Content
- ‘High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story’
- Rounders
- Television & Film
- House of Games
- Betting Line Mispricing: How to Profit from Overlooked Odds
- Honeymoon in Vegas (
- The Best Casino Movies: From ‘Casino’ to ‘Ocean’s Eleven,’ Here Are The Must-See Classics
- Top cast99+
- Croupier
- Even Money (
- Ready to Watch an Awesome Gambling Movie on Netflix?
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. There’s a lot of entertainment to be had when a movie is all about placing bets on horse races, boxing matches, and assorted sports games. 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. Paul Thomas Anderson’s debut, “Hard Eight,” tells the story of a professional gambler who takes a young protégé under his wing. The film is a gritty, noirish tale of mentorship and redemption in the world of high-stakes gambling. This stylish heist movie follows Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his crew of thieves as they plot to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.
‘High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story’
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.
Rounders
Molly’s Game is based on the real life of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-grade skier who suffered a serious and career-ending injury while preparing for the Winter Olympics in 2002. She then went on to host underground poker games that included several esteemed individuals on behalf of real estate developer Dean Keith. 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.
Television & Film
The team of highly gifted individuals is trained by a professor at MIT (although, in reality, the actual blackjack team wasn’t started by a professor) and has plenty of success in its escapades before things begin going south. One of my friends once said that ‘Bad Lieutenant’ was a film that shook him to the core and forever changed the way he looked at the world. While it didn’t affect me on a profoundly personal level, I can see how devastating the film could be for some people. It’s a film that is brutally honest in its exploration of the dirtiest sides of human nature, and while it may disturb a lot of the viewers, one cannot ignore the universally truthful message that it so brilliantly manages to convey.
House of Games
- Through her charismatic personality, she attracts higher caliber players and eventually starts running her own games, which gained her a lot of money.
- The ’60s noir expertly captures the intensity of the game despite the audience never learning how to play the tile-based Hanafuda.
- The film explores the relationship between two gamblers who bond over their love for the game and delves deep into the bizarre madness encircling the world of gambling.
- If you love casino heist films, the chances are very good that you have watched Steven Soderbergh’s crown jewel Ocean’s Eleven.
- This moment then leads to a change in character for Charlie that makes this film a real tearjerker that’s bound to hit you right in the feels.
- The melodramatic style works against its ambitions and the film comes off as a mere exercise in sentimentality.
- He now has to care for his two brothers, one who suffers from compulsive gambling and is in massive debt and another with Down syndrome.
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. Movies about gambling have an inherent drama because, by definition, they’re about risk. The world of high-stakes gambling has long been an enticing playground for filmmakers, inspiring a plethora of stunning films that immerse audiences into the exhilarating casino atmosphere. These movies often feature intricate storylines, captivating characters, and thrilling twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Betting Line Mispricing: How to Profit from Overlooked Odds
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.
Honeymoon in Vegas (
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 Best Casino Movies: From ‘Casino’ to ‘Ocean’s Eleven,’ Here Are The Must-See Classics
- Movies about gambling have an inherent drama because, by definition, they’re about risk.
- As he did previously with GoodFellas, Scorsese understands how American enterprise works in the criminal underworld — and also how individuals get trampled on along the way.
- The main characters in these films are upping the ante by risking their lives on the big score, falling into debt or addiction—or trying to game the system.
- Eric Stoner (played by Steve McQueen), also known as The Cincinnati Kid, is the young, cocky, and eager-to-card-duel newbie on the block who’s dying to try his luck against the master.
- 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.
- ‘Croupier’ is a criminally underrated film that has sadly slipped down into the forgotten corners of cinema over the years.
While certainly dramatized and not exactly accurate, “Rounders” offered a more realistic portrayal of poker than most movies before it had shown. In the tradition of his earlier gangster film “Goodfellas,” Scorsese brings together Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in a pair of roles that allow them to showcase everything they are capable of. De Niro plays Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a meticulous gambler-turned-casino-owner with a penchant for showmanship, while Pesci plays Nicky Santoro, a ruthless gangster who uses brazen violence to get anything he wants.
Top cast99+
Jeweler Howard Ratner, played immaculately by Adam Sandler, will gamble anything away to crawl out of a never-ending debt spiral, including Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett’s 2008 NBA Championship and mobster money. The film is an uncompromising look into how much gambling is truly a disease that can destroy a gambler’s life and the lives of nearly anyone who touches him. The lasting phrase from the film may be a delusionally confident Howard exclaiming, “This is how I win,” but the tragic irony of it all, gambling is ultimately how he loses everything. 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.
Croupier
“Owning Mahowny” offers a gripping portrayal of the destructive power of high-stakes gambling. Set in the glamorous backdrop of the French Riviera, “The Good Thief” follows the story of a retired master thief and gambling addict. It offers a stylish and atmospheric depiction of the criminal underworld, with a blend of crime, drama, and dark humor.
As he immerses himself in this world of deceit, Victor begins to question the moral implications of his actions and the consequences they may have on his relationships and future. The movie addresses the themes of ethics and ambition, and despite its age, is known for high-quality performance. 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. He now has to care for his two brothers, one who suffers from compulsive gambling and is in massive debt and another with Down syndrome. The movie is a great watch both alone and with company, but gambling scenes are few and far between, with most of them bunched up during the latter parts of the film. Although not a particularly accurate representation of the actual MIT Blackjack Team story, 21 is still a great watch for anyone who enjoys the game of blackjack.
He gets robbed at gunpoint, loses friends, and has very little to show for it besides a cool story. Watching the smartest people do the dumbest things could be enough to scare anyone away from gambling because winning is always enough until you want more. This British crime comedy was the directorial debut of Guy Ritchie, who also wrote the screenplay. A group of four friends finds themselves in a desperate situation after one of them loses a high-stakes card game against a powerful crime lord. “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” is known for its fast-paced narrative and colorful characters.
At the end of life, Tevis followed up on the story of “The Hustler” with his final book titled “The Color of Money.” This 25-years-later sequel checked back in with Fast Eddie Felson in the later stages of his life. Martin Scorsese directed a film adaptation of “The Color of Money” (though changed much of the story), and Paul Newman reprised his role as Fast Eddie Felson. A Martin Scorsese gem, Casino is about the competition between best friends, one a Mafioso and the other a casino executive, for a gambling empire and a fast-living socialite. In dire straits, Gerry pairs up with the charismatic Curtis on a road trip across the American South to win back what they have lost in their poker gambling in Mississippi Grind.
Even Money (
- The ’90s were the Wild West of fantasy films, rife with experimentation before the genre found its way to Middle Earth.
- One of the first things most gamblers learn is proper bankroll management to ensure their bankroll lasts throughout the season.
- 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.
- The odd crew decides, 2 days before Doug’s wedding, to make a trip to Las Vegas for a bachelor party.
Explore our curated list of the best gambling movies of all time, featuring classics and hidden gems that capture the thrill and drama of the casino world. From high-stakes poker to the glitz of Las Vegas, these films offer a captivating glimpse into the world of gambling. In The Gambler, Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett, a literature professor with a dangerous gambling addiction. As his debts mount, Bennett finds himself in increasingly perilous situations, borrowing from loan sharks and crossing paths with criminals. The film delves into the psychological depths of addiction, focusing on the protagonist’s struggle for control as his life spirals out of hand. Wahlberg’s performance captures the self-destructive nature of gambling, making this film a gritty and intense exploration of the darker side of the betting world.
Storyline
This process seems to go well at first, but things take a turn for the worst when both men come into contact with a local prostitute and a sketchy casino patron. This criminally underