- The Best Gambling Movies Of All Time
- Best Gambling Movies Of All Time
- Movies About Gambling
- Movies About Gamblers And Gambling
- Best Poker Movies Of All Time
Who doesn’t love a good casino movie? There’s something about the charm, glitz and glamour of the gambling world that makes for great cinema… not to mention the darkness that lies beneath some of the high roller’s lifestyles, the genius of card counting and the general excess that goes hand in hand with Las Vegas!
From Ocean’s Eleven to Rounders, Hollywood has long been fascinated with casinos. Here are some of our favourite Casino movies for you to check out, if you don’t already have them in your collection!
#1-Casino Royale (dir. Martin Campbell, 2006)
The Best Gambling Movies Of All Time
The first outing for the ‘blonde Bond’ himself, Mr. Daniel Craig, Casino Royale was a massive hit, and a vast improvement on the dodgy 1967 original retelling of Ian Fleming’s timeless spy novel. It has since become a favourite with Bond fans and casino lovers alike, thanks to its slick depiction of the high-rolling world.
One of the world’s most notorious terrorists – Le Chiffre – is in Montenegro, where he’s playing a high stakes poker tournament, hoping to win back enough money to appease his dangerous acquaintances. MI6’s finest agent is sent out by M to play against the bad guys, and stop Le Chiffre from taking the money and getting away. The stakes are higher than ever, the women are ravishingly gorgeous, and Bond has to keep his cool in order to avoid an international catastrophe.
Captivating and edge-of-your-seat exciting, Casino Royale is a classic casino film that will stand the test of time.
#2-Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (dir. Terry Gilliam, 1998)
Captivating and edge-of-your-seat exciting, Casino Royale is a classic casino film that will stand the test of time. #2-Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (dir. Terry Gilliam, 1998). Ranking the best of them is difficult because there are more out there than you may realize. But this is one look at how they stack up. Ocean’s 11 (2001) Ocean’s 11 may not explicitly be a movie about poker players or casino enthusiasts playing games. It is however the quintessential modern Vegas film, and in a way it concerns the biggest gamble of all: knocking over a casino. Are These the 10 best Casino Movies of All Time? #1-Casino Royale (dir. Martin Campbell, 2006). The first outing for the ‘blonde Bond’ himself, Mr. Daniel Craig, Casino. #2-Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (dir. Terry Gilliam, 1998). There aren’t many casino films which have a cult following.
There aren’t many casino films which have a cult following quite as astounding as that of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a movie based on Hunter S. Thompson’s popular collection of writings about a far-out, psychedelic and at-times terrifying road trip across the west of the USA.
Thomson has been given a large advance of cash to cover a major sporting event in the desert. What better way to spend it than dragging his deranged Samoan lawyer along for the ride, with a vast amount of narcotics and the intention to hunt out the American dream?
Hunter and his partner might not find the meaning of life, but they soon discover gamblers, corrupt cops, drug takers and dealers, strange hitchhikers…oh, and some imaginary bats and giant lizards, too…
This isn’t the side of Vegas the adverts necessarily want you to see. It’s dangerous, deranged and devilish, and holds a dark mirror up to western society in general.
#3-The Hangover (dir. Todd Phillips, 2009)
It seems there’s a whole genre of casino movies on the subject of ‘what happens in Vegas…’ but this is arguably the best of them all.
Three friends – Phil, Stu and Alan head out to Las Vegas for their best friend Doug’s big bachelor party blow-out… but they wake up the next day with no memory of the night before. So far, so normal… until they realise the bridegroom has vanished, there’s a tiger in the bedroom, and one of them has mysteriously lost a tooth and gained a wedding ring. With only a few hours to put together all the pieces of the increasingly bizarre puzzle, find Doug, and get to the wedding, it’s a thrill ride packed with laughs at every turn.
All in all, ‘The Hangover’ is a hilarious depiction of Vegas’ casinos, and more or less everything that could possibly go wrong there.
#4-Casino (dir. Martin Scorsese, 1996)
In one of Martin Scorsese’s finest hours, he depicts the juxtaposition at the heart of Las Vegas: the beauty, glamour and success on the strip, and the nasty, underhand dealings that go on behind the scenes.
Robert De Niro plays Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein, a casino manager in Las Vegas who has connections to the mafia but who now lives a normal, quiet life with his wife. That is, until his old friend Nicky Santoro – played brutally by Joe Pesci – turns up, fully grown and now a key player in the mafia. His ambition and plans will wreck Ace’s own plans for peace and quiet, and expose an ugliness at the heart of the business.
This is a film which brings out the darkness from between the cracks of Vegas’ great casinos. Murder, greed and power reign… but what a movie!
#5-Ocean’s Eleven (dir. Steven Soderbergh, 2001)
George Clooney’s Danny Ocean has a plan. He wants to pull of a historic heist, but needs a crack team of high-flying, risk-taking and talented men and women in order to get the job done. They want to rob not one, but three of the most famous casinos in Las Vegas, and have their eyes set on a $150 million prize.
Of course, things don’t run completely smoothly, and the team come across plenty of dangers, twists and turns along the way. But will they succeed? This great movie will keep you guessing until the end.
#6-21 (dir. Robert Luketic, 2008)
Ben Campbell is an ambitious medical student, who needs a scholarship to transfer to the prestigious Harvard School of Medicine due his lack of funds. However, his maths professor, brilliantly played by Kevin Spacey, picks him out on the basis of his talent for numbers, and invites him to join his elite team of gifted individuals.
From that point on, Ben’s free time is taken up by trips to Vegas, where he makes huge winnings from card counting at the Blackjack table. But with so much money at hand, greed and corruption are never far away… and before long, disaster and hatred beckon their call.
#7-Rounders (dir. Dahl, 1998)
Matt Damon’s character in Rounders, Mike McDermott, may have a talent for poker, but he soon discovers you can’t win them all. After a disastrous game against a Russian gangster, he decides to focus solely on his studies, and leave his gambling lifestyle behind him. However, his childhood friend has just been released from prison… and he owes somebody a lot of money.
Mike is spurred back into the world of poker, in a desperate bid to help out his friend before it’s too late. A classic movie for poker fans, and great performances from the leading actors.
#8-The Gambler (Karel Reisz, 1974)
Axel Freed is a man with a complex double life. To his friends and family, he’s a mild-mannered teacher and writer, but secretly, he’s a gambling addict whose habits and expenses are spiralling out of control. He steals a wad of money from his mother, and heads to Vegas in a last-ditch attempt to win his money (and his life) back.
The Gambler is a powerful moral story about the horrors of addiction, and just what some people will do when it comes to the crunch.
#9-Rain Man (dir. Barry Levinson, 1988)
For many people, Rain Man is the quintessential Vegas movie. It’s a fascinating tale of worlds colliding, and when Tom Cruise’s greedy and petulant character Charlie Babbit finds out about his autistic savant older brother (played in a legendary performance by Dustin Hoffman) his first thought it to take him to Vegas and let him count cards at the Blackjack tables.
All in all, it’s a film about mental prowess, family connections, and that grey area between ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ that certain talented individuals can exploit in the casino.
#10-Croupier (dir. Mike Hodges, 1998)
One of the few big British casino movies, Croupier quickly became a cult classic. Clive Owen plays Jack Manfred, a struggling writer desperate for cash. He gets a new job as a casino croupier, but gets sucked into the lifestyle of the casino, and in particular, a set of underhand deals that take over his life as they spiral out of control.
A long way from Las Vegas, Croupier is a colder, harder look at the casinos on the other side of the Atlantic.
So, these are our top 10 casino movies! Do you think we’ve missed any off the list? Should some of our selections not have made the cut? Let us know in the comments!
Casinos are often the dramatic backdrop to many “all or nothing” scenes in the glitzy world of cinema.
Whether it be intense stares shared over a deck of cards, or a stony poker-face that escalates the tension, casinos are natural settings for climactic, white-knuckled plots.
If you can’t quite place your favourite face-off, or are on the look-out for a great film that gets the blood pumping, then look no further.
Best Gambling Movies Of All Time
We’ve compiled some of the best poker and casino films to have ever graced the big screen.
Best poker movies
Rounders (1998) – Miramax Films
Set in New York City, this poker film sheds light on the city’s burgeoning underground poker world. Starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, Rounders follows two friends in need of quick cash after accruing a substantial debt.
A “rounder” is somebody who travels from city to city, seeking high-stakes cash games to get them by. However, for this pair it is nothing short of a bumpy ride.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003) – New Line Home Video
The son of a bookie, Stu Ungar (Michael Imperioli) begins his career as a tournament gin player, progressively moving into the realm of poker.
The film documents his life, through cocaine abuse and the eventual breakup of his marriage. The culminating scene features Ungar’s third victory at the Main Event of the WSOP one year before his death, at the height of his success.
The Cincinnati Kid (1965) – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Warner Bros.
This movie is a gambling classic. Starring Steve McQueen, this film tells the story of an up-and-coming gambler who dreams of defeating high-roller, Lancey Howard.
The Kid, as he is known, earned his reputation after defeating a series of opponents in low-stakes backroom games. However, the leap from backroom to front of house is a big step, and the Cincinnati Kid has to learn how to deal with the raising stakes.
Mississippi Grind (2015) – A24
Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) is dealing with financial woes and is desperate to change his luck. With the help of young charismatic poker player, Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), the two journey across the South, setting their sights on a legendary high-stakes poker game in New Orleans. An undeniable bond forms between the two and, what was once a hunt for more money, turns into a journey of self-discovery for the pair.
The Hustler (1961) – 20th Century Fox
The Hustler tells the tale of small-time pool hustler “Fast” Eddie Felson as he attempts to break into the major league of high-stakes wagering. His persistence sees him up against the best pool player in the country, “Minnesota Fats”.
