Top 5 Gambling Movies You Must Watch

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.

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During the night out, one of the friends steals casino poker chips belonging to a gangster. However, they all request one of the friends who happens to be good at counting cards to help them win the money needed. It is an exhilarating ride from start to finish and definitely worth watching if you are a fan of gambling movies. The 1961 original is less concerned with a swaggering Tom Cruise–Paul Newman movie-star face-off and more focused on loyalty and integrity and ambition. Newman’s Fast Eddie Felson is like a more interesting version of Cruise’s character, and his battle to take down Jackie Gleason’s Minnesota Fats follows a more human, soulful narrative than a typical sports-movie arc. It’s better the less it is about the pool hustling … which is great, but keeps it lower on this list.

The Best Gambling Films

The billion-dollar franchise – spinning off three sequels at last count – may be a superstar take on the casino heist theme, but there are plenty of other legendary films. Casino is the test of a friendship, a marriage, and a cutthroat businessman, and every minute of it will have you on the edge of your seat. Starring The Sopranos alum Michael Imperioli, High Roller is a triumphant, harrowing, and downright interesting take on this legend’s life, perfect for any game-lover out there. If you like Molly’s Game, Follow the Bitch (1996, Michael Cudlitz) depicts single guys at an all-night poker game and the woman who shows up. 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.

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Except for Hoffman, that is — although, his one scene in the film almost managed to steal the entire show. Spacey is particularly checked-out here, and the movie was criticized for “whitewashing” in its casting, turning the mostly Asian-American real-life players into generic white people. 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.

Bets picture: The 25 greatest gambling movies

Through the ups and downs of the first four games, the stellar play of Nico Collins has been the one constant for the Houston Texans. Another history lesson, Steve McQueen is basically Mike McD from Rounders decades earlier. It’s gritty, and like all gambling stories does not always have a happy ending.

You do not have to be a gambler or a frequent casino guest to enjoy these movies.

Rotten Tomatoes gives this cult classic, one of the best baseball movies ever created, an impressive 87% score. Sour Grapes, starring Steven Weber and Craig Bierko, is one of the most underrated and forgotten comedies from the 1990s. The iconic and hilarious Larry David of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm fame directed the film, which is about two relatives who feud over who deserves the money from a slot machine jackpot. Reviews of The Cooler are mostly positive and critics give it a 77% composite score on Rotten Tomatoes. Ron Livingston, Maria Bello, and Paul Sorvino play key roles but it is Macy who truly carries this movie that packs a big punch.

Here’s your first official look at the ‘Peaky Blinders’ film at Netflix

Embarking on a hazardous and devastating financial journey, Garrett begins to gamble the money, never really caring about how much is in the bag but taking money out of the bag in increments – usually $500. As you can expect, his gambling habit forces him to repeatedly come to the duffel bag oblivious of the consequences that may befall him and his family once the criminal who tasked him with safekeeping comes out of prison. Although there is nothing illegal in what the students and their professor are going to do, the air is heavy with tension. Campbell quickly finds out that by counting cards he can win hundreds of thousands of dollars – enough to pursue his medical studies and not have to worry about the money coming in. He agrees reluctantly to join the team and displaces the former leader, Fisher, who adds even more tension.

The Top 5 Gambling Movies On Netflix

And those accolades are more indicative of the film’s actual quality than its acclaim from critics or number of tickets sold in theaters. William H. Macy stars as the titular character Bernie Lootz — and as a cooler in a casino, he acts as bad luck for the other gamblers, placed there by the casino themselves as a sort of negative presence. And it actually explores its characters to a meaningful extent while also showcasing the inner workings of Vegas. It’s one of the more modern poker movies, especially since it is based on a true story. In the film, Jessica Chastain narrates the story of Molly Bloom, a champion skier who suffers a career-ending injury on her road to the Winter Olympics. The hilarious movie features a group of friends who decide to spend a night out in Las Vegas at a bachelor’s party.

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• In “Uncut Gems,” Adam Sandler takes on a non-comedic role to embody a character consumed by the thrill of gambling.
• It is based on the true story about the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox, a World Series team that had eight players intentionally tanking games because bettors paid them off to do so.
• Some had to rewatch their most favorite film about casinos, such as poker movies.
• The heist is shown on screen, but things get interesting when Pitt’s character, a hitman named Jackie Cogan comes into play.
• 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.
• In the meantime, Tepper is also part of a bizarre poker game in which the players agree to each purchase a lottery ticket and throw it in the pocket.

We’ve shown you our lists for the best poker and casino movies of all-time. Now it’s time to bust out our five favorites from the overall gambling space. Gambling is the setting rather than the content of this story and it’s all the better for it with the casino giving the film its heart and its edge while the engaging story of those who try and make money from it plays out.

