A Few Fascinating Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Ocean’s Eleven

Once in a while, there comes an iconic film that stays fresh in your memory long after you’ve watched it. Ocean’s Eleven is that heist flick no one expected to outperform at the box office. Yet, it did. The movie did everything right, from its impressive star-studded cast to the engrossing plot. So, it isn’t surprising that we still want to know more about the events behind the film's scenes.

Stars Who Refused to Be Part of the Movie

Mark Wahlberg was the first actor to be offered a part in the movie as the pickpocket Linus Caldwell, a role played to perfection by Matt Damon. He did Planet of the Apes instead, a choice he stands by to date. Bruce Willis came around too late, all the plum roles were gone by then. He must have had a bad case of FOMO, for the Armageddon actor readily agreed to appear in the franchise’s next—Ocean’s Twelve—even if it meant appearing as a cameo.

The Filming Crew Had Free Rein of the Bellagio Hotel & Casino

An attractive takeaway of Ocean’s Eleven is the heist centered around Bellagio Hotel & Casino. Bellagio owner Steve Wynn allowed the crew free rein of the premises thanks to his close friendship with the producer Jerry Weintraub. Most scenes were shot at the hotel, disrupting their regular business. The entire movie could be called a giant commercial for the Las Vegas resort in return for his generosity. 

Someone Wasn’t Too Fond of 1960 Original

From the onset, George Clooney showed incredible commitment to the franchise. He reprised his role in the two subsequent releases and also became the executive producer for Ocean’s 8. Yet, he wasn’t too fond of the original 1960 classic Ocean’s 11. The star believes not many have seen the film.

Clooney Courted Julia Roberts With a $20 Bill to Play Tess

Once George Clooney was onboard as part of the movie, he wanted the most famous actress Julia Roberts to play Danny Ocean’s ex-girlfriend Tess. She was believed to be charging a hefty remuneration of $20 million for a movie that the producers could ill afford. Undeterred, George sent an offer with a $20 bill attached, indicating the amount she charged. His cheeky note won her over, and Julia signed on. 

Every Actor Took a Massive Pay Cut to Be in the Movie

Even though Julia Roberts charged more than $20 million, she agreed to take much less than her usual fee; so did every actor who appeared in the film. Taking a massive pay cut explains everyone’s commitment to the film, and the final result is proof of it. The movie made five times the budget; an astronomical $450 million worldwide.

Steven Soderbergh Doubted His Directorial Skills

Despite having the runaway hit Erin Brokovich under his belt and picking up an Oscar for Traffic right before taking on the directorial duties of Ocean’s Eleven, he was skeptical about being the right fit for the job. To measure up to the technical standard required to make the movie, he did a lot of homework, which paid off magnificently in the end. He subsequently helmed the rest of the movies in the franchise. 

Shaobo Qin Aced His Debut Performance

Among the who’s who of Hollywood in the movie, it’s easy to overlook the performance of a rank newcomer. Yet, as Yen, Shaobo Qin stole the spotlight with his jaw-dropping acrobatic performance. The producers noticed his exceptional talent during rehearsals in Las Vegas with the Peking Acrobats. They offered him the role, even though he had no prior acting experience. 

Brad Pitt Is Responsible for Rusty’s Snacking Habit

Who can forget Rusty and his constant chomping and munching on snacks throughout the film? It was Brad Pitt’s idea to give the character the snacking habit. He did bear the brunt of it later, when he had to reshoot a scene several times where he’s eating shrimps while waiting for Danny’s ex, Tess. Brad ended up having over 40 shrimps!

George Clooney Proved to Be a Gambling Novice

The entire cast was stuck together during the filming to develop organic chemistry. They soon discovered that the mighty George Clooney was a gambling novice. He was so terrible at it that he refused to sit at the casino. According to Matt Damon, the star lost quite a bit of money. 

Ocean’s Eleven won millions of hearts worldwide because of the star-studded cast, the clever plot, and the thrill of the chase; the incredible chemistry shared by the cast played a significant role. We can see how that came to be from the tidbits of their behind-the-scenes activities.