Casinos and gambling have always fascinated people. Many consider them a mysterious realm of luck, riches, and risk so it’s not surprising that there are many great movies based in this theme. When there’s money, glamour, and high-stakes involved, you got yourself a story that will enthrall the audience. Here’s a look at some of the best movies in this genre:
1. Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians (2011)
IMDB rating: 7,0/10
This movie is a documentary based on a real Church-going card counting team of Christians. They operated between 2005 and 2011, successfully taking millions of dollars from casinos. The team was well-funded and had ample support from managers, trainers, and organizations. This documentary offers an interesting, real-life glimpse into this world and had been widely appreciated by movie critics.
2. Killing Them Softly (2012)
IMDB rating: 6,2/10
This is a neo-noir film that’s dark, thrilling, and has intriguing social commentary underneath the primary plot. It is based on George V. Higgin’s novel the Cogan’s Trade (1974). The plot is set up during the American financial crisis in 2008 when three small-time criminals decide to rob an illegal gambling operation that is protected by a mob. This leads to the mob sending two hitmen after the crooks.
3. Dinner Rush (2000)
IMDB rating: 7,3/10
Dinner Rush is set in an Italian restaurant and takes place over the course of one evening. The setting itself draws people into the world of the mob and gambling because people always love to associate Italian establishments with those themes. The story revolves around a father-son duo that has vested interest in the gambling world and is hosting a cop, rival, and a demanding food critic at the same time.
4. The Good Thief (2002)
IMDB rating: 6,6/10
The Good Thief is a remake of a 1955 French movie Bob le Flambeur and has received positive reviews from many publications. The story revolves around a heroin-addicted retired thief as he plans and executes his last con, which involves robbing a casino. The odds stand against him because someone has alerted the cops and they’re on to his game. The movie is thrilling and has some serious acting talent involved.
5. All In: The Poker Movie (2009)
IMDB rating: 6,7/10
Poker is a televised sport with a large support system. There are many tournaments and challenges held every year and people travel to US from all over the world to participate in some of the biggest challenges. However, this wasn’t always the case because politicians and government authorities did their best to keep poker or other forms of gambling illegal. This movie provides an insight into that struggle and gives you a brief look at this game’s history.
6. The Gambler (1974)
IMDB rating: 7,3/10
Gambling addiction is one of the most popular themes in this genre but it is also a sad fact in real life. This film follows the journey of a college professor who is addicted to gambling. He borrows money from his girlfriend, mother, and then a loan shark to sustain his habit, which leads to trouble when he can’t pay them back. With his life at stake and his personal relationships destroyed, he decides to play one last gamble and win big so he can pay everyone back.
7. Croupier (1998)
IMDB rating: 7,2/10
This is a fascinating movie that shows a much different side of gambling through the eyes of a croupier. Many people enjoy gambling but don’t have the skill to actually survive in the industry. They can take up a job as the croupier and witness other people win big. The story follows Jack Manfred, who takes up a job as a croupier but realizes that witnessing these games provides ample inspiration to write a book.
8. California Split (1974)
IMDB rating: 7,3/10
A novice, recreational gambler teams up with a professional and slowly becomes entrenched into the lifestyle, which leads to debts, losses, and unexpected trips to exotic locations. This film blends comedic and drama seamlessly to deliver the thrill of a lifetime. The duo slips deeper and deeper into the sleazy underbelly of the gambling world while stumbling across a winning streak. You’ll be laughing throughout the course of this movie because it is well-scripted and directed.
9. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
IMDB rating: 7,3/10
This movie is set in the 1930s and follows a young poker player known as The Cincinnati Kid on his journey from one poker game to another. He plays high-stakes, wins big, and has the confidence to charm girls along the way. Somewhere along this journey, he finds himself playing against champion poker player Lancey Howard in a high-stakes game of a lifetime with everything at risk.
10. Casino (1995)
IMDB rating: 8,2/10
When you have the acting prowess of legends like Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, and James Wood, you have a great movie. Casino is a tale of power, money, greed, and deception. A tale of a mafia enforcer and a casino executive who are best friends embroiled in a murder mystery. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this movie is on the must-watch list of many critics and movie buffs.
11. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
IMDB rating: 7,8/10
No gambling or casino movie list is complete without Ocean’s Eleven. This is one of the most successful gambling movies in the recent years. It follows the journey of Danny Ocean and his 11 accomplices that plan to rob three different casinos in Las Vegas simultaneously. The movie has a star cast with acting heavy-weights like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, etc. They target The Bellagio, The Mirage, and the MGM Grand to get away with $150 million.
12. Casino Royale (2006)
IMDB rating: 8,0/10
This a James Bond movie set in a casino. Bond sets out on his first mission as 007 and his target is Le Chiffre, a well-known banker to the terrorist. Bond’s mission is to defeat him in a high-stakes poker game at Montenegro. Le Chiffre must win the game to stay safe among terrorists and Bond along with his teammates must prevent that. But there’s something more afoot, which propels Bond and his companions to an adventure.
13. Owning Mahowny (2003)
IMDB rating: 7,1/10
Owning Mahowny is a based on a true story of the biggest one-man bank fraud in Canadian history. It tells a tale of a bank manager with a gambling addiction with access to million dollar accounts. Obviously, this doesn’t end well and leads to a multi-million dollar bank fraud. Dan Mahowny is a pretty likeably ordinary guy who shot through the ranks to reach the management position early. He silently managed to steal over $10 million to fuel his gambling addiction.
14. Rounders (1988)
IMDB rating: 7,3/10
Rounders follows the journey of a young, reformed gambler played by Matt Damon. He had stepped away from the lifestyle and decided to go to law school to establish a better life. Unfortunately, when his friend is in trouble with loan sharks, he goes back to gambling to help pay off some of the debt. This is done while balancing his growing relationship and law school commitment.
15. Hard Eight (1996)
IMDB rating: 7,3/10
When the lead character John falls into hard times and loses his money, a quirk of fate brings him in contact with a professional gambler by the name of Syndey. Under his tutelage, John slowly starts to piece his life back together and establishes himself as a small professional gambler. Everything goes well until he falls in love with a cocktail waitress and a part-time prostitute named Clementine.
16. Bugsy (1991)
IMDB rating: 6,8/10
This movie is the story of Bugsy Siegel, the real-life American mobster and the driving force behind the Las Vegas strip. The film follows his journey from New York to Los Angeles, where he spends some time doing business and enjoying the glamour of Hollywood. This trip turns into something more when he stumbles across a run-down gambling joint in a little-known desert called Las Vegas. This sparks an idea in his mind and the rest is history.
17. The Cooler (2003)
IMDB rating: 7,0/10
Gambling is all about luck. When you’re down on luck, you lose and when you have lady luck on your side, you win. This movie’s lead character has perpetual bad luck and it is contagious. Casinos use his bad luck to break high-rollers on their winning streak. But his luck takes a turn when he falls in love with a cocktail waitress. Much to the dismay of casino owners, he wins games instead of losing them and that is contagious too.
18. The Hangover (2009)
IMDB rating: 7,7/10
This is a comedy centered around three friends who wake up after a stag party in Las Vegas to find their friends missing. They have no memory of what happened the previous day and must find their friend before his wedding. This hilarious comedy is set in Las Vegas’ best casinos and gambling establishments. The three friends stumble through the city trying to piece together clues of what happened. They must find their buddy before his fiancé realizes what happened in Vegas.
There are over a hundred casino and gambling based movies to explore if you’re interested in this theme. The ones mentioned above are the best places to start on your journey through this genre.