Despite his grand ambitions, he loses to Fats and pays the price when he butts heads with the unscrupulous manager of the pool club, Bert Gordon. How will this small-time player fare when the big boys come knocking?
California Split (1974) – Columbia Pictures
This 1974 film is perfect for those wanting to make it as a poker pro. It focuses on the life of a poker professional, played by Elliot Gould, and another player who combines it with a day job, which is played by George Segal.
The two players fall into debt and are forced to play in a game that contains the great poker man Amarillo Slim himself.
The movie captures the tension and thrill that a poker match tends to provide perfectly and while it is on the old side, it is a must watch for anyone interested in poker.
The Sting (1973) – Universal Pictures
Movies About Gambling
This is another which may be a little dated but is another classic which picked up 7 Oscars back in 1974.
The modern-day tactics won’t be seen in this film, but you will get to delve into the cheating aspect of the game.
Paul Newman, who plays Henry Gondorff knows the only way to beat well-known poker cheat Doyle Lonnegan, played by Robert Shaw, is to be even better at cheating
A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966) – Warner Bros.
The sole focus of this movie is a poker game – what could be better than that!
A poor farmer needs money to pay for a field, and despite his lack of poker knowledge he enters a high stakes game – much to the disgust of his wife. Brian christopher casino videos.
During the game, he suffers a heart attack and his wife is then forced to take his place at the table – but can she pull of a massive shock?
Best casino movies
Casino (1995) – Universal Pictures
This award-winning film stars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci as Sam “Ace” Robinson and Nicholas “Nicky” Santoro. Ace is called by the Italian mob to oversee operations at the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas, whilst Nicky is there to ensure the mobsters are kept in line.
If you love Las Vegas and gangster movies, this iconic Martin Scorsese film is a must-see.
21 (2008) – Columbia Pictures
In this film, a group of MIT college students and their professor use a card-counting system to break the blackjack tables in Las Vegas. They fleece one casino after the other and, what was once an easy way to pay off tuition fees, turns into a full-time scam.
However, their good luck only lasts for so long, and everything goes pear-shaped once the casinos catch onto them and demand retribution. As if that wasn’t enough to make you go out and view it, this movie is based on a true story!
Movies About Gamblers And Gambling
Casino Royale (2006) – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Columbia Pictures
Casino Royale is the first of the Bond series to star Daniel Craig as the world’s most dangerous MI6 agent.
After preventing a terrorist attack at Miami International Airport, Bond is assigned to bankrupt a terrorist financier, Le Chiffre, by beating him in a high-stakes poker game. Will Bond fulfil his mission, or is it all over for 007?
Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – Warner Bros.
In this classic remake, ex-convict Danny Ocean and his partner-in-crime, Rusty Ryan, devise a plan to rob the men who put them behind bars: casino entrepreneurs who own three of the most lavish casinos in Las Vegas.
After recruiting several former colleagues and criminal specialists, the team conspire to break into the Bellagio, The Mirage and the MGM Grand.
The Gambler (2014) – Paramount Pictures
The Gambler tells the story of Jim Bennett: a Los Angeles literature professional with a gambling addiction, played by Mark Wahlberg.
After a series of gambling tête-à-têtes, Wahlberg ends up owing $240,000 to Lee, the proprietor of an underground gambling ring, and another $50,000 to Neville Baraka, a loan shark. This film depicts the dark side of the gambling world, and is a stark reminder that addiction isn’t pretty.
The Hangover (2009) – Warner Bros.
This comedy classic is based around a stag do in Las Vegas – what could possibly go wrong?
It’s a true tale of ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ and the night starts as any stag do does in Vegas – in the casino. It soon spirals out of control though in a bizarre series of events and they have a battle on their hands to get back in time for the wedding – will they make it?
Rain Man (1988) – United Artists
This movie focuses on the blackjack aspect at the casino after Tom Cruise’s character Charlie Rabbit only receives a bunch of roses in his father’s will.
He then meets his older autistic savant brother Raymond, played by Dustin Hoffman and they go on the pursuit to Vegas with the idea of using his gift to win big at the blackjack tables.
The film covers many aspects including family ties, mental astuteness and crossing the boundaries of ‘legal’ in Las Vegas.
Maverick (1994) – Warner Bros.
Best Poker Movies Of All Time
The plot for this 1994 film starring Mel Gibson is centred around a Poker game with Gibson playing Bret Maverick – a card player and con artist collecting money to enter a high-stakes poker game.
For true poker aficionados the games played in the movie are slightly flawed – such as a royal flush beating a straight flush – but it doesn’t detract from the movie which grossed over $183million worldwide.
What do you think of these gambling films? Have we missed any of your favourite poker films? Let us know in the comments section, below!
Have these movies inspired you to want to feel the rush of poker? Head to our casino and play poker online!
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