Throughout the film, viewers will get to see Eddie play against a billiards champion, fall in love with a woman with plenty of emotional baggage and come into contact with an experienced gambler who wishes to take Eddie under his wing. The stakes are truly raised within this classic film when Eddie decides to go all in during a high-stakes matchup. Tom Cruise appears in his second gambling movie role as car dealer Charlie Babbitt, who doesn’t have the best relationship with his now-deceased father. After finding out that a massive sum of inheritance money is being left to an autistic brother (played by Dustin Hoffman) he never even knew he had, Charlie gets the bright idea to somehow lift all of that money from his older sibling. This scheme soon leads to Charlie taking his autistic brother on the road with him for a life-changing excursion. All the while, Charlie relies on his brother’s amazing mathematical skills to help him win big at every gaming table they come across during a stop in Las Vegas.
( Casino (Martin Scorsese,
In reality and in the film, Dan Mahowny, whose real name was Brian Molony, per the Toronto Star, was a manager at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce with an all-consuming gambling addiction. He used his position as a bank manager to gamble with money belonging to the bank’s clients in excess of $10 million. If you’re looking for a gambling film that has a lighter edge to it, then this pick should elicit a few laughs. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is a British crime/comedy that stars Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones. The plot revolves around four friends who decide to put all their cash together and enter a major poker game against a big-time crime boss. That crime boss takes the win under dubious means, which forces the main man who convinced his crew to enter the game to pay up or be forced to give up his father’s pub as collateral.
Molly’s Game (
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.
Using AI in Sports Betting: How Technology Boosts Your Bets
These films enchant audiences and leave lasting impressions by capturing the essence of the gambling world and its multifaceted characters. This crime drama is set in Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s, and it revolves around the operations of the fictional Tangiers Casino. The movie invites the viewer into a complicated world of casino businesses and gamblers, exploring themes of power and corruption, all against the background of the Las Vegas glamor. “Casino” received positive reviews for its ability to capture the essence of Las Vegas as a capital of gambling. This Western comedy revolves around a high-stakes poker game in the Old West town of Laredo.
( The Gambler (Karel Reisz,
- “Atlantic City” portrays the changing landscape of gambling in the titular city through the eyes of an aging gangster.
- McDermott sees inside the mind (and hand) of a diabolically stoic Russian mobster by watching how he eats Oreos.
- ’21’ is based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, adapted from Ben Mezrich’s novel titled, ‘Bringing Down the House’.
- The film goes from casino to casino when the World Series of Poker becomes a beacon for the main characters, making poker the poison of the protagonist’s choice.
- The simple definition of a croupier is an individual who’s in charge of running a gaming table.
With strong performances, excellent action sequences, and a tight script, “Casino Royale” shines as one of the finest films in the lengthy James Bond series and as one of the overall best gambling films out there. Few gambling movies portray gambling less as a talent and more as a coping mechanism, like Paul Schrader’s 2021 crime drama The Card Counter. Oscar Issac plays card counting wizard William Tell who teaches himself how to count cards in a military prison to practice the patience and restraint from succumbing to the darker impulses that landed him in prison in the first place. Throughout the film, this control of one’s decisions central to gambling is what he tries to instill in a Cirk Baufort (Tye Sheridan) seeking to avenge his father’s death lethally. When films like The Card Counter uncover the psychological connection between being good at gambling and dealing with being a human, they create something truly magical that stands the test of time.
Make Money
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.
The Best Casino Movies: From ‘Casino’ to ‘Ocean’s Eleven,’ Here Are The Must-See Classics
Indeed, Las Vegas (nicknamed Sin City) is best known for its casinos and all the gambling that happens therein. From comedic heist movies to dark crime dramas, there are all kinds of movies about the ups and downs and wins and losses of the gambling world. The film follows the story of a charismatic but compulsive New York City jeweler with a gambling addiction and immerses viewers in the frantic and chaotic world of gambling. This crime thriller skillfully captures the intensity, anxiety, and desperation of a man on the edge hoping for a big win. The story of “Finder’s Fee” revolves around a group of neighbors who gather for their regular poker game.
Poker Queens
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.
- Steve McQueen stars herein as Eric “The Kid” Stoner, an up-and-coming poker player in New Orleans.
- “Bugsy” is a biographical crime drama that tells the story of a real-life mobster’s rise to power, his involvement in organized crime, and his obsession with building the Hotel and Casino in the desert.
- Walsh was a dedicated gambler in real life and pulled a great deal from his own experiences when writing the script.
- 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.
- “Casino Royale” remains a popular entry in the James Bond film series due to its fresh take on the character.
- Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is a British crime/comedy that stars Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones.
- Set in 1936, ‘The Sting’ tells the story of a man seeking vengeance for his partner and teams up with a big shot to win a fortune from a criminal banker.
The Cincinnati Kid
Thankfully, this list goes through the trouble of finding 30 of them and are required viewing for movie buffs everywhere. The Cooler embeds itself into the casino milieu, showing the techniques that casinos use to get all the money they can from gamblers. In addition, the film sheds a light on the change in casino policies as the movie’s setting is forced to undergo changes to keep up with modern casinos. In this comedy, Nicolas Cage plays a man who loses a high-stakes poker game and his fiancée (Sarah Jessica Parker) as collateral.
All In: The Poker Movie
However, the introduction of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Clementine character as a waitress and prostitute who John falls for threatens to drive a wedge between him and Sydney. Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jimmy, only complicates matters further and inject a little violence into their dynamic. While most gambling movies focus on high-stakes action, “Hard Eight” centers entirely around low-stakes gambling. Sydney’s teachings largely revolve around how to avoid losing money gambling rather than how to win money. Bloom’s incredible life story saw her competing as a skier in the Olympics until suffering a devastating injury. Not content to live a normal life after recovering from the injury, Bloom wound up getting herself involved in Hollywood’s underground poker world.
The Hustler
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.
Rounders has become a cult favorite, particularly within the poker community, for its authenticity. Paul Newman won his only Oscar for The Color of Money, revisiting the character of Fast Eddie Felson, whom he played in 1961’s The Hustler. This isn’t one of Scorsese’s best movies — and as we said earlier, The Hustler is the better overall film — but it’s solid and despairing. Like with Scorsese’s mobsters, these are people who are magnetic but not ones you’d want to spend time with in real life. The movie explores the themes of friendship, gambling and gambling addiction, and generally the complexity of human relationships.
In Croupier, which translates to “dealer,” Clive Owen plays a struggling novelist who gets a job at the casino. Using the position as research for a new book, he finds himself getting pulled deeper and deeper into gambling-based crime. Directed by the master of French crime thrillers, Jean-Pierre Melville, Bob le Flambeur, a.k.a. Bob the Gambler, is an early masterpiece.
- Rounders follows the story of Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) who must beat Teddy “KGB”, a Russian gambling baron in a high stakes poker.
- His rival is Minnesota Fats, one of the coolest named characters in gambling film history.
- Here are my picks for the best movies about gambling that capture the thrills and falls that come with the territory.
- This fun, gentle comedy focuses mainly on themes like integrity, giving back, and the importance of family.
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. However, in the ultimate act of irony, the very same gambling addiction that got Bob into trouble in the first place rears its ugly head yet again. 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. Whether characters ride the rush and win big or lose it all to a crippling addiction, these are the highest-rated gambling films of all time. Molly’s Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a world-renowned Olympic-class skier. Molly’s athletic career is certainly noteworthy, but her side gig garnered even more interest once it was made public.
In Casino, he’s Ace, a gangster running a mobbed-up casino who’s trying to do things “the right way,” only to be undercut by his hotheaded pal (Joe Pesci) and an ambitious woman (Sharon Stone) he shouldn’t trust. Martin Scorsese’s intricate drama is for you, chronicling Sin City’s evolution from seedy to sanitized over the span of several years. As he did previously https://crazystar-casino.com/ with GoodFellas, Scorsese understands how American enterprise works in the criminal underworld — and also how individuals get trampled on along the way. The Color of Money takes place 25 years after Robert Rossen’s 1961 drama, with retired pool hustler “Fast Eddie” (played by Paul Newman) teaching Vincent (played by Tom Cruise) how to finesse the game of life.
House of Games
- These are the 15 best gambling movies ever made according to IMDb, which are calculated based on user-submitted ratings.
- The story of “Finder’s Fee” revolves around a group of neighbors who gather for their regular poker game.
- 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.
- Her addiction not only jeopardizes her marriage but also puts her in dangerous situations.
- He eventually succumbs to his dark desires and ends up in a situation far worse than he could have ever imagined.
- Because she was confident in betting on her preparation and smarts because it was a dream of hers.
- The film dives into the grey areas of internet betting, with high stakes and higher risks.
- When Gerry ends up meeting a gentleman by the name of Curtis (played by Ryan Reynolds), Gerry deems him his new lucky charm.
And a large part of that was due to its cast — aside from Newman, it also featured the likes of Tom Cruise, John Turturro, and Forest Whitaker. 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. Based on a true story of a crippling gambling addiction, screenwriter James Toback wrote The Gambler about his own problematic behavior, anger, and feelings of general desperation. The conflict makes for a great drama, as long as you’re watching the original ’70s film with James Caan and not the hated 2014 Mark Wahlberg remake. Billy makes a living lulling people into a false sense of confidence on the court because of him being an unassuming white man before turning into Larry Bird and snatching the money he can. What makes White Men Can’t Jump is how it displays the almost imperceptible difference between betting on yourself and betting for yourself.
