both Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue delivered excellent performances as two very likable characters easy to root for.

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Kylo S

May 11, 2018

this movie made no sense to me I say worst acting job mr cage ever done

Draco W

Dec 7, 2017

La idea de poner en un mismo nivel a un alcohólico y a una prostituta me parece errada, no me parece que son cosas que están a un mismo nivel. Pero creo que la película tiene mérito al capturar emociones relacionadas a la soledad. También me parece que tiene mucho mérito la atmósfera de ensueño de la película.

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Draco R

Jul 10, 2017

The plot never went anywhere. Every time I thought this movie was heading in a direction of clarity, it just stayed stagnate. Boring. 2 stars.

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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: Trailer 1

2:49

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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

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