Betty Ginette
It is common knowledge that movies can sometimes give us the wrong impression about certain cities and regions. If you, for example, think that Ireland is anything like what it is depicted in the Lindsay Lohan vehicle, Irish Wish, then you’d be in for a surprise should you visit the Emerald Isle. Of course, some of this is understandable, as movies are supposed to lean into exaggeration to make things a bit more exciting.
Las Vegas, perhaps more than most, is often portrayed as a caricature on screen. Sin City is full of myths and urban folklore. Take, for example, the idea that casinos pump oxygen into the room to keep players awake. It’s been repeated for years. Yet, a Casino.com explainer of the oxygen myth breaks down exactly why this Vegas tale is somewhat ludicrous. There are certainly many others. Some myths are based on truths and simply exaggerated, whereas others are clear fabrications.
Yet, it is often the movies that lead us down these paths of misperception. That said, sometimes movies have nailed the real Vegas. Below, we look at five things the movies get wrong – and five things they get right.
Let’s start with what movies often get wrong:
Vegas is “The Strip” and nothing else
What movies show:
Everything usually happens on a tiny stretch of neon, giving the false impression that Vegas is the Strip and consists of the Bellagio fountains, Caesars, etc. The reality is that The Strip isn’t even in the City of Las Vegas (it’s mostly in unincorporated Paradise). The metro is full of suburbs, schools, strip malls, parks, and regular neighborhoods. It’s also full of boring convention centers, as well as plenty of art galleries. It’s simply much more diverse – and normal – than movies portray.
The party never stops (for anyone)
What movies show:
Vegas is often depicted as 24/7 bachelor-party chaos. Everybody is drunk, high, or making terrible decisions. Yes, the tourist corridors can be absolute madness at 2 a.m. But a huge chunk of the population is in bed because they have to be at work the next morning. A lot of locals barely go to the Strip unless friends are visiting.
Geography and distance are broken
What movies show:
Characters seem to be able to teleport around the place. Ocean’s Eleven is a good example, where they bounce around multiple casinos. If you have ever walked the Strip, you’ll know it takes ages. Even walking from Caesars to Bellagio, which looks like they are next door to each other on the maps, takes about 15 minutes.
The weather is wildly understated
What movies show:
Perfect temperatures in tolerable sunshine or cool evenings are normally served up in the movies, but the reality is that Vegas weather can be brutal. If you have ever walked outside in, say, July, you might even notice that a lot of people carry umbrellas. It’s not for the rain – it’s to block the sun.
Casinos are either empty cathedrals or total chaos
What movies show:
Movies will either show vast, beautiful, and quiet casino floors where you can hear every chip placed on the table or utter pandemonium with crowds screaming at every spin of the wheel. But the reality is that most casino floors are weirdly normal. There’s a low hum of noise, people half-zoned out at machines, no one cheering every five seconds.
Now let’s look at what they get right:
The sensory overload of the Strip
What they get right:
If it’s your first time, the Strip is really eye-opening, especially at night. It’s probably not just as disorientating as what the movies show, as directors love their sweeping camera shots, but it is immersive and, dare we say it, somewhat awe-inspiring. There’s simply no place like it in the world.
Comps and VIP treatment
What they get right:
Some say that the art of the comp and Vegas freebie is dying, which does hold some truth, especially for low-stakes players. But the Vegas casino economy still knows how to treat high – and medium – rollers. Free rooms, show tickets, meals, limo pick-ups, and all the other frills are still on the menu. Perhaps the only difference now is that a lot of it is automated through loyalty schemes and cards.
The time doesn’t exist feeling inside casinos
What they get right:
We mentioned the oxygen-pumping myth earlier, but that’s not to say there isn’t a sense of stepping into another world element in casinos. You really can’t tell with a cursory glance what time of day or night it is in the casino – although you can simply look at your phone – and that’s clearly by design. It’s not that time doesn’t exist; it’s simply that it is easy to lose track.
Tourists behaving like different people
What they get right:
People really do treat Vegas as a temporary alternate reality where they’re louder, riskier, and more impulsive than at home. Yet, in a strange way, that has been reinforced by the movies. People believe they can let their hair down and go a bit wild because that’s what they have seen on screen. Of course, Vegas does cater to party animals, but there are caveats. Long queues for nightclubs and pool parties; loutish behavior will get you removed from most venues; and, of course, Vegas has strict laws around the use of drugs.
Night shifts and service-industry life
What they get right:
We will finish with something that movies have touched on: Vegas has a huge service economy, running 24/7. As such, it can leave workers looking and feeling jaded, sleeping all day, and dealing with drunks at night. Leaving Las Vegas – which should definitely be on your list of rewatchables – captures this better than most, showing the grind for some service workers, and how they can flip on the charm at will to provide the Vegas illusion.
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