The movie received commercial success and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The comedy story follows a group of friends who travel to Las Vegas for a bachelor party to celebrate their friend’s upcoming wedding and experience a series of outrageous and comedic misadventures. The movie became a surprise hit upon release due to its humor and unexpected plot twists. Although, for some of these films, you might need to do some digging around to find which country they’re available in. The soundtrack and performances of the main cast are excellent and warrant a watch just for them.
This is a biographical drama that depicts the life and career rise and fall of Stu Ungar, one of the most renowned and talented professional poker players in history. However, the movie also delves into the darker aspects of Ungar’s life and explores the toll that his gambling addiction takes on his relationships, his health, and his professional success. ‘Mississippi Grind’ tells the story of Gerry, a gambling addict, who happens to meet a young traveler named Curtis. Gerry believes that Curtis is his good-luck charm and soon sets out on a road trip with him to New Orleans where the duo needs to play a high stakes poker game. ‘Mississippi Grind’ is a film that gets all its basic elements right and manages to transcend the genre trappings. It is essentially a film about finding one’s own identity and it brilliantly manages to explore the intricacies of human relationships.
Whether it’s the bright lights of Las Vegas, the intense concentration at the poker table, or the shadowy realms of underground betting, gambling movies capture our imagination like few other themes can. Here’s a look at the top 31 gambling movies of all time, each offering its unique spin on the allure and perils of this captivating world. For a little over 90 minutes, Hard Eight Sydney takes John under his gambling wing after helping his homeless protege get enough money for his mother’s funeral. To prove himself, Eddie challenges top dog Minnesota Fats (played by Jackie Gleason) to a high-stakes game of pool. The Hustler isn’t just one of the best gambling movies, but best sports movies of all time.
- He would reprise the role four times, the most recent of which — No Time to Die (2021) by Cari Joji Fukunaga — marked his last appearance in the series.
- ‘Mississippi Grind’ must be watched for its honest approach and the simple but universal message that it tries to convey.
- 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.
- I’m Eva, the opinionated voice behind every online casino review we make here on CasinosHunter.
- 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.
- Melville’s influence on the art of filmmaking is undeniable and his work has altered the dimensions of the neo-noir genre in cinema.
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 Gambler” tells a story of a literature professor with a severe gambling addiction, trapped in a dangerous cycle of compulsive gambling, debt, and self-destruction. In addition to the bright and outstanding gambling scenes, the movie also skillfully shows the psychological aspects of addiction and the emotional turmoil that comes with it. He steals funds from the bank to fuel his habit and begins a downward spiral of risk-taking.
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.
‘Mississippi Grind’ must be watched for its honest approach and the simple but universal message that it tries to convey. It’s a film that has good intentions, but unfortunately that alone doesn’t guarantee the quality of the film. ‘Even Money’ focuses on several seemingly unrelated people whose lives are ruined by gambling addiction. It’s one of those movies where you understand what the filmmaker is trying to convey or express right from the first scene.
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 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.
The worst gambling addicts are the ones who seem to be addicted to losing yet always think they have a shot at winning, and Eddie Garrett (Jake Johnson) in Netflix’s original comedy film Win It All fits that bill perfectly. Eddie stupidly begins gambling the money in the bag and is somehow saved from himself in the end thanks to a small heart attack. Outside of Eddie’s hilarious misfortune and idiotic gambling logic, Win It All actually has an empathetic core and is a great advertisement for the benefits of addiction counseling. The Great Recession of 2008 made many people take desperate measures to get money and Killing Them Softly punches you in the mouth with the harsh truth that robbing a mafia poker game isn’t the way to go.
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.
She’s a psychiatrist who recently finished a book on obsessive-compulsive disorder, and one of her patients seeks help from her regarding his involvement with and debt owed to the aforementioned crime lord. This is also notable among fans today for being the first film in its franchise to feature Daniel Craig as the titular character. He would reprise the role four times, the most recent of which — No Time to Die (2021) by Cari Joji Fukunaga — marked his last appearance in the series.
This psychological thriller explores themes of manipulation, trust, and power dynamics within the con game. The viewers can enjoy the cat-and-mouse play between the characters who try to outsmart each other and deal with their own vulnerabilities. “Croupier” is a neo-noir drama about a struggling writer who takes a job as a croupier (dealer) at a London casino to make ends meet. The movie describes the seductive hidden side of the casino industry, the charm of chance and fate, and the adrenaline of risk-taking. “Croupier” was praised for its style and atmosphere and gives an unusual perspective on the gambling genre movies.
