You’ll never have guessed what movie is number 1 on the Top 3 Sci-Fi Movies filmed in Las Vegas list! The city of Las Vegas and it’s surrounding areas feature in sci-fi movies more often than you think. Take a look around the Valley of Fire, Death Valley or the Grand Canyon, some of the scenery is so barren and unlike any other place on earth. A bit of CGI magic and hey presto, you have all the ingredients for the latest block buster.

3 – 2012 (2009)

A disaster movie not that dissimilar to “The Day After Tomorrow”. This is far from being a brilliant movie, but still it can’t be ignored because of amazing special effects. Las Vegas only features at the beginning of the movie, but it’s worth a look just to see the city completely annihilated. (God forbid!)

Starring: John Cusack, Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Running time: 158 min
Rating: 12A / PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

2 – Back to the Future Part II (1989)

The sequel to the best time travel movie of all time. This film doesn’t have the most obvious link to Las Vegas, but if you pay close attention to when Marty returns to the alternate version of 1985 you will notice that Biff’s casino bears a striking similarity to downtown’s The Plaza.

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
Running time: 108 min
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi

1. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Really? Yes, there is a Vegas connection! Remember when C3PO and R2D2 have an unfortunate encounter with the Jawas? And a little further on when they search for Obi-Wan Kenobi? These eerie landscape featured in these scenes were shot at the magnificent Death Valley. What you saw in the movie still remains exactly the same as it was to this day. And, it’s only a 2 and half hour drive away from Las Vegas!

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Running time: 121 min
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy