The 15 Best Gambling Movies of All Time

Of course, it’s also about British secret intelligence operatives and the undercover workings thereof. A great buddy film—and Robert Altman’s most underrated classic—California Split stars Elliot Gould and George Segal, both performing incredible feats of stoic face-acting. Part of the fun lies in trying to figure out if Segal hit it big or lost thousands, because his worrying expression never changes.

The Cincinnati Kid

Jessica Chastain delivered one of the strongest, most dynamic female performances of the year as she showed how one woman stood up to the most powerful men in the world without flinching. Like most gamblers, Mike loses more than just his money—but that doesn’t stop him from driving towards the lights of Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker. In a sense, William is spending his days in sort of afterlife, given that his former life was spent in a military prison.

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Starring Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn, this comedy-drama was directed by American filmmaking duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, and it was released by A24. It’s almost a road film of sorts, as Mendelsohn’s character — a gambling addict named Gerry — befriends Gosling’s character Curtis, and deems him a good luck charm. Thus, he recruits Curtis on a cross-country road trip to New Orleans to partake in a high-stakes poker game. There was a glorious point in the ‘90s when Matt Damon seemed only to play unassuming boy genius to his degenerate friends, and Rounders is arguably his finest portrayal of the golden boy archetype. Still, there’s a cerebral element to the filmmaking that makes Rounders awe-inspiring even to someone who only thinks the river is a body of water. McDermott sees inside the mind (and hand) of a diabolically stoic Russian mobster by watching how he eats Oreos.

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Eventually, she begins running her own game, which attracts movie stars, mobsters, and politicians alike and became “the most exclusive, high-stakes underground poker game in the world,” as the book cover proudly proclaims. One of Gondorff’s defining characteristics is his penchant for gambling, and moreover, his knack for cheating. Beyond that, a high-stakes poker game plays a pivotal role in Hooker and Gondorff’s scheme and is one of the highlights of the film. The Hustler should be seen first as it is the predecessor to that other highly recommended gambling film. The Hustler charts the early origins of “Fast Eddie” Felson and his days as a notorious poolroom hustler.

• Rather than kicking off the heist, Bob begins gambling in the casino he was planning to rob and leaves his assembled team out to dry when the police swoop in.
• If you happened to miss this critical darling from a few years back, it’s undoubtedly worth checking out.
• The film showcases the meticulous planning involved in prepping for the casino heist and goes to painstaking lengths to present the plan with utmost realism and plausibility.
• Once Shelly takes notice of Bernie’s changed behavior, the plotline within The Cooler blossoms into something you’ll become heavily invested in as it unfolds.
• But for a brief moment, before Spacey is being kidnapped and beaten in a hotel room, it’s an interesting look at the science behind smart gambling.
• The audience is along for the ride as they watch Howard succeed in his risks when they pay off and his failures when his gambling addiction overtakes him.
• But it also had an intriguing premise, with Newman’s character now a retired pool hustler who takes a new gambler (Tom Cruise’s character, Vincent Lauria) under his wing.

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Inspired by true events, 21 tells the story of a group of MIT students who use their math skills to count cards and win millions at blackjack tables in Las Vegas. Led by their professor (Kevin Spacey), the group devises an intricate system to outsmart casinos. The film balances the allure of easy money with the moral complexities https://crazystar-casino.com/bonus/ of bending the rules. 21 offers a sleek, modern take on casino movies, blending intellect with suspense in the neon-lit world of Vegas. Paul Newman may seem like the greatest billiards player of all time in The Hustler, but that doesn’t make his high stakes pool games feel any less like he’s about to lose it all.

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Mississippi Grind probably slipped under your radar, but all critics can agree it’s a hidden gem.

The 50 Best Casino Movies of All Time

“Casino Royale” tells the story of Bond gaining his 007 status, earning his license to kill, and of his romance with Vesper Lynd. Also in the mix is one of the franchise’s finest villains in Le Chiffre, who is played by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen. Not only does Louis Cropa run a successful restaurant alongside his star chef son, but he also handles part-time bookmaker duties on the side.

Molly’s Game

It combines elements of comedy, action, and adventure, with the poker game serving as a central plot point. The movie was loved by the public due to its humorous take on the Western genre and unexpected twists. He gathers his team of accomplices, including Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts, and attempts to rob some of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas.

