Synopsis
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.
Leaving Las Vegas (1995) is a 1h 51min drama feature film by Mike Figgis. Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his drinking, arrives in Las Vegas... Selected for Los Angeles Film Awards (2025).
Key facts
Cast
Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis, Steven Weber, Kim Adams, Emily Procter, Stuart Regen
Original language
English
First release
October 27, 1995 (United States)
Based on
Leaving Las Vegas
Awards
Academy Award for Best Actor, National Board of Review: Top Ten Films, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film
Setting
Los Angeles
Filming locations
Santa Monica
Crew
Screenplay
Mike Figgis
Producer
Annie Stewart, Lila Cazès
Cinematography
Declan Quinn
Editing
John Smith
Music
Mike Figgis
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.
Festival History
- Los Angeles Film Awards 2025
- Deauville Film Festival 2013 generic - La Nuit américaine
- Directors Guild of America 1995 generic
Soundtracks
| CD | Leaving Las Vegas - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Mike Figgis, Austin Ince (1995) | 9 releases, 1995-1996: A&M Records, PANGÆA |
| Cassette | Leaving Las Vegas - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Mike Figgis, Austin Ince (1995) | 4 releases, 1995: A&M Records, I.R.S. Records, PANGÆA |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | October 27, 1995 |
| Theatrical | Spain | December 1, 1995 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | January 19, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Australia | January 23, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | January 26, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | February 22, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Belgium | February 28, 1996 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | March 1, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Turkey | March 1, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Italy | March 7, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | March 8, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Greece | March 8, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Uruguay | March 8, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | March 14, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | March 15, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | March 15, 1996 |
| Theatrical | France | March 20, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Philippines | March 22, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Switzerland | April 12, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Poland | April 12, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | May 2, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | May 3, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | May 16, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Norway | May 24, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Germany | June 9, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Estonia | July 5, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Japan | September 14, 1996 |
| Television | France | October 8, 1997 |
| Television | France | November 13, 2000 |
| Television | Netherlands | February 15, 2003 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | January 7, 2026 |
| Television | Slovakia | February 20, 2026 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | June 25, 2026 |
| Television | France | September 13, 2026 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 18 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video | Hong Kong | July 5, 1996 |
| Home video | Russia | March 17, 2001 |
| Home video | Netherlands | March 22, 2004 |
| Home video | Netherlands | June 25, 2009 |
Full credits
| Director | Mike Figgis |
| Cast | Nicolas Cage (Ben Sanderson), Elisabeth Shue (Sera), Julian Sands (Yuri), Richard Lewis (Peter), Steven Weber (Marc Nussbaum), Kim Adams (Sheila), Emily Procter (Debbie), Stuart Regen (Man At Bar), Valeria Golino (Terri), Graham Beckel (L.A. Bartender), Albert Henderson (Man at Strip Bar), Shashi Bhatia (Hispanic Prostitute), Carey Lowell (Bank Teller), Anne Lange (Business Colleague), Thomas Kopache (Mr. Simpson), Vincent Ward (Businessman 1), Lucinda Jenney (Weird Woman), French Stewart (Businessman 2), Ed Lauter (Mobster 3), Waldemar Kalinowski (Mobster 2), Mike Figgis (Mobster 1), David Kriegel (Hotel Manager), Bill Thompson (Midwest Man At Poolside), Marek Stabrowski (Pawn Shop Owner), R. Lee Ermey (Conventioneer), Mariska Hargitay (Hooker At Bar), Danny Huston (Barman 2), Laurie Metcalf (Landlady), David Brisbin (Landlord), Shawnee Smith (Biker Girl), Paul Quinn (Biker Guy), Julian Lennon (Bartender 3 In Biker Bar), Tracy Thorne (Waitress At Mall), Bob Rafelson (Man At Mall), Susan Barnes (Desk Clerk), Marc Coppola (Dealer), Michael A. Goorjian (College Boy 1), Jeremy Jordan (College Boy 2), Davidlee Willson (College Boy 3), Xander Berkeley (Cynical Cabbie), Sergio Premoli (Stetson Man At Casino), Gordon Michaels (Security Guard), Lou Rawls (Concerned Cabbie) |
| Screenplay | Mike Figgis |
| Producer | Annie Stewart, Lila Cazès |
| Executive producer | Paige Simpson, Stuart Regen |
| Cinematography | Declan Quinn |
| Editing | John Smith |
| Music | Mike Figgis |
| Production design | Waldemar Kalinowski |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