• This thrilling excitement is what makes Casino one of the best movies about gambling ever made.
• Whether it’s a gritty depiction of a gambler’s descent into obsession or an exhilarating ride with card-counting geniuses, each film on this list offers a unique perspective on the alluring yet dangerous world of gambling.
• From the bright lights of Las Vegas to hidden gambling spots, these movies invite you to explore the fascinating betting games.
• Following his breakthrough “Good Will Hunting,” Damon takes on the role of yet another math wunderkind in John Dahl’s cult classic, though he trades in his janitor gig for a steady life on the poker grind.
• Jacques Dutronc plays the role of a charming man with a severe gambling addiction.
• From owing the mob millions to Elvis impersonators and underground poker parties, movies about gambling include a host of genres and award-winning talent.
• 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.

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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. Famously set to an anachronistic ragtime soundtrack of Scott Joplin standards, “The Sting” is irresistible fun — a light and witty caper that has us fully rooting for its con men. 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. “He had to stop gambling,” Scorsese said in Conversations With Scorsese.

This film is one of our top movies about poker because the world of gambling can serve as both a refuge and a battlefield for personal demons. It’s not just a movie about gambling; it’s a story of regret, penance, and the search for forgiveness. 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.

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. From a cinematic standpoint, we’ve been treated to a host of films that delve into the inner workings of casinos, bookies, and pool sharks.

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The two men agree to a high-stakes poker match, with the winner taking all. As the game progresses, the stakes get higher and higher, and both men are forced to put everything on the line. The Cincinnati Kid is a gripping story of ambition, rivalry, and deceit.

Pitched like a hard-boiler noir — Jack has the blasé seen-it-all vibe of a private dick — Croupier explores the sweaty anxiety and crippling sadness of those who have thrown their lives (and money) away at the tables. If the plot complications aren’t always satisfying, the film’s vivid recreation of dingy casino life is utterly intoxicating. It’s a shame that Owen has rarely found a film since that’s so magnetic. Made in the heat of the now-mercifully-cooled World Series of Poker craze, the late Curtis Hanson put an immediate halt to his terrific L.A.

• Dubbed the “Black Sox,” the movie portrays one of the most famous (or, infamous) baseball teams of all-time.
• The film features a high-stakes Texas Hold’em poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro, where Bond faces off against the villain Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen.
• 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.
• As such, we thought it’d be worthwhile to share a list of poker films you may want to watch.
• The group — Eddie, Tom, Soap, and Bacon — go after every crooked opportunity they can to earn the money, running into crazy characters, getting chased by bookies, and making many mishaps along the way.
• Add to this some surprisingly feasible poker games and you have a film that most die-hard poker players will love.
• Gerry and Curtis, bound by their mutual devotion to the gamble, share a journey that is as much about their burgeoning friendship as it is about the bets they place.

Casino Royale is simply a masterpiece and clearly one of, if not the best James Bond movie ever. Daniel Craig has been voted many times as the best Bond actor, as he makes the character more humane, and at the same time very distant and out of reach. Eva Green makes a great Bond girl, just like Mads Mikkelsen plays frighteningly the role of the bad guy, Le Chiffre.

Top Gambling Films You Need To Watch

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. Molly’s Game was the directorial debut for writer Aaron Sorkin, based on the alleged true story of a former Olympic skier who ran an international underground poker tournament for celebrities, high profile businessmen, and the Russian mob. Played by Jessica Chastain, Molly Bloom tries to keep her gambling empire afloat while the FBI investigates the massively illegal operation. No scientific studies have proven if Tom Cruise in the ‘80s could make anything cooler.

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Mike, who had quit playing poker, picks up the cards again and is drawn back into the gambling underworld. The movies explored in this article provide a thought-provoking glimpse into the world of gambling addiction, showcasing its destructive power and the devastating consequences it can have on individuals and their loved ones. While these films serve as cautionary tales, they also offer valuable insights into the psychology and complexities of addiction.

The episode we have in mind has to do with the story of Tim Donaghy, an NBA referee who was caught red-handed betting on his own games, and seriously putting the integrity of the game at risk. Money, Explained may not be your typical movie about gambling on Netflix, but there is a good reason why we have included it here. Gamblers are often tempted by the idea of making money and a living by just playing casino games. Money Explained though is a documentary that goes deep into the institution of money and how it works. Adam Sandler plays Howard Ratner, the owner of KMH, a jewelry store in New York, but he also has some problems on the side. For one, Ratner is a gambling addict who has raked in massive amounts of debt, and he owes money to many people – not all of whom are willing to cut Ratner a break.