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The movie is known for the protagonist’s outstanding performance and is a nice representative of the heist genre. The movie which seems to be rated as the worst of the three and combines elements of a heist thriller with clever twists and a stylish presentation. It features elaborate schemes, unexpected alliances, and the charismatic camaraderie between the characters. The movie is still a very enjoyable comedy with decent suspense and a layered storyline.

The Gambler

The Cincinnati Kid shows that there’s an honor to be had, even in the high-stakes world of big-money poker games. Our journey through the best gambling movies has taken us from the neon lights of Las Vegas to the intense quiet of the poker table, reflecting the broad spectrum of stories that this genre has to offer. Whether it’s the thrill of the win, the agony of defeat, or the human stories behind the bets, these films capture the essence of gambling in all its forms. We hope this list inspires you to explore these cinematic gems, each offering a unique perspective on the risks and rewards that define the gambling experience. Gambling has always been a rich vein for filmmakers to mine, offering narratives filled with risk, high stakes, and the intriguing personalities drawn to this world.

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This moment then leads to a change in character for Charlie that makes this film a real tearjerker that’s bound to hit you right in the feels. Matt Damon stars in this movie all about placing big bets and fighting to escape crippling debt. Matt’s character (Mike McDermott) ends up losing a ton of money during a poker game against a Russian gangster. After experiencing such a devastating loss, Mike leaves the poker scene behind due to his girlfriend’s pleas to leave the game behind. But the game comes calling once more when Mike finds out his friend Lester “Worm” Murphy needs to pay off a huge debt to the same Russian mobster that Mike took a major loss to. Rounders follows Mike and Lester as they try to work the system to their advantage and find a way to get one over on the man who’s responsible for their financial misfortunes.

• How the movie unfolds can make you forget that it’s based on a true story of 6 MIT students who were taught by their unorthodox math professor Micky Rosa (played by Kevin Spacey) how to count cards.
• Possibly Paul Thomas Anderson’s least known film, Hard Eight tells the story of a veteran gambler who teaches stranger John the tricks of the trade.
• From meticulously planned heists to intense poker showdowns, these films have become a staple of cinematic culture, capturing the essence of ambition, danger, and adrenaline.
• Louis’ fine dining establishment attracts a number of shady characters, including two gangsters whom one of Louis’ chefs is indebted to.
• He comes across John, played by John C. Reilly, by chance after John has gone broke and takes pity on him.
• Bay of Angels comes from the visually sumptuous director Jacques Demy who was lauded for his artistic visuals and unique approaches to drama.
• The film is an uncompromising look into how much gambling is truly a disease that can destroy a gambler’s life and the lives of nearly anyone who touches him.

George Clooney stars as Dapper Danny Ocean, a thief who’s up to no good just hours after being released from his parole. That ragtag group of fellow thieves consists of familiar faces such as Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mack, etc. On an annual basis, the town of Laredo, Texas becomes the epicenter for the most important poker game in the state. Five of the wealthiest men in the area come together to risk it all while an interested crowd watches them with bated breath. An ex-gambler ends up wandering into town in the midst of the big poker game and finds himself going right back to his former addiction. When things become too tough to bear for the latest addition to the game, the ex-gambler’s wife steps in to take his place and defy the odds as she takes on her wealthier opposition.

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The drama story revolves around a talented poker player and law student pulled into the underground poker world. The movie smartly explores the themes of friendship and the blurred lines between game and law and offers an authentic picture of the poker subculture. “Rounders” has had a significant impact on popularizing poker and inspiring a new generation of players, and it remains one of the key movies for fans of the genre who enjoy its thrilling poker sequences. French auteur Jean Pierre Melville was one of cinema’s finest filmmakers whose favorite arena was the crime thriller genre.

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Shade tells a story of a group of professional card cheats who are planning to pull off a major con in Los Angeles by outsmarting a gangster. On their path of high-stakes poker playing, they experience various twists and unexpected obstacles. Shade received some mixed reviews and feedback from critics and the public, but it is a good movie with style and intricate card tricks. In its essence, Army of the Dead is a classic heist movie; a billionaire seeks to retrieve $200 million locked in a casino vault in Las Vegas, which is inhabited by zombies. He enlists mercenary Scott Ward, played by Dave Bautista, and his team to get back the money before the city is completely destroyed.

