Hangover (2009), Iron Man (2008), The Hangover Part III (2013), and 21 (2008).
Bellagio is another luxurious Las Vegas casino featured in a few movies, including the 2001 The art of filmmaking involves many different decisions, including choosing suitable locations to shoot scenes. Movies often have sets created for specific scenes. These sets are carefully designed to make viewers feel certain emotions and to make the scene look real. However, in many other cases, it is easier for the director to find a suitable location instead of building out a set.
Casino movies are very popular in filmmaking, especially in Hollywood. One reason for their popularity is the display of wealth and affluence that seems to attract many movie lovers. Another reason is that casino scenes add a bit of dramatic flair to the average movie.
Over the last few decades, producers have used casinos to shoot movies or simply bring a casino scene to life. One of these locations is Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
American heist comedy Ocean’s Eleven starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon. This location was essential to the movie, as the characters planned and attempted a heist in the casino. The casino let the crew use actual surveillance footage, suspended valet parking, and turned off its fountains for the shoot. Since opening in 1998, the Bellagio has hosted several movies apart from Ocean’s Eleven, including Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) and Focus (2015), starring Will Smith.
Crossing the Atlantic, Monaco’s Monte Carlo Casino is a popular casino, and one of the most upscale spots in Europe. This casino is known for its remarkable architectural design directly led by Prince Charles III, who was honored when the ‘Monte Carlo’ name, the Ligurian translation of “Mount Charles,” was coined. Although the casino is famous for its design and as a choice spot for dignitaries, celebrities, and royalty, it is also a known movie set for casino scenes. The casino has hosted crews for movies such as the Ocean’s Eleven sequel Ocean’s Twelve (2004), the romantic comedy Monte Carlo (2011), and James Bond classic GoldenEye (1995).
Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino is one of the world’s grandest resorts. It opened in 2010 and was considered the world’s most expensive standalone casino at S$8 billion. The hotel has over 2,500 rooms, a large theater, a museum, and one of the largest atrium casinos globally, with nearly 2,000 slot machines and over 500 tables. While there are several online betting markets available to Singapore punters, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino is a top spot for players who still prefer live gambling action on a physical casino floor. The sprawling structure played host to the film crew of Crazy Rich Asians, a 2018 box-office hit.
Back in Vegas, yet another location featured in more than a few movies was the Riviera Hotel and Casino on Las Vegas Boulevard. The resort had a hotel with over 2,000 rooms and operated from April 1955 to May 2015. Unfortunately, the casino and hotel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, partly caused by a reduction in foot traffic in the area. Its last owner, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, demolished it in 2015 to erect the Las Vegas Global Business District. Before its closure and demolition, the Riviera Hotel was used for several successful movies, including Casino (1995), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and the original Ocean’s Eleven released in 1960.
Located on the Las Vegas Strip is The Mirage, a 65-acre resort with a casino spanning more than 90,500 sq ft. Major attractions to the resort are an aquarium tank with hundreds of fish, an artificial volcano with regular eruptions, and of course a casino with over 100 table games and more than 2,000 slot machines. The casino features scenes from several movies, including Indecent Proposal (1993), Vegas Vacation (1997), and Leaving Las Vegas (1995).
The MGM Grand Hotel is another location used for movies, including two in the Rocky franchise: Rocky III (1982) and Rocky IV (1985). The 2013 heist movie Now You See Me also used the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The resort is known as one of the largest single hotels and one of the biggest hotel complexes in the world. With more than 6,800 rooms, it is also one of the largest hotel resorts in the US. Its casino covers 171,500 square feet, hosting more than 130 table games and over 2,500 gaming machines.
The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has also seen its fair share of movie crews, including those for Grand Prix (1966) and Fright Night (2011). The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened in March 1995 and has also featured in music videos and TV shows. At launch, the resort’s casino spanned 28,000 sq ft and eventually expanded to 61,704 sq ft after an expansion from 2007 to 2010. It was sold in 2018 and closed for renovations in 2020. The hotel later reopened in 2021 as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
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