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.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story
- With a weakness for betting on sports, no gamble is too big for the larger-than-life Howard, played gamely by Adam Sandler.
- One of James Caan’s best movies, The Gambler focuses on a literature professor with a gambling vice who must avoid loan sharks when they begin to circle.
- The Sting won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, and many more in 1974, as the smart but tense comedy keeps the audience guessing who will come out the better grifter.
- The best gambling movies offer a perfect blend of suspense, drama, and intensity, providing an unforgettable cinematic experience.
- 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.
- The 2001 version of the 1960 Rat Pack film ends up being a far superior rendition that features a who’s who of Hollywood A-listers.
- Paul Thomas Anderson’s debut, “Hard Eight,” tells the story of a professional gambler who takes a young protégé under his wing.
The premise of the film revolves around 4 English friends who decide to pool money to beat a gangster named Hatchet Harry in 3-card brag (UK’s version of poker). Unfortunately, Eddy (the leader of the group) loses everything to Harry, who by the way cheated. The Cincinnati Kid has everything you can wish for in a dramatic classic poker film – the underhand moves, the betrayal, women, guns, actions … the whole shebang to keep your adrenaline pumping. The 2001 version of the 1960 Rat Pack film ends up being a far superior rendition that features a who’s who of Hollywood A-listers.
House of Games
“Intacto” is known for its stylish and atmospheric presentation, blending fantasy, drama, and thriller together. Her addiction not only jeopardizes her marriage but also puts her in dangerous situations. “The Lady Gambles” explores the destructive nature of addiction and the consequences it has on relationships and personal well-being. As a “film noir”, this movie skillfully portrays the protagonist’s descent into the world of gambling, with elements of suspense. “Revolver” incorporates elements of crime, psychological drama, and neo-noir, focusing on themes such as ego, self-discovery, and the power of the mind.
Johnny O’Clock
If this list were ranking the most underrated gambling movies ever made, Hard Eight (1996) by Paul Thomas Anderson would undoubtedly come out on top. It stars Phillip Baker Hall along with a star-studded supporting cast of John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and they all play a meaningful role in the wide-ranging plot. Except for Hoffman, that is — although, his one scene in the film almost managed to steal the entire show.
The Captive City
“Hard Eight” is a neo-noir crime drama about an experienced and enigmatic gambler who takes a young man under his wing. “Hard Eight” is all about fate, redemption, and the complex dynamics between its characters. Besides the actual twists of relationships, the movie also shows the atmosphere of the gambling world.
Vegas Vacation (
- Of course, it also features Bradley Cooper, which helped establish him as a juggernaut of the industry.
- The gambling in the film is more of a backdrop to Hard Eight’s character study of an assortment of interesting figures.
- Gambling can encompass poker and other card games, of course, but also sports betting, the lottery, and anything else of that ilk you could muster.
- Melville’s approach is unsurprisingly quite minimalistic and subtle but the film manages to engage you on every level.
- This Robert Rossen film was an adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Walter Tevis, who also wrote «The Man Who Fell to Earth» and «The Queen’s Gambit,» two more novels to receive high-profile adaptations.
- The Sting is a classic film that’s the perfect onscreen representation of what it takes to pull off a major con job.
Gambling is typically portrayed in films as a boys’ club, but Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game shows how women can be even more adept at navigating the treacherous world of underground gambling. As with the best gambling movies, the poker table is only one arena where the stakes are high in Molly’s Game. She relies on gambling the people’s identities from her poker game to keep her money and avoid prison when the FBI comes knocking.
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Because she was confident in betting on her preparation and smarts because it was a dream of hers. The charm of the 1950 crime noir film Dark City is how quickly a movie about gambling can turn into a murder mystery revenge flick. Somehow director William Dieterle fits a romantic ending into a gambling film where lives are lost just as easily as money is. Trying to keep up with all of the twists in Lucky Number Slevin is almost as difficult as picking a winner in a horse race but just as entertaining.
Molly’s Game (
If you have 1hr 57min to spare, this is a casino heist movie that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. He comes across John, played by John C. Reilly, by chance after John has gone broke and takes pity on him. The two enter a mentor-mentee relationship centered around a Reno casino, and Sydney even becomes a father figure for John. «Rounders» not only made a big splash as a movie but was also hugely influential to the development and popularization of Texas Hold ’em poker in the real world. According to PokerListings.com, «Rounders» can be credited with elevating no-limit Texas Hold ’em to its current status as the most popular card game in the world.
