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. Gerry hopes that with Curtis by his side, he’ll be able to hit it big at a high-stakes poker game in New Orleans. Mississippi Grind is the perfect road trip film that just so happens to be tied to big money bets and a nail-biting poker game. A fresh take on the 1974 film of the same name, The Gambler stars Mark Wahlberg in a striking story of fighting gambling addiction and breaking free from debt.
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You can find many casino movies on Netflix that are worth watching for educational purposes and entertainment as well. Some of those movies even won awards for the way they represented the stories of different gamblers, their struggles, and their obsession. Mel Gibson plays a poker expert in the Old West, who’s making his way to a renowned tournament to prove his mettle. Along the way, he encounters many obstacles as he attempts to earn enough money to pay the tournament entry fee. But it’s fun, light-hearted and full of gambling, so it earns its spot. Most gambling movies focus on the casino’s glamor and excitement, but what about the unsung heroes that work the tables?
#3: “The Sting” (
Thus, he recruits Curtis on a cross-country road trip to New Orleans to partake in a high-stakes poker game. Gamers watch gambling movies to get an idea of how celebrities play and win. Our expert Jacek Michalski takes us through the eleven movies with realistic casino scenes.
“The Cooler” (Wayne Kramer,
It explores how Ungar, nicknamed ‘The Kid’, turned into a gambling superstar. By age 10, he won millions thrice playing card games and the World Series of Poker. Michael Imperioli plays Stu Ungar, plus various cameos from prominent figures in sports and poker, including Vince Van Patten, Al Bernstein, and Andy Glazer.
Rounders
Should you end up enchanted with the game of poker through the movie, make sure to check out our expert selection of 1 euro online casinos where you can indulge in your favourite game by depositing as little as 1 euro. 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. Bugsy tells the story of Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, played by Warren Beatty.
#9: “The Cooler” (
He is an unlucky gambler who believes he will soon be able to hit the jackpot. 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. This thrilling and action-packed movie series showcases some great performances and highly stylized visuals that make it very worthwhile to watch. Rotten Tomatoes has it scored at 77%, which is solid but a travesty considering it’s one of the best sports movies ever.
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Everyone in Casino performed to a career-defining degree, and it will forever go down as one of Scorsese’s bests. And it was of course a massive success in theaters, raking in $469.3 million on a $35 million budget. It chronicles the tale of Phil, Alan, Stu, and Doug as they travel to Las Vegas for Doug’s bachelor party. 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.
Win It All
Betting has never seemed as bitterly hopeless as it does in the Safdie Brother’s intense farce about a jeweler (Adam Sandler), the mob, and Kevin Garnett. New York becomes a manic monstrosity full of bookies, sad sacks, and noise; the entire city seems to reflect Sandler’s down-on-his-luck, out-of-options plunger. Although the MCU and DCEU exist separately from each other, there are instances where each studio has referenced the other in their movies. The ’90s were the Wild West of fantasy films, rife with experimentation before the genre found its way to Middle Earth. 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.
You do not have to be a gambler or a frequent casino guest to enjoy these movies.
The plots of many of the best films about gambling are remarkably similar. It’s not uncommon for these films to focus on a single genre and be made on a… This category is for films about gambling, or in which gambling is important to the plot. The movie was written and directed by Paul Schrader, the man who wrote iconic screenplays like Taxi Driver. Supporting roles from Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and John C. Reilly brilliantly highlight the range of strange and interesting characters that you can find in any casino. After being taught the gambling ropes, Jack’s attention begins to be diverted by a cocktail waitress.
- Ping-ponging from casinos to hotel rooms to long monologues with her father (Kevin Costner), Molly is a show-stopping show-runner who runs a lucrative operation that allows rich people to gamble with other rich people.
- This movie holds up well, with an 86% rating from critics and a 78% from audiences.
- Rotten Tomatoes has it scored at 77%, which is solid but a travesty considering it’s one of the best sports movies ever.
- He is both a silent enabler of the casino’s dominance over hopeful gamblers and a sympathetic figure, ensnared in a role that exploits despair and dashed hopes.
- The film is centered on the routines of professional casinos based in Las Vegas.
Top 5 Gambling Movies You Must Watch
There were also a flush and two full houses–all in the same round– which is close to mathematically impossible to achieve in the first place. Such scenarios, though exceptional for creating cinematic suspense, could mislead audiences about the real odds and strategies involved in poker. A deeper look into the mechanics of the games depicted in gambling movies reveals another layer where fiction often diverges from reality.
Category:Films about gambling
This makes it an important watch for everyone, whether you fancy being a player at the poker table or not. The Hangover’s casino scene is a sly tribute to Rain Main, particularly as (Alan) Zach Galifianakis and Phil (Bradley Cooper) descend the escalator into their Rain Man chic suits. The card counting scene is just one of the many highlights in this road trip set in – where else? Trent (Vince Vaughan) and Mike (John Favreau) are so ‘money’ in Swingers they don’t even know it. Their ‘Vegas baby, Vegas’ road trip is effortlessly cool and Trent’s pep talk to Mike in the casino is a classic.
