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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.

Honeymoon in Vegas (

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 https://crazystar-casino.com/ 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.

‘The Last Casino’

By exploring themes like obsession, addiction, deceit, and redemption, some of the top movies about gambling reveal the complex nature of human beings and the consequences of their actions. “Eight Men Out” is a sports drama based on the true story of the 1919 Black Sox scandal caused by the eight players who wanted to make big money from sports bettors. It shows an impressive moral dilemma between personal choices and the impact on careers and reputations.

( High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (A. W. Vidmer,

While not considered a standout in either genre, it provides an entertaining and suspenseful viewing experience, especially for fans of classic Western movies. Long before Paul Thomas Anderson became the modern master that he is today, he built an idea on telling a story about five people whose lives are connected through a 20$ bill. This idea was further built up and expanded as it ended up being his debut feature film, ‘Hard Eight’ — an outstanding neo-noir crime thriller that portrays the relationship between a professional gambler and his protege.

Smart Money

He’s well-known poker guru famed for becoming the first-ever player to scoop 3 WSOP Main Event tournaments in the history of World Series of Poker. Perhaps the most heartwarming story is that of Ben Campbell (played by Jim Sturgess), a gifted student and an aspiring medical doctor. With no way of getting $300k to attend Harvard Medical School, Ben decides to join the card-counting team. Unfortunately, power and greed get the best of the students, putting their plan in jeopardy. Lost to his addiction, Axel finds himself in poor favor with the loan shark he owes bundles to. «The Gambler» was remade in 2014 with Mark Wahlberg in the lead role, but that updated telling was far less well-received by critics and audiences alike, per Rotten Tomatoes.

Dark City

• It’s not quite Goodfellas (although Joe Pesci does play a similar, psychotically inclined character in both films), but Casino is just as bold, stylish, and slick as any other Scorsese picture of its kind.
• Earning an outstanding 8 stars at IMDb, the film scores points on every front, from the cool gambling moves to action-packed scenes.
• 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.
• Starring an ensemble cast of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Elliott Gould, Casey Affleck, Don Cheadle, and Carl Reiner, the gang comes together to pull off the biggest Vegas heists of all time.
• While filming, James Caan was battling his own addiction to drugs, and he used that to suffuse his character with a raw sort of desperation.
• One of the first things most gamblers learn is proper bankroll management to ensure their bankroll lasts throughout the season.
• The odd crew decides, 2 days before Doug’s wedding, to make a trip to Las Vegas for a bachelor party.

It presents a humorous and satirical portrayal of the gambling culture, with colorful characters and comical situations. While “Let It Ride” received both positive and negative reviews upon its release, it was praised for its comedic approach to the world of gambling and the highs and lows of real-money betting. “Poker Queens” is a documentary released in 2020 that explores the world of professional female poker players.

‘Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians’

Melville’s influence on the art of filmmaking is undeniable and his work has altered the dimensions of the neo-noir genre in cinema. ‘Bob Le Flambeur’ tells the story of an old, broke gambler who takes a chance and concocts a dangerous plan to rob the Deauville casino. Our protagonist is a desperate man for whom gambling wasn’t just a game but a part of himself. Melville’s approach is unsurprisingly quite minimalistic and subtle but the film manages to engage you on every level.

• The pair set in motion a massive con with more twists and turns than even the highly intelligent Doyle Lonnegan can keep up with.
• While “Let It Ride” received both positive and negative reviews upon its release, it was praised for its comedic approach to the world of gambling and the highs and lows of real-money betting.
• Cheaters jumps from casino locale to locale, showing elegant locations and high-stakes roulette games in contrast to the undercurrent of the intense desperation of Elric and Suzie in each scene.
• The most efficient British Secret Service agent the world has ever seen takes on an especially dangerous mission in Casino Royale – take down Le Chiffre, a man who’s actually a financier for terrorist organizations.
• To do this, the Kid must outdo Lancey, considered one of the best poker players in the era.
• Shade received some mixed reviews and feedback from critics and the public, but it is a good movie with style and intricate card tricks.
• 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.

Casino Royale

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.

• The push-and-pull between the couple continues until Lester (a friend of McDermott’s) comes out of the slammer and is required to pay off an old debt owed to the KGB.
• “California Split” explores the highs and lows of their gambling adventures as they travel from one casino to another in California.
• Matt Damon plays Mike McDermott, a reformed gambler who finds himself drawn back into the game to help a friend pay off dangerous debts.
• From the Safdie Brothers, Uncut Gems follows fast-talking jeweler Howard as he tries to juggle family obligations, his mistress, angry collectors, and mounting debts on top of his insatiable thirst for gambling.
• Walsh was a dedicated gambler in real life and pulled a great deal from his own experiences when writing the script.
• Hard Eight is a polished, expertly paced crime flick that began life as a 1993 short film called Cigarettes & Coffee.

Win It All (

Walsh was a dedicated gambler in real life and pulled a great deal from his own experiences when writing the script. In an interview with the poker website PlayCA, Walsh described his goal to make a gambling movie that would be realistic, timeless, and devoid of the romanticized portrayal of gambling often seen in other films. The interviewer notes that «he avoided the temptation to embellish or make gambling seem more romantic than it really is.» Whether you enjoy gambling yourself or prefer to let fictional characters make the bets, the best gambling movies are always good for a rush of adrenaline. The conflux of luck, skill, danger, and, in some cases, cheating is what makes these top gambling films so memorable.

