Leaving Las Vegas
1995 · Movie · R · 111 min · ★ 7.3 · 86% critics
A washed-up Hollywood writer, consumed by alcoholism, heads to Las Vegas with the intention of drinking until he can’t go on. There he connects with a sex worker, and the two form a fragile bond built on companionship and a pact not to change each other, even as their lives spiral.
Based on Leaving Las Vegas
Where to watch
Watch free on Hoopla, Kanopy, Pluto TV +1 more.
2 hours to watch.
Free
Rent
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1995
- Release date
- 1995-10-27
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 86/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (1,654 votes)
About
You’ll likely connect with this if you want an intense, downbeat drama about loneliness, addiction, and a complicated relationship built on acceptance, similar in spirit to The Wrestler; Not for you if you need an uplifting, easy watch.
Pros: raw, honest addiction portrait; powerful lead performances; emotionally affecting bond | Cons: relentlessly bleak tone; repetitive downward spiral; explicit sex and violence
Themes
- hotel room
- dying and death
- individual
- prostitute
- lovesickness
- rage and hate
- casino
- unsociability
- alcohol
- love at first sight
- movie business
- screenwriter
- +8 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1996
- Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award — Best Film · 1995
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 1996 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1996 · nominated
Show all 7 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1996 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · nominated
Cast & crew
Nicolas Cage
as Ben Sanderson
Elisabeth Shue
as Sera
Julian Sands
as Yuri
Richard Lewis
as Peter
Steven Weber
as Marc Nussbaum
- KA
Kim Adams
as Sheila
Emily Procter
as Debbie
- SR
Stuart Regen
as Man At Bar
Valeria Golino
as Terri
Graham Beckel
as L.A. Bartender
Directed by Mike Figgis