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Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis, Valeria Golino ... see more see more... , Graham Beckel , Kim Adams , Susan Barnes , Xander Berkeley , Michael A. Goorjian , Mariska Hargitay , Albert Henderson , Lucinda Jenney , Thomas Kopache , David Kriegel , Anne Lange , Ed Lauter , Julian Lennon , Carey Lowell , Laurie Metcalf , Sergio Premoli , Paul Quinn , Lou Rawls , Shawnee Smith , Tracy Thorne , Steven Weber , David Brisbin , R. Lee Ermey , Danny Huston , Waldemar Kalinowski , Bob Rafelson , Stuart Regen , Marc Coppola , Gordon Michaels , French Stewart , Vincent Ward , Bill Thompson

Mike Figgis' grim drama documents a romantic triangle of sorts involving prostitute Sera (Elisabeth Shue), failed Hollywood screenwriter Ben (Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage), and the constant flow of booze... read more read more... which he loves more dearly than life itself. Arriving in Las Vegas with the intention of drinking himself to death, Ben meets Sera, and they gradually begin falling for one another. From the outset, however, Ben warns Sera that no matter what, she can never ask him to quit drinking, a condition to which she grudgingly agrees. A darkly comic tragedy, Leaving Las Vegas charts the brief romantic convergence of two desperately needy people who together find a brief flicker of happiness. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

53,189 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

47 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Mike Figgis

Release Date: October 27, 1995

Keywords: sad, depressing

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DVD Release Date: February 24, 1998

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Stats: 2,954 reviews

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Sara Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas Sera Leaving Las Vegas Leaving Las Vegas Nicolas Cage with Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas Sera Nicolas Cage Elisabeth Sue in Leaving Las Vegas Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas Sera Sera Elisabeth Shue Sera Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas Sera Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas
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Flixster Reviews (2,954)

  • paulkoh110
    October 26, 2011
    paulkoh110
    Nick Cage loses his shit and wins an oscar...what a movie! The story and his acting blend in such a intriguing way that you have to appreciate it!
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    February 25, 2011
    LoughnerWasLucid
    This will make you feel like shit and really not want to have sex.
  • ythelastman89
    July 31, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Just a beautiful unconventional piece of storytelling with characters that are irresistible. Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue both gave equally flawless performances as self destructive human beings, yet incredibly sympathetic. You really can't believe the amount of alcohol consum... read moreed on screen, it must be a bottle of hard liquor a minute. It almost makes you want to never drink again, the performances are that believable and effective.
  • garyX
    July 21, 2010
    garyX
    An alcoholic whose life falls apart decides to sell up and move to Las Vegas with the express intention of drinking himself to death, where he meets a hooker with whom he embarks on a dysfunctional relationship. The ultimate expression of a love story between two people who refus... read moree to change who they are, Leaving Las Vegas has a real European flavour to it; this is the kind of self destructive, tragic romance that is usually the proviso of the French! Some may find his affected performances (understandably) irritating, but his manic shambling/shouting repartee is actually perfect for the part of a drunk circling the pan of his life and this is surely one of his best. Elisabeth Shue is less convincing, perhaps a little too attractive and clean cut for the part she is playing and the supporting characters (Yuri in particular) aren't really explored. The garish bright lights of Las Vegas make the perfect backdrop for the story however and there are many memorable moments, mainly provided by Cage's drunken rampages. I could've done without Sting's faux jazz crooning that permeates the film and it did feel a little like a case of style over substance on second viewing but it has moments of genius (including the least erotic yet touching sex scene you are likely to see) and is the kind of film I wish was made in America a little more often. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas meets Love Story.
  • FrizzDrop
    July 13, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    I love Nicolas Cage, but this movie just made me love him more. Him, and of course Elisabeth Shue, who made the movie.
  • middleeasternfilms
    April 4, 2010
    middleeasternfilms
    Cage actually became an alcoholic for two weeks and videotaped himself drunk every night to prepare for this role. It won him an Academy Award for Best Actor, too. He's literally smashed in every single scene and as sad as it is to watch himself literally drink himself to death, ... read moreit's what he wants to accomplish and he does it. Elisabeth Shue plays the prostitute who's helpless to watch him slowly kill himself. Numerous cameos in this one.
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    Love this film. It?s a very moving story of two lost souls finding each other albeit, a little too late. Cage deserved his Oscar for his performance but Shue was overlooked I believe.
  • cosmo313
    September 20, 2009
    cosmo313
    This is an underappreciated gem of the cinema of the 1990's. Nicolas Cage gives his best performance of his career here, and rightfully won the Oscar for his work. Shue should have won, as she also gives an excellent performance, but sadly that didn't happen. The writing is excel... read morelent and the portrayal of depression and late-stage alcoholism is spot on perfect. This is not an uplifting film, but it's an honest one, despite it's tragic and gloomy nature.
  • stormyweather980
    September 14, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Awesome job by Cage, like he's known of doing every few movies. Unbelievable that someone can be that bad of an alcoholic, but this movie will convince you they can.
  • fb619846742
    September 7, 2009
    fb619846742
    A devastating, emotional, original love story which focuses on two very distraught and socially unaccepted individuals, who accept each other for who they are and live with one another's decisions. With all the formulaic, happy-feeling love stories we get nowadays, it's a pleasur... read moree to finally see a film like this, one that is so brutally honest as to what love is. Not for everyone, the content is rough and the way the two lead characters lead their lives isn't fun to watch, but this is a harrowing depiction of alcoholism, prostitution, and how these lifestyles lead to nothing but pain and agony. One of the better films of the 90's, with two outstanding lead performances (Nicolas Cage is simply incredible, and Elisabeth Shue embodies her character fully) that anchor this heart-wrenching love story.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
September 19, 2008
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

We're not talking high, morally instructive tragedy here, just a hard lesson in postmodernist outlawry and its sad little anarchies. Full Review

Leonard Klady
February 11, 2008
Leonard Klady, Variety

The film pulls no punches, takes no prisoners and flies in the face of feel-good pictures. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
February 11, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The plot goes nowhere, but under the pornographic circumstances Figgis, Cage, and Shue all do fine jobs. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Small, searing film. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A uniquely hypnotic and haunting love story sparked by Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue at their career best.

Kenneth Turan
February 13, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

A film laden with virtues but difficult to embrace. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Nicolas Cage, who has a track record of immersing himself in parts, gives one of the year's most powerful acting turns. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Tough to watch, but haunting enough to deserve its initial praise.

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Cage, a resourceful and daring actor, has never been better. Full Review

Peter Canavese
July 19, 2011
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

Figgis puts a desperate drunk front and center and demands we deal with him and the Jungian shadow he casts. [Blu-ray] Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Leaving Las Vegas Trivia

  • This film, which stars Nicholas Cage, tells the story of an alcoholic who drinks himself to death.  Answer »
  • In what movie did Nicholas Cage win an oscar?  Answer »
  • Elizabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas, Back to the Futue 2 & 3, Cocktail, Hollow Man) was in the original Karate Kid?  Answer »
  • This film, which stars Nicholas Cage, tells the story of an alcoholic who drinks himself to death.  Answer »
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