Hollywood directors and producers take finding the perfect set so seriously that they often employ someone specially to go and seek them out.
Las Vegas has been a hotbed of movie innovation ever since giant casinos resorts started being built there in the 70s, and Hollywood has never looked back, setting some classic masterpieces there down through the years.
In this piece we take a look at those hotels on the strip whose reputations were immortalised in some Hollywood classics.
Just shy of 50 million people visited Sin City in 2019, with many of them being fans of famous movies like The Hangover and Ocean’s Eleven
Caesars Palace
Most movie directors who like to shoot their motion pictures inLas Vegas tend to go for old or dilapidated casinos, where actual customers will not get in the way, bothering the actors for autographs and trying to get a quick gig as an extra.
However, sometimes movie makers need that lived-in feel that can only be garnered from a living and breathing casino resort, and for that Caesars Palace is the undoubted go-to venue, especially seeing as its popularity has grown due to it now being one of the US’s best-reviewed online casinos. The hotel has featured in the likes of Rain Man and the original Hangover movie, and more are sure to follow in the future.
Want to destroy a honeymoon suite just like Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis?Then Caesars is the place to go. Wish to take a dance in the same ballroom – that gives spectacular views over the Las Vegas strip – as Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, then this is the only hotel that will do. With the state of Nevada relaxing their online gaming laws, visitors to the state can now even keep a little piece of Caesars Casino or another Vegas casino on their mobile phone, with many such gaming resorts having their very own gaming apps and mobile sites.
Being a hotel and casino that is fit for a Roman emperor, Caesars Palace is always an obvious choice for movie directors who want the stars of their motion pictures to feel at home
The Bellagio
Giving Caesars a run for its money in racking up box office smash movies is the Bellagio, whose glamourous interior and exterior make it one of the most iconic hotel and casino resorts in the state of Nevada.
Movies that have been shot within its walls or surroundings include the Ocean’s series of movies that starred the likes of Brad Pitt and George Clooney, as well as others such as Rush Hour 2 and What Happens in Vegas.
The hotel continues to be picked out by location scouts due to its world renowned array of fountains, as well as one of the most striking lobbies found anywhere on the planet.
Mandalay Bay
The Mandalay Bay has always been known for hosting some of the best boxing matches ever seen, so it is perhaps no surprise that Sylvester Stallone chose to base some of his Rocky movies there, as Adrianne screamed for him at ringside.
Gone but Not Forgotten
Believe it or not, the casinos of the Las Vegas strip that movie directors prefer over any other are those which are derelict and have been dormant for years.
Among some of the movies that were paired up with defunct or dilapidated casino venues include Scorsese’s Casino which was shot at the Landmark Hotel.Then there is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas that was filmed in the midst of the garish and kitsch confines of the Stardust Casino Resort.
This trend for using derelict casinos can be put down to it being far easier and cheaper to obtain a license to film at such places than it is to do so at fully functioning gaming establishments.