Ocean’s Eleven Prequel Brings Hollywood to Monaco
Monaco has never exactly struggled in the glamour department, but this summer it got an extra dose of Hollywood when Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper arrived to film the upcoming Ocean’s Eleven prequel.
For five mornings in late August, the production took over some of Monaco’s most recognizable neighborhoods, including Port Hercule, Casino Square, Avenue Princesse Grace, Portier and Larvotto.
Roads closed, buses rerouted, and hundreds of extras slipped into period costumes as parts of the Principality were transformed into Monaco circa 1962.
And this isn’t a case of Monaco simply standing in for somewhere else. The Principality is part of the story.
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A Heist at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix
The still-untitled Warner Bros. movie, currently filming under the working title Sandcastles, is a prequel to the Ocean’s Eleven franchise and takes place around the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix.
Robbie and Cooper star as the parents of Danny Ocean, the master thief later played by George Clooney. Cooper is also directing. The premise, appropriately enough, involves an elaborate heist during the Grand Prix — because apparently racing vintage cars through Monaco’s streets wasn’t exciting enough.
Filmmakers turned back the clock with vintage racing cars, period sets and hundreds of extras dressed for the early 1960s.
Casting calls sought everyone from croupiers, sommeliers and hotel concierges to racing drivers, mechanics, sailors and musicians. Visible tattoos, piercings and conspicuously modern hairstyles were discouraged, proving once again that time travel is considerably easier if you don’t have a neck tattoo.
Car Buffs Look No Further
And speaking of cars: Monaco has another stop worth making while you’re here.
The Cars Collection of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco, at Port Hercule, holds around 100 vehicles, first collected by car-mad Prince Rainier III and later expanded by Prince Albert II.
The collection runs from a 1903 De Dion-Bouton to Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis, plus Monte-Carlo Rally cars and Formula 1 racers from the Monaco Grand Prix. There’s even the Lexus landaulet used for Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene’s 2011 wedding. Admission is currently €15 for adults.
See Monaco Neighborhoods in the Movie
One reason I’ll be watching when the movie comes out is to see how many familiar places I recognize. I’ve been traveling to Monaco for 20+ years and know it well.
The filming spread across several very different parts of Monaco, from the yachts and waterfront of Port Hercule to the Belle Époque grandeur surrounding Casino Square in Monte-Carlo, and east along the coast toward Larvotto Beach.
Monaco may cover less than one square mile, but its neighborhoods have surprisingly distinct personalities. Monte-Carlo gets most of the attention, but there’s also the old town of Monaco-Ville, the market and neighborhood restaurants of La Condamine, the beaches of Larvotto and the modern waterfront district of Mareterra.
→ Explore them all in my guide to Monaco’s different neighborhoods and what to see in each one.
Yes, You Can Visit Monaco Without an Ocean’s Eleven Bank Account
An Ocean’s movie couldn’t ask for a more appropriate setting. Monaco has casinos, superyachts, grand hotels, Ferraris and enough conspicuous wealth to make even Danny Ocean start taking notes.
Thankfully, you don’t need any of those things to enjoy it.
Some of my favorite ways to spend a day in Monaco cost very little. You can ride the local buses, walk among public sculptures, explore the old streets of Monaco-Ville, wander through gardens with epic views, and stop for a barbajuan, the little fried pastry that’s also Monaco’s national dish.
Even better, plenty of the scenery is free. Walking around Port Hercule won’t cost you a cent, whether or not Margot Robbie happens to be plotting a fictional multimillion-dollar robbery nearby.
→ Read my guide to 7 affordable things to do in Monaco for more ways to visit the Principality without blowing the travel budget.
Monaco Isn’t the Only French Riviera Star
The production began in Paris before moving south, and filming has also taken place in Nice. Casting notices indicated that the broader Nice and Monaco production period could extend into October, so more familiar French Riviera scenery may eventually appear on screen.
The movie is currently scheduled for theatrical release on June 25, 2027.
📍Can’t wait for the film? Make your own action-laced adventure in Monaco on one of these glamorous tours.