- Mel Gibson plays a poker expert in the Old West, who’s making his way to a renowned tournament to prove his mettle.
- No scientific studies have proven if Tom Cruise in the ‘80s could make anything cooler.
- A good gambling movie will have strong and believable characters that the audience can invest in.
- Directed by Robert Rossen and starring Paul Newman as “Fast Eddie” Felson, this is of course the film that sparked Scorsese and crew to create The Color of Money.
- After Hooker’s partner Luther Coleman (Robert Earl Jones) is killed by a ruthless crime boss named Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), Hooker seeks revenge.
- While these films serve as cautionary tales, they also offer valuable insights into the psychology and complexities of addiction.
- The film offers a profound look into the mentoring aspect of gambling, where experience meets raw ambition, set against the moody ambiance of casinos and race tracks.
- The Cincinnati Kid tells the classic tale of an up-and-coming young gun poker player working his way up to take on the best player in the game.
- The top casino movies range from moody noire films to action-packed heists, so you’re certain to find something you like.
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In a decade that saw Robert Altman make “MASH,” “McCabe & Mrs. Miller,” “The Long Goodbye,” “Nashville” and “3 Women,” it makes sense his gambling drama “California Split” has gone relatively unseen since its 1974 release. It may not have the ensemble dynamics or the psychological hold of his other titles, but “Split” is an assured two-hander between stars Elliot Gould and George Segal and an efficient beginner’s course to many of Altman’s auteur tendencies. Eschewing much of a traditional plot, the drama is a study of behaviors chronicling the freindship between rookie Bill Denny (Segal) and his mentor Charlie Waters (Gould), a wisecracking pro. The two’s bond grows deeper over the course of the film, as Bill becomes more addicted and finds himself in hot water with rival players and hotheaded bookies.
As in the best films about gambling and casino, famous saying is, ‘See, life is a people game too.’ The rating is 6/10 on IMDb and 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. You should check out Molly’s Game, a movie based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a high-stakes poker player. She hosted one of the most exclusive underground poker games for the wealthy and powerful, including members of the Mafia, politicians, and celebrities. The movie portrays her life and how the FBI began to track her down, leading to her downfall. 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 typical gambling tropes (mobsters and a crushing debt catalyst) are present.
- Based on his own short film “Cigarettes & Coffee,” “Hard Eight” casts the veteran character actor Philip Baker Hall as Sydney, a sullen gambler with a mysterious past.
- The year 2007 was not exactly easy for the NBA, and the Donaghy scandal made it even less so.
- For those looking to these films for a true depiction of casino life and gambling psychology, it’s crucial to recognize where Hollywood’s representation diverges from real-world gambling.
- Adam Sandler’s Uncut Gems (2019), Martin Scorsese sports drama The Color of Money (1986), James Caan’s The Gambler (1974), and the underrated Hard Eight (1996) are all excellent films that are worth checking out.
- 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.
- 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.
- As in other best casino films about gambling, Maverick explores Bret Maverick, a gambler requiring money to join a poker tournament.
As Ace’s life begins to unravel and the Mob’s grip on Las Vegas loosens, Casino takes on a frantic energy. Together they master the cutthroat business of casino work and earn massive profits for the crime outfit, until Ace finds his attention distracted by Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone). Starring the incredible duo of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, Casino is a classic that everyone should watch. They will keep you on the edge of your seat until the closing credits. The movie (Jack’s Casino) is just another version of this wonderful fairy tale, and it reflects the rampant corruption in some parties and the backstage of American politics. It featured The Godfather star, James Caan, and directed by Karel Reisz.
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. 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.
The Cincinnati Kid shows that there’s an honor to be had, even in the high-stakes world of big-money poker games. If you are a fan of old classics and gambling movies, then you were waiting for this film’s name to appear on the list. In Robert Altman’s nightmarish drama-comedy, the great Elliott Gould and George Segal invite us to a world of night casinos, booze, and loose relationships. California Spirit is a full-fledged close-up not only of gaming as a way of life but also of the American culture of money and luck.
The story goes that Robert Altman sent Elliot Gould the screenplay to California Split, hoping he’d play Charlie, a gambler who befriends fellow gambler Bill (George Segal). And yet the two men’s rakish charm, in one of the high watermarks of ’70s hangout cinema, makes this not just a great buddy movie but a beautiful exploration of boys-will-be-boys friendship. And, of course, there’s a whole lot of gambling, which Altman films with casual mastery, letting us eavesdrop on the weird characters and dangerous oddballs who populate that world. California Split remains perhaps the director’s most underrated classic — and its gut-punch ending is so muted, yet so perfect. When two soon-to-be empty nesters want to help their daughter pay for college, they decide to turn their friend’s house into a local gambling den.
- Though not a traditional gambling film, Ocean’s Eleven is a favorite casino movie.
- And one could argue that the bulk of its admiration from fans and critics alike stemmed from the chemistry of its cast.
- After getting set up with Howard for a winner takes all poker games, Eric discovers that the odds are being fixed in his favor.
- Richard Dreyfuss plays a cabbie whose friend overhears a conversation about a fixed race in this little-known gem.
