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11 movies that destroyed Las Vegas

Updated May 17, 2021 - 10:55 am

“Army of the Dead” isn’t the first movie to imagine a Las Vegas that’s been at least partially destroyed. Not even close. Here’s a look at several others:

— “Resident Evil: Extinction” (2007)

Las Vegas is reclaimed by the desert after a zombie pandemic.

— “The Stand” (1994) and “The Stand” (2020)

Following a different pandemic, the city is destroyed, in both versions, by a nuclear blast.

— “Blade Runner 2049” (2017)

Las Vegas is an orange-hued wasteland following the detonation of a dirty bomb.

— “San Andreas” (2015)

A colossal earthquake destroys the Hoover Dam, along with, presumably, everything in the path of the unleashed Lake Mead.

— “10.5: Apocalypse” (2006)

Hoover Dam collapses in this miniseries, too, because of massive seismic shifts, and the Strip just sort of slowly sinks into the desert.

— “2012” (2009)

A giant chasm opens in the middle of the Strip as megaresorts crumble into the abyss.

— “Godzilla” (2014)

After rescuing his mate from a Yucca Mountain prison, some big praying mantis-looking thing leaves the Strip in shambles.

— “Mars Attacks” (1996)

Flying saucers blow up the old Landmark casino in a sequence of events that inspired the 2019 Tim Burton exhibition at the Neon Museum.

— “Blast Vegas” (2013)

College students on spring break steal a cursed Egyptian artifact, summoning a sandstorm that levels the Strip.

— “Sharknado: The 4th Awakens” (2016)

A tornado blows through Shark World casino and its 25-story aquarium filled with sharks, sending the predators all over the Strip including, naturally, the Fountains at Bellagio.

Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4567. Follow @life_onthecouch on Twitter.

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