• As he immerses himself in this world of deceit, Victor begins to question the moral implications of his actions and the consequences they may have on his relationships and future.
• And all the performers delivered Sorkin’s world-famous dialogue to a critically acclaimed degree.
• But the film still has its pleasures, not least of which is Gibson’s pal Jodie Foster, who has a blast playing the sort of damsel-in-distress female sidekick role she’d otherwise spent most of her career avoiding.
• This stylish heist movie follows Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his crew of thieves as they plot to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.
• The movie was made on a very small budget, and the great premise, along with excellent performances by Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, and Kevin Costner, makes it a great gambling movie to enjoy.
• The film takes a very realistic look into the casino world and is highly stylised with utmost focus on characterisation and the setting.

The payoffs to the mafia, the politicized wranglings with the Nevada Gaming Board, the berated Blackjack dealers, and the showgirls are explored like parts of the blueprints of the Vegas gambling world. Casino is one of Scorcese’s epic American tragedies exposing the human core of the gambling illusion to unparalleled effect in terms of scope and story. Rothstein comparing running a casino to “selling people dreams for cash” is one of the most concise ways of encapsulating all that gambling is to the world. Hard Eight is a polished, expertly paced crime flick that began life as a 1993 short film called Cigarettes & Coffee. Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Samuel L. Jackson comprise the impressive cast for this debut indie movie.

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As he immerses himself in this world of deceit, Victor begins to question the moral implications of his actions and the consequences they may have on his relationships and future. The movie addresses the themes of ethics and ambition, and despite its age, is known for high-quality performance. Familiye is a black-and-white film that depicts the story of a family of three brothers, the eldest of whom has just got out of prison. He now has to care for his two brothers, one who suffers from compulsive gambling and is in massive debt and another with Down syndrome. The movie is a great watch both alone and with company, but gambling scenes are few and far between, with most of them bunched up during the latter parts of the film. Although not a particularly accurate representation of the actual MIT Blackjack Team story, 21 is still a great watch for anyone who enjoys the game of blackjack.

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He got the idea to build a hotel and casino resort, the Flamingo, during one of his trips to Vegas to check up on a gambling joint. If you’re up for a unique Netflix gambling movie that combines casino heists, tons of action, and zombies, then you should definitely give Army of the Dead a shot. Through her charismatic personality, she attracts higher caliber players and eventually starts running her own games, which gained her a lot of money.

Vincent and Eddie embark on a road trip to all the pool halls, betting and scamming their way to the big bucks. Atlantic City and the nine-ball beckon them, but their combined egos threaten to block the way. Rupert Wyatt’s 2014 remake of The Gambler received indifferent reviews because it pales in comparison to the taut 1974 classic. Karel Reisz directed the original movie, in which James Caan’s strong central performance was nominated for a Golden Globe.

The most stressful part of “Uncut Gems” is watching Howard fall into the same old pitfalls time after time, unable to overcome his gambling addiction. “The Hustler” makes for a nice change of pace by switching up the setting and the type of game being gambled on. Rather than a casino, the gambling in “The Hustler” takes place within the confines of a billiard hall where money exchanges hands over games of pool. Mississippi Grind plays out like a gambling road trip tale that takes viewers on a wild ride through the South. When Gerry ends up meeting a gentleman by the name of Curtis (played by Ryan Reynolds), Gerry deems him his new lucky charm. So much so that Gerry takes Curtis on the road with him as he taps into his good luck during their gambling tour around the South.

The movie revolves around a gambling addict whose life takes a shocking turn after he meets a new bookie who introduces him to a special game which seems highly lucrative but has its own dangers. The story is a little too simplistic and its exploration of addiction is a little one-dimensional but nevertheless, the attempt is commendable, and the performances lift the film beyond the realms of mediocrity. The title can be translated as either “Bob the High-Roller” or “Bob the Gambler.” The titular Bob, played by Robert Duchesne, is a former gangster with a life-consuming gambling addiction. To do it, he calls on his old gangster contacts and puts together a team of experts to pull off a heist.