- Sour Grapes, starring Steven Weber and Craig Bierko, is one of the most underrated and forgotten comedies from the 1990s.
- As with the best gambling movies, the poker table is only one arena where the stakes are high in Molly’s Game.
The film comments on the themes of friendship and loyalty, no more evident than in the relationship of Bleek and Giant. Pale Flower is Japanese film about a yakuza hitman drawn to gambling by a beautiful woman who is constantly losing large sums of money. The ’60s noir expertly captures the intensity of the game despite the audience never learning how to play the tile-based Hanafuda. In Croupier, which translates to “dealer,” Clive Owen plays a struggling novelist who gets a job at the casino.
Yuppie Charlie (Tom Cruise) and his autistic brother Ray (Dustin Hoffman) in Rain Man is at the very heart of this ‘buddy film’ with a gambling twist. Set in the heart of Las Vegas, the film portrays the rise and fall of a casino empire, unraveling the darker realities behind the glittering façade. It’s a whirlwind journey that navigates the dazzling highs and devastating lows of the casino and mobster world, making it one of the best casino-related movies of all time. Just like many other good casino movies, Croupier emphasizes the psychological toll of juggling luck, chance, and avarice. The simple definition of a croupier is an individual who’s in charge of running a gaming table.
- But as you will find out from the film this doesn’t come without some serious consequences.
- If there is a better lesson to winning at sports betting we’d love to know what it is.
- The vibrancy of emotion and improvisation seems to be unsurpassed in Altman’s production as well.
- Gambling hasn’t lost its cultural vitality over decades, and the same is true for great gambling films like 1974’s The Gambler.
- However, McQueen is electric and the penultimate scene, when the final hands are revealed, is one of the best ever filmed.
- The movie offers plenty of excitement and drama as one of the top casino heist movies.
It is also a film that captures the essence of poker and the people who play it. Next on our casino movies list is an evergreen classic called “The Sting,” which brings together Paul Newman and Robert Redford in a brilliant story about elaborate cons and cunning wit, all centered around a dangerous betting plot. Set against the backdrop of a complex horse race gambling operation, the film ingeniously weaves a tale of deception and redemption. The Hustler should be seen first as it is the predecessor to that other highly recommended gambling film. The Hustler charts the early origins of “Fast Eddie” Felson and his days as a notorious poolroom hustler. 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.
Unable to hold his alcohol, Eddie loses everything and hits rock bottom. After confiding in Sarah, a tortured alcoholic, Eddie picks himself together to try to beat Fats once and for all. In the film, the gambler’s spirit is rendered viscerally by Newman, who paints a complex picture of an imperfect masculine ego, flawed by the same instincts that leave him raw and relatable. Nominated for nine Academy Awards, the film has enjoyed a fine legacy, aging gracefully due to its naturalistic performances, sleek cinematography and its unidealized atmosphere.
On an annual basis, the town of Laredo, Texas becomes the epicenter for the most important poker game in the state. Five of the wealthiest men in the area come together to risk it all while an interested crowd watches them with bated breath. 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. 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. A down on his luck college professor hatches a get rich quick scheme with the aid of three students of his choosing. After being banned from the casinos within Ontario and Quebec, the professor relies on his card-counting experts to take his place at those casinos and gamble their way to big money.
If you want to chill at home with a good movie about sports betting or gambling, we’ve curated a great selection of films that are currently on Netflix, as well as a few options that might make their way to the platform at some point. That said, the days of professional baseball players taking a dive to satisfy a bet are over because they’re paid millions anyway. That rough and beautiful city, complete with funeral https://true-fortune.us/ jazz processions, gold teeth ladies banging the blues, and the poker games out behind the railroad tracks or in a back bar or the catered suite of a fancy hotel. Like the hard luck Pig who must always go broke, or the Doc who still believes a system can win, or Yeller who has a joke for every hand. There’s the millionaire Slade who just wants to win so he can dance on a grave and doesn’t care how it’s done.
There was a glorious point in the ‘90s when Matt Damon seemed only to play unassuming boy genius to his degenerate friends, and Rounders is arguably his finest portrayal of the golden boy archetype. The typical gambling tropes (mobsters and a crushing debt catalyst) are present. Still, there’s a cerebral element to the filmmaking that makes Rounders awe-inspiring even to someone who only thinks the river is a body of water. McDermott sees inside the mind (and hand) of a diabolically stoic Russian mobster by watching how he eats Oreos. That’s enough to put Rounders on the shortest of shortlists of best gambling movies ever. Bloom eventually moves to Los Angeles and finds herself hosting high-stakes poker games game that attracts the rich and famous from around L.A.
The plot centers on the Hyakkaou Private Academy, which, as noted, is all about teaching its students to gamble. Uncut Gems is perhaps one of the most gutting dramas on the big screen which goes to show how successful people, through bad judgment calls, can end up in bad situations caused by gambling. So far as gambling movies on Netflix go, this one is a fair warning to everyone who hopes to turn gambling into a full-time job and highlights the dangers that the activity invites. 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. 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.
“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”!