The two leads develop a legitimate friendship, too, one which mirrors the chemistry of the actors themselves. If you haven’t checked this out, it’s worth it for their performances alone. The heist is shown on screen, but things get interesting when Pitt’s character, a hitman named Jackie Cogan comes into play. 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. Most of these are set in Vegas, but that isn’t a qualification to place on the list.

“The Hangover” is a beloved movie that has gained a cult following over the years. The film became a massive hit, with its fans quoting and re-watching it repeatedly with their friends and family. Even today, eleven years after its release, people still enjoy “The Hangover”!

The drama surrounding the professor’s debts and the ways in which his young protégés attempt to wipe them way makes this film a supremely absorbing experience. Bernie Lootz is very efficient at what he does – he works at a Las Vegas casino as a sort of “bad luck bringer” that goes out of his way to jinx gamblers into losing. Shelly Kaplow, the casino’s boss lady, appreciates him and his ability to keep her casino on the winning end of things. But Bernie’s “cooler” abilities start to falter when he comes across a waitress named Natalie Belisario, who he falls head over heels for. 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. Robert De Niro, Adam Sandler, George Clooney, Tom Cruise and a host of other world-class actors have appeared in some of the greatest https://true-fortune.us/ ever put on the big screen.

Some had to rewatch their most favorite film about casinos, such as poker movies. All too often women in gambling movies are limited to love interests, or that classic cliché – a prostitute with a heart of gold. Apart from a love of literature, Freed also has a debilitating gambling addiction.

Manfred takes a job as a croupier, similar to a dealer, to inspire his writing. He goes against the casino’s code of conduct and gets wrapped up in a risky heist. Catacombe is a Dutch movie directed by Victor D. Ponten and one of the grittiest movies about gambling you will find on Netflix. Telling the story of match-fixing in soccer and the organized crime that preys on vulnerable athletes, the movie is a masterpiece of both narrative and cinematography. Even the promised reward of $10,000 for safekeeping the bag cannot help Garrett hold onto his word.

• The film dives into the operational details, from surveillance systems to vault mechanics, painting a picture that is as thrilling as it is improbable.
• We’ll kick things off with “Croupier,” an intriguing movie starring Clive Owen as Jack Manfred, an aspiring, down-on-his-luck writer.
• That’s enough to put Rounders on the shortest of shortlists of best gambling movies ever.
• When Gerry ends up meeting a gentleman by the name of Curtis (played by Ryan Reynolds), Gerry deems him his new lucky charm.
• Steve McQueen delivers a stellar performance as an up-and-coming poker player seeking to establish his reputation by challenging a seasoned pro.

Both characters create an intense scene that keeps viewers glued to the screens. The movie follows his story as he rises to the top of the gambling world, but it also shows the darker side of the industry with its portrayal of greed, violence, and betrayal. Making $116.1 million at the box office, it stars Robert De Niro in the lead role, while both Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci play prominent roles in the Martin Scorsese-directed film.

A few of these are in abroad casinos, and others aren’t set in gambling houses at all. Some are in more underground locations, or in other settings entirely. As such, we thought it’d be worthwhile to share a list of poker films you may want to watch. When PokerNews took to social media, fans mentioned many other poker movies. No, you can have the same fun when you try the Polish online casino sites that offer a variety of games.

Some well-received poker films include the western comedy Maverick (1994), Survivor host Jeff Probst’s debut film Finder’s Fee (2001), the improv-inspired The Grand (2007) and indie comedy darling Hitting the Nuts (2010). The movie was released a few months before Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 Series of Poker main event. This movie was released in 2008 and is based on the true story of a group of MIT students who were recruited by a professor to use their skills in mathematics to count cards and beat the casinos at blackjack. Today, the legalization of gambling has become a Hail Mary last-ditch effort for many financially eroding urban areas like Detroit, St. Louis, and others — but Atlantic City did this first. The movie feels both dated and timeless, capturing a specific moment that has the power of folklore.

You can always try to find a copy on DVD, but in the age of streaming services, here’s what you need to know. The film was released the same year Johnny Moss won his last WSOP Main Event (1974). It’s a comedy-drama directed by Robert Altman, and while on its face it may seem lighthearted, California Split cuts much deeper. The movie is based on a book of the same name, written from Bloom’s perspective, so there may be an expected bias toward her side of the story. If you’re wondering how to watch Mississippi Grind, it’s available on DVD and Blu-Ray, and several streaming options exist, including an HBO Max subscription.

Although Peaky Blinders would not be the first TV show or movie to show gambling in all its complicated glory, it has been lauded as one of the best. 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 reality is probably not as glamorous, but the reason why these films have been selected is also because of their deep psychological backdrops. There are so many options for watching movies these days, so you may be wondering how to watch A Big Hand for the Little Lady.