‘Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians’
‘Casino Raiders’ tells a thrilling story of two gambling friends who are up against notorious Japanese gangsters, which would go on to change their lives forever. The film came out at a time when gambling movies were a trend in Hong Kong cinema and it spawned two sequels—’No Risk, No Gain’ and ‘Casino Raiders II’—with different storylines. It’s a slick action thriller that gets all its basic genre elements right, with no narrative hiccups.
The Card Counter
Part of the James Bond saga, ‘Casino Royale’ chronicles the beginning of Bond’s career as Agent 007, as he takes on a mission to pull back a mob banker from winning a high stakes poker game. ‘Casino Royale’ is one of the best James Bond flicks and features an iconic performance by Daniel Craig who took the Bond character to another level, portraying him as a tough yet vulnerable man. The film is gritty, entertaining and visually mesmerizing and is just the kind of stuff to watch if you’re in the mood for some pure, classy, adrenaline pumping fun. Clive Owen stars as Jack Manfred, a wannabe novelist who takes up a job as a croupier, both because he needs the money and because he believes it will make for good research for the book he’s writing. The line between himself and the main character of his novel begins to blur as he leans more and more into his constructed persona as a croupier. Alex Kingston as Yani de Villiers makes for a great femme fatale in the classic neo-noir tradition, while the film’s smokey cinematography and hard-boiled voice-over narration complete the noir stylings.
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Mississippi Grind probably slipped under your radar, but all critics can agree it’s a hidden gem.
That’s pretty smart if you think about it, with casinos holding as much cash as a bank probably does, but also louder, busier, and easier to slip through undetected. After being robbed by a sore card loser, Bill Denny (played by George Segal) and Charlie Waters (played by Elliott Gould) bond over their mutual, dangerous love of gambling. In Croupier, Mike Hodges gives us a neo-noir take on gambling from the other side of the casino—one in which Jack Manfred (played by Clive Owen) is a dealer rather than a gambler.
- Brad Pitt and the late James Gandolfini briefly team up as Jackie and Mickey, two hitmen tasked with exacting some street justice on three men who perpetrated the robbery.
- If you’re feeling lucky and want to see what that luck can get you, put down the FanDuel app and check out the 20 best gambling movies you can watch to satisfy your hunger for more.
- Not content to live a normal life after recovering from the injury, Bloom wound up getting herself involved in Hollywood’s underground poker world.
- 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.
- In The Gambler, Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett, a literature professor with a dangerous gambling addiction.
- Pale Flower is Japanese film about a yakuza hitman drawn to gambling by a beautiful woman who is constantly losing large sums of money.
- In Rounders, Matt Damon stars as a card-player-turned-law-student who’s trying to put his poker days behind him, but that proves almost impossible when Worm tornadoes back into his life.
‘Molly’s Game’
As you might expect, there’s a ringleader, Danny Ocean (played by George Clooney), and a team of high risk-takers who want to execute one of the most elaborate casino heists in history. Vegas is probably not the right place to go for your honeymoon, a subtle fact Jack Singer (played by Nicolas Cage) learns the hard way. After https://crazystar-casino.com/ burning through his life-savings of $65,000 at the poker table, Jack who’s about to get married to Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) is forced to lend his fiancée to the winning opponent and con artist, Tommy Korman (James Caan). If you keep a tab on what’s happening in the world of poker, then Stu Ungar needs no introduction.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (
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.
Atlantic City (
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. Movies about gambling have an inherent drama because, by definition, they’re about risk. The world of high-stakes gambling has long been an enticing playground for filmmakers, inspiring a plethora of stunning films that immerse audiences into the exhilarating casino atmosphere. These movies often feature intricate storylines, captivating characters, and thrilling twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The Color of Money
The film dives into the grey areas of internet betting, with high stakes and higher risks. A modern heist classic, “Ocean’s Eleven” combines high-stakes casino robbery with witty banter and a star-studded cast, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts. Matt Damon stars in “Rounders” as a reformed gambler who must return to the high-stakes poker tables to help a friend pay off loan sharks. Thanks to the rise of online casinos, anyone can enjoy the thrill of gambling from the comfort of their own home. You can access a wide variety of games and claim bonuses directly from a smartphone or computer. Directed by David Mamet, this heist film follows Lindsay Crouse’s character Dr. Margaret Ford as she meets a criminal figure named Mike Mancuso — played wonderfully by Joe Mantegna.
Set in New Orleans during the Great Depression, this classic American drama tells the story of a talented young poker player who aspires to be the best in the game. He gets the opportunity to prove his skills when he challenges the reigning poker champion to a high-stakes poker game. “The Cincinnati Kid” became famous for its impressive poker scenes and powerful demonstration of the psychology behind the game. Even today, despite the movie’s age, it is considered one of the key gambling movies of the time.
