Clever Faux Ad Touts Ruins of Las Vegas to Promote “Independence Day” Sequel

By Scott Roeben, on June 19 2016
2 min read 2 comments
Las Vegas Las Vegas WTF

In what is likely to be the best part of “Independence Day: Resurgence,” a fake ad has been released touting Las Vegas as a destination, despite Sin City being left in ruins following a thwarted alien invasion.

Independence Day Resurgence Las Vegas
Please avoid crashing your alien spacecraft into our Strip, thank you.

The mock ad comes courtesy of the Las Vegas Ruins Tourism Board, and slyly picks up where the original “Independence Day” left off.

The ad says, “On July 4th, 1996, aliens attacked our planet, but they did not destroy the spirit of Las Vegas.”

Aliens could never destroy the spirit of Las Vegas! That could only be accomplished if Strip casinos started charging for parking or cut back on the liquor in their cocktails. Ahem.

Let’s check out the mock ad, already.


“Come, discover Las Vegas, reborn from its ruins.” Hey, that’s the same line they used when Sinatra drove a golf cart through a glass entryway at the Sands. Long story.

Kudos to “Independence Day: Resurgence” for coming up with a piece that’s not only entertaining, but also provides some background for those who may not be familiar with the now 20-year-old “Independence Day” (‘sup, Millennials).

Independence Day Resurgence
“Sorry, sir, no photos are allowed in the casino.”

Beyond that, as so often happens in films and television shows, Hollywood manages to whip up some serious Las Vegas WTF.

For example, at one point in the video, there’s a close-up of a craps table. What the hell is a dice cup doing on the table? It’s craps, not backgammon.

Independence Day Resurgence
Don’t even get us started about that cluster of chips in the Come.

“Enjoy all the excitement of classic gambling on authentic casino tables and machines excavated from the ruins, refurbished to perfect working order,” the ad says.

Then we’ve got this yahoo winning a huge jackpot for getting a cherry, just about the lowest value symbol you can get on a Las Vegas slot machine.

Independence Day Resurgence
Dude, chill. You won two bucks.

To make matters worse, the coins he’s being paid are clearly stamped “No Cash Value.”

Independence Day Resurgence
Slot machine tokens are also called “jetons,” something we didn’t know until you forced us to write a caption for this photo.

And don’t get us started on the placement of that dilapidated “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. Oh a hilltop. Somewhere out there. Looking down on the Stratosphere.

It’s possible the aliens successfully invaded, it’s just that they invaded the brains of Hollywood creatives.

Gaffs aside, it’s always great to see Las Vegas highlighted and immortalized on film.

Independence Day Resurgence
Over the last decade, the number of Las Vegas weddings has dropped nearly 40%. We’ll take what we can get.

Las Vegas is a favorite target of aliens (“Mars Attacks!”) and massive creatures bent on destruction (refer to 2014’s “Godzilla”).

We assume “Independence Day: Resurgence” will be in many ways similar to “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” Four-page script. Jeff Goldblum gets a new house. CGI overkill. We’d love to be wrong, though, just this once. The Las Vegas-inspired promo gives us a small glimmer of hope.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” comes out June 24, 2016.