Molly’s Game (

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.

• This psychological thriller explores themes of manipulation, trust, and power dynamics within the con game.
• “The Cincinnati Kid” became famous for its impressive poker scenes and powerful demonstration of the psychology behind the 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.
• 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.
• “Eight Men Out” was appreciated for historical accuracy and portrayal of the players of the time period.
• 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.
• Starring the ever flamboyant James Caan, ‘The Gambler’ is a raw, intriguing character study exploring the darkest sides of addiction.

After her career was derailed by a life-changing injury to her spine, Molly was then put in charge of an underground poker game within the Viper Room in Los Angeles. The film stars Jessica Chastain in the titular role, with supporting efforts from guys like Idris Elba and Michael Cera. And all the performers delivered Sorkin’s world-famous dialogue to a critically acclaimed degree. It’s an endlessly intelligent film that will likely satisfy any gambling addicts looking for a realistic movie about poker — that’s almost entirely due to the wit of Sorkin’s script.

The story follows Bond as he gets assigned to a bankrupt terrorist financier in a high-stakes poker game. The film features intense action sequences, high-stakes gambling, and a compelling storyline in the context of stylish gambling glamor. “Casino Royale” remains a popular entry in the James Bond film series due to its fresh take on the character.

• And although there are some questionable choices of editing with little to write home about in the technical departments of camerawork, the overall project was definitely a success.
• 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.
• That said, this modern hit is in the end definitely a film of actual quality, with positive ratings from critics and even a win at the Golden Globes for Best Musical or Comedy.
• «Hard Eight» was the debut feature film from writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson, the filmmaker behind movies like «There Will Be Blood,» «Boogie Nights,» and «Punch-Drunk Love,» amongst others.
• And it’s easy to get caught up in the plight of the individuals who find themselves in the crosshairs of the bigwigs that run their own gambling underworld.

And they’re all portrayed by talented thespians, most of whom shine particularly bright within comedic roles — Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Heather Graham, for example. Of course, it also features Bradley Cooper, which helped establish him as a juggernaut of the industry. Two con men get revenge for a fallen friend in this buddy comedy starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman. 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. In this one, Paul Newman is cool as a cucumber as the younger version of Fast Eddie, still making a name for himself in the gangster-like world of gambling (for all its reputation and nicknames).

‘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.

Casino Royale (

At home, McDermott is being pressured by his girlfriend Jo to call it quits from gambling. «Croupier» also features what is undoubtedly one of the most realistic portrayals of gambling ever put to screen. OnlineCasinos.com even calls the film a convincing depiction of casinos and gambling «down to the smallest details.» As the first James Bond film featuring Daniel Craig, «Casino Royale» made a strong impression. Bond was darker and grittier than ever before, and with that extra edge came an added sense of realism that was lacking from some of the goofier Bond entries, such as those of the Roger Moore era.

All In: The Poker Movie

Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, this is The Social Network (2010) of gambling films — which makes sense, as the biographical drama about the founder of Facebook was also written by Sorkin. Here with Molly’s Game (2017), though, the screenwriter took his directorial debut and chronicled the life of Molly Bloom, a former Olympic skier. And those accolades are more indicative of the film’s actual quality than its acclaim from critics or number of tickets sold in theaters.

The Best Casino Movies: From ‘Casino’ to ‘Ocean’s Eleven,’ Here Are The Must-See Classics

The movie combines elements of a character study, a gripping thriller, and a contemplation on the nature of obsession. Known for its atmospheric and introspective storytelling, “The Card Counter” offers a slow-burning and thought-provoking narrative that examines the destructive power of vengeance. The plot explores the main protagonist’s self-destructive behavior, his complex relationships with his students and family, and his desperate attempts to find a way out of his predicament. “The Gambler” is full of gambling scenes and delves into themes of addiction, obsession, and the consequences of one’s choices, providing an intense portrayal of the protagonist’s downward spiral. Apart from Netflix’s large collection of gambling-themed movies, there are plenty of other excellent gambling films. Some have even been on Netflix before and may return at some point, while others are still waiting to make their Netflix debut.

Redford plays Johnny Hooker, a small-time con man whose partner gets killed by the dastardly Doyle Lonnegan, played by Robert Shaw. To avenge his partner’s death, Hooker teams up with the best grifter in the game, Henry Gondorff, played by Paul Newman. The pair set in motion a massive con with more twists and turns than even the highly intelligent Doyle Lonnegan can keep up with. Charlie Waters and Bill Denny are gamblers who come together through a mutual appreciation of their hobby. Charlie goes out of his way to gamble as much as he can in a bid to win the biggest payday there is alongside Bill. Both men are granted lucky wins here and there, but a series of downturns and unfortunate mishaps threaten to destroy their gambling streak.

The push-and-pull between the couple continues until Lester (a friend of McDermott’s) comes out of the slammer and is required to pay off an old debt owed to the KGB. The showdown unfolds right before your eyes, with lots of table banter and poker bluffing strategies. After suffering a severe injury, Ko Chun loses his memory and most of his mental faculties. Little Knife is responsible for the accident and takes it upon himself to help Ko Chun, who can no longer care for himself.

Known mostly for its intricate storytelling, nonlinear narrative structure, and stylized visuals, “Revolver” received mixed reviews upon its release but has since gained a cult following. Through a series of comedic and often outlandish situations, “The Grand” offers a humorous take on the world of professional poker. Bugsy was an American mobster and one of the most important people behind the Las Vegas Strip.