Explore our curated list of the best gambling movies of all time, featuring classics and hidden gems that capture the thrill and drama of the casino world. From high-stakes poker to the glitz of Las Vegas, these films offer a captivating glimpse into the world of gambling. In The Gambler, Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett, a literature professor with a dangerous gambling addiction. As his debts mount, Bennett finds himself in increasingly perilous situations, borrowing from loan sharks and crossing paths with criminals. The film delves into the psychological depths of addiction, focusing on the protagonist’s struggle for control as his life spirals out of hand. Wahlberg’s performance captures the self-destructive nature of gambling, making this film a gritty and intense exploration of the darker side of the betting world.
Gambling can encompass poker and other card games, of course, but also sports betting, the lottery, and anything else of that ilk you could muster. Nothing captures the stress of a gambling addiction more than Uncut Gems, the Adam Sandler-starring film about a New York City jewelry dealer who can’t stop himself from chasing the big win. He owes money to everyone in town, including the mob, bookies, watch salesmen, his own brother-in-law, and basketball legend Kevin Garnett.
That’s enough to put Rounders on the shortest of shortlists of best gambling movies ever. The reason you know director Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham traces back to Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, a dark comedy that is one part heist film, one part gambling film, and two parts hijinks. As a gambling film, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels succeeds at finding the humor in people trying to cheat their way into money, only to twist their lives around to wiggle their way out of debt. Clive Owen has been such a familiar, somewhat disappointing, presence in films for the last two decades that it’s now hard to remember what a lightning bolt his arrival was.
With a weakness for betting on sports, no gamble is too big for the larger-than-life Howard, played gamely by Adam Sandler. 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. Based on a true story, “Molly’s Game” stars Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom, who runs the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game. The film follows Hall’s character Sydney as he takes Reilly’s character John under his wing and shows him the ropes of professional gambling in Las Vegas.
It had a similar narrative to Scorsese’s other Mafia movies like Mean Streets (1973) and Goodfellas (1990), but wasn’t quite as revered as those two were upon release. Its performances were, though, particularly from Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone — the latter of whom was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, and won in the same category at the Golden Globes. Everyone in Casino performed to a career-defining degree, and it will forever go down as one of Scorsese’s bests.
‘Hard Eight’ isn’t close to Anderson’s greatest works but this is just as exciting and inspiring a debut can ever get and features some of the most compelling characters ever written on-screen. One of the most underrated movies of the 90s, ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’, directed by Guy Ritchie, is one of the finest comedies I’ve ever seen. The film revolves around Ed who, after losing a crucial poker game against deadly mobster, needs to pay back 500,000 pounds in a week’s time.
- At the end of life, Tevis followed up on the story of «The Hustler» with his final book titled «The Color of Money.» This 25-years-later sequel checked back in with Fast Eddie Felson in the later stages of his life.
- To make matters worse, he has unfettered access to accounts with millions of dollars in them.
- The movie combines elements of a character study, a gripping thriller, and a contemplation on the nature of obsession.
- 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.
- Translated as either “Bob the Gambler” or “Bob the High Roller,” Bob le flambuer is a cinematic breakdown of what happens when someone is forced to risk it all.
- This scheme soon leads to Charlie taking his autistic brother on the road with him for a life-changing excursion.
Molly’s Game is based on the real life of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-grade skier who suffered a serious and career-ending injury while preparing for the Winter Olympics in 2002. She then went on to host underground poker games that included several esteemed individuals on behalf of real estate developer Dean Keith. However, that’s not the case in Win It All, where Eddie Garrett, played by Jake Johnson, not only loses an entire bankroll in just a few seconds, but it’s not even his own money to begin with.
Played by Jessica Chastain, Molly Bloom tries to keep her gambling empire afloat while the FBI investigates the massively illegal operation. Gambling movies are so remarkably tense for viewers because the stakes of casino games are already inherently high. Perhaps it’s not surprising then that filmmakers have returned to the well as inspiration for thrillers, dramas, and action-packed adventures over the years. This Best Picture winner exudes pure pleasure … well, unless you run afoul of Shaw (Paul Newman) and Kelly (Robert Redford), that is. These two con men decide to take down a no-good mobster (Robert Shaw), and their elaborate grift involves card games and horse racing. Understanding the machinations of Shaw and Kelly’s plan doesn’t matter — it’s just a delight to watch the characters (and director George Roy Hill) turn The Sting into one big, electric narrative sport.