Movies to Watch Before You Visit Las Vegas
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Before you book a show, pack something sparkly, or convince yourself that this time you are definitely sticking to a budget, there is one essential step in Vegas trip planning that I highly recommend.
A movie night!
Las Vegas has been mythologized on screen more than almost any other American city. It is glamorous, absurd, romantic, and occasionally ridiculous. Watching the right movies before you go helps you arrive already in sync with the city. You understand that Vegas is theater. You stop expecting realism. You lean into the fun.
These are my favorite movies to watch before a Vegas trip, grouped by vibe, with notes on where you will feel them once you arrive.
Glam Vegas
For polished chaos, fabulous entrances, and feeling like you belong in a hotel lobby:
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
This is modern Vegas at its most charming. Effortlessly cool, stylish, and fun without taking itself too seriously.
Vegas connection: Bellagio fountains, Caesars Palace, and the Strip at night. This movie makes you want to dress better and walk with purpose through hotel lobbies.
Casino (1995)
Lavish, dramatic, and unapologetically big. Honestly, I'm not sure if I could handle rewatching this with all of its Mob violence, but then Sharon Stone’s costumes alone are worth the watch.
Vegas connection: Old Strip glamour and the idea that Vegas has always been about power, performance, and spectacle. Pairs perfectly with a visit to the Neon Museum. This was filmed at the Riviera Hotel (demolished in 2016) which stood in for the Stardust Hotel which was demolished in 2007.
Indecent Proposal (1993)
Sleek, moody, and very early 90s. And Robert Redford!
This film leans into Vegas as a place where temptation is part of the atmosphere and choices come with consequences. It is glossy, dramatic, and undeniably of its time.
Vegas connection: High end casinos, candlelit restaurants, and the quieter, more seductive side of the Strip. Watch this before a dressy dinner night. Filmed in what is now the Westgate Hotel.
Rom-Com and Comedy Vegas
For laughs, love, and delightful nonsense
Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)
This is one of my favorites!
Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elvis impersonators, skydiving over the Strip, and a plot that absolutely should not be questioned. It is light, silly, and pure early 90s fun.
Vegas connection: Classic Strip hotels, Elvis weddings, and the sense that Vegas encourages grand gestures and questionable decisions. Watch this before your first night out. Filmed at Ballys Las Vegas Hotel, now called Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Lost in America (1985)
One of the most underrated Vegas movies.
Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty accidentally lose their entire savings in Vegas and spiral from there. It is sharp, funny, and painfully relatable in that specific Albert Brooks way. After watching this movie you'll never be able to pass a roulette table without chanting “22, 22, 22!!!”
Vegas connection: Casinos, confidence gone wrong, and the reminder that Vegas does not always play fair. Watch this before setting foot near a roulette table. Filmed at the Desert Inn Hotel, which was demolished in 2001. The Wynn and Encore Hotels are now on the Desert Inn's former site.
The Hangover (2009)
Chaotic, outrageous, and still oddly accurate.
This movie captures the feeling of waking up in Vegas and realizing the city does not care what your plan was. I remeber first seeing this movie years after it became successful. I thought it would be crude and cringy, but I ended up suprised at how funny it was.
Vegas connection: Caesars Palace, Strip madness, and the sense that time behaves differently here. Watch this knowing you will recognize more than you expect.
Vegas Vacation (1997)
Pure, joyful chaos.
The Griswolds in Vegas means gambling gone wrong, wandering children, questionable advice, and perfectly terrible decisions. It is silly and with lots of cringe watching now, but still nostalgic if you grew up with these movies.
Vegas connection: Old Strip hotels, casino floors, and that slightly overwhelmed feeling when everything is happening at once. Filmed at the Mirage Hotel, which is now being rebuilt as the new guitar shaped Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas.
Old School and Rat Pack Vegas
For vintage glamour, martinis, and mid century cool
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
Elvis and Ann Margret in full Technicolor Vegas fantasy mode. Bright, joyful, and completely unapologetic.
Vegas connection: Fremont Street vibes, classic signage, and early Vegas optimism. Perfect before a downtown wander. Filmed at the Tropicana Hotel, demolished in 2024. A new baseball stadium is being built in it's former location.
Ocean’s 11 (1960)
The original Rat Pack version starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.
It is slower paced, stylish, and dripping with confidence. The real appeal here is the attitude.
Vegas connection: Vintage Strip casinos and classic lounge energy. Watch this before sipping a martini somewhere dimly lit. Filming locations including the Flamingo Las Vegas, Sahara, Riviera, Sands, and Desert Inn.
Rain Man (1988)
Quietly iconic.
Rain Man uses Las Vegas as a turning point, showing the city as a place where rules can be learned, patterns matter, and something meaningful can happen in the middle of all the noise.
Vegas connection: Ceasar's Palace Hotel, Casino floors, blackjack tables, and the strangely calm moments that exist inside the chaos. This one gives Vegas a surprising sense of heart.
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
James Bond goes to Vegas, which means glamour, absurdity, and unmistakable 1970s style.
Vegas connection: Old Strip locations and classic casino interiors. A fun watch if you love retro Vegas aesthetics. Filmed at the WestGate Las Vegas Casino & Hotel.
Why These Movies Work
These movies remind you that Vegas is not meant to be taken too seriously. It is a place of performance, reinvention, and spectacle. When you arrive already in on the joke, the city becomes more fun and far less intimidating.
You notice the lighting, the entrances, and the outfits people wear just to go downstairs for coffee. You stop asking if Vegas makes sense and start enjoying it for what it is.
That is when the city really shines.
Your Pre Vegas Movie Night
Here is my recommendation:
- Pick one glam movie and one comedy
- Watch them within a week of your trip
- Something cozy to drink, bonus points if it feels indulgent
- No multitasking during the good scenes
Save this list for your pre Vegas movie night and let the city work its magic before you even land.
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