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Leaving Las Vegas

Name: Leaving Las Vegas
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: 1995-10-27
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Laurie Metcalf, Richard Lewis

1995 | 111 min | Drama, Romance

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won an Oscar, it made about 14 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for romantics. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Warm and romantic.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 51 min.
What might put you off: Rated R: meant for adults.
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

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

How it earned its rating

CriticsVery strong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic
AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Actor. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. Won 1 SAG Award: Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. Won 4 Independent Spirit Awards: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Film, Independent Spirit Awards: Best Director, Independent Spirit Awards: Best Female Lead, Independent Spirit Awards: Best Cinematography. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars, 3 more Golden Globes and 1 more SAG Award. Plus 18 other awards.
Box office & staying powerStrong
$50 million worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 400K people sought it out in the past year