Las Vegas, Nevada is already one massively popular place to shoot movies. Full of glitz, glamour, high rollers who aren’t afraid to splash the cash and ginormous, opulent buildings that use world wonders for inspiration, it makes for an excellent setting for a Hollywood blockbuster.
Filmmakers are also encouraged to film in Las Vegas using tax breaks as a financial incentive. Movie makers can get 15% back on the cost of wages and production for Nevada residents, who are hired to help out and 12% for non-residents.
As a result, quite a few films have been set in the city, but which ones are the best? Which movies do the city and its history justice? We’ve rounded up a few of the most high-profile titles below.
The Hangover
Released in 2009, The Hangover takes everything you imagine about Las Vegas and turns the dial up to 11. The over-the-top comedy caper stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms on an adventure to find their missing friend. Their search involves a sleeping tiger, boxer Mike Tyson, a sunglasses-wearing baby, and more hijinks than you could ever imagine.
The Hangover quickly became a classic as not only did it get multiple sequels, but it also received numerous spinoffs, including official merchandise (e.g t-shirts) and, suitably, an official online slot game.
Amongst those offered at William Hill’s online Vegas casino, The Hangover slot game focuses heavily on visuals, as the four main characters are all displayed on-screen.
The graphics aren’t quite as impressive as other online slots such as Ancient Gold and Giant Gems, which really highlight the expensive-side of Las Vegas with their in-your-face graphics, but this may not matter for fans who love the film franchise and hold it close to their hearts.
What Happens in Vegas
Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz are two actors with major star power, having starred in That 70s Show and Charlie’s Angels, respectively.
So, it’s little surprise that when they teamed up for 2008 rom-com What Happens in Vegas, it was a massive hit. The movie stars Kutcher and Diaz’ characters after they drunkenly get hitched, win the jackpot and are forced to live together for six months until they can get a divorce and split the winnings.
Quite a few people wanted to see the movie that confirmed that what happens in Vegas does not always stay in Vegas, as it raked in $219,375,797 at the global box office.
Viva Las Vegas
The king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley was renowned for his music including hits like Blue Suede Shoes. But Presley also had an illustrious movie career and that included the musical film Viva Las Vegas.
Released in 1964, it stars Presley as a race car driver who goes to Las Vegas to win money but ends up losing his winnings after a run-in with a swimming instructor. While working to pay his hotel back, Presley’s character also works hard to win the instructor’s heart. Not only was the film a box office success, but it is also regarded as one of the best films that Presley ever made.
While many of the expected plot beats have been covered, there are still plenty of original stories to come up with, set in the iconic city. It will be interesting to see how movie makers make the most of it.