Hollywood may be the entertainment capital of the world, but not many places are as entertaining as Las Vegas. Sin City lives up to its name with 24-hour casinos, bars galore, and a dubious slogan: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Pair all that with bright lights, glitz, and glamour—not to mention the close proximity to Los Angeles—and it’s no wonder so many movies are set in Las Vegas.
Though the town was founded in 1905, it wasn’t until El Rancho Vegas opened in 1941 and set a precedent for today’s luxury hotel-casinos that Las Vegas was born. Right on the famed Strip, El Rancho Vegas featured air conditioning, a swimming pool, and a showroom. By the ’50s and ’60s, casinos started popping up, and a new era in Las Vegas history was born.
The ’60s brought an entertainment boom to Las Vegas, with both live acts and films set in Sin City, starting with the Rat Pack and the 1960 original “Ocean’s 11.” The suave group, consisting of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., focused on the city’s glamor and entertainment appeal.
In the following decades, the cinematic focus shifted to casinos that epitomized high stakes and excess, represented in films like the Oscar-winning “Rain Man” and iconic “Casino.” As Vegas continues to evolve, so does how it’s portrayed on film. The 2001 “Ocean’s Eleven” remake shows the sleek side of modern Vegas, while 2009’s “The Hangover” gave audiences an exaggerated look at the debauch.