Leaving Las Vegas
MGM Home Entertainment | Release Date: October 27, 1995 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
82
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 23 Critic Reviews
Positive:
21
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
VarietyLeonard Klady
The film pulls no punches, takes no prisoners and flies in the face of feel-good pictures. Read full review
100
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
At best, Leaving Las Vegas is pure alchemy -- it makes of flawed humanity a hymn, and of forlorn hope a beacon. Read full review
100
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Cage and Shue make these cliches into unforgettable people. Read full review
91
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Dark and giddy at the same time, Leaving Las Vegas takes us into dreamy, intoxicated places that no movie about an alcoholic has gone before. Read full review
90
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
Mr. Cage digs deep to find his character's inner demons while also capturing the riotous energy of his outward charm. Read full review
90
Film.comKeith Simanton
Stands on its grim integrity and the astonishing performances of the leads.
90
NewsweekDavid Ansen
Anyone who cares about ravishing filmmaking, superb acting and movies willing to dive into the mystery of unconditional love will leave this dark romance both shaken and invigorated. Read full review
90
Film.comRobert Horton
Furiously uncompromising, and therefore absolutely alive.
90
Rolling StonePeter Travers
A uniquely hypnotic and haunting love story sparked by Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue at their career best.
90
Film.comSean Means
Cage again proves himself the most fearless actor now working in movies.
88
Mr. ShowbizAnne Harris
Leaving Las Vegas may not be a top choice for an upbeat outing, but there's something oddly poetic about the simplicity of Ben's mission and Sera's acceptance of it. Read full review
88
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
I don't see how you can get away from calling Cage’s performance a great one. [10 November 1995, Friday, p.C]
88
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Draws its audience along a rarely-traveled path whose scope can only be fully appreciated in the silence of the aftermath. Read full review
80
Washington PostDesson Thomson
What keeps the film (adapted from the late John O'Brien's harrowing semi-autobiographical book) from being completely unbearable are the extraordinary performances. Read full review
80
Washington PostRita Kempley
Doesn't go down smooth, but it doesn't promise to. Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
An amazing, bracing, funny, audacious, tender, and sobering piece of filmmaking. Few movies have ever dared to be this remorseless in their portraits of addiction. Read full review
75
USA TodayMike Clark
Deliberately downbeat, it's best as a two-person character study, stumbling a bit whenever it extends its parameters. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
Cage's great performance is matched by Shue, who becomes the focus by the middle of the picture. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Beautifully put together, sensitively acted by Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue, directed by Mike Figgis with assurance and style and making exceptional use of its musical score, this doomed romance is finally not as satisfying as all of that would have you believe. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Needless to say, the plot goes nowhere, but under the pornographic circumstances Figgis, Cage, and Shue all do fine jobs. Read full review
63
San Francisco ExaminerG. Allen Johnson
Nicolas Cage gives one of the best performances of his strange, courageous career. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineHarlan Jacobson
Leaving Las Vegas is special. A courageous plane wreck of character study. Read full review
50
TimeRichard Schickel
A movie that may be just a bit too pleased with its own artful bleakness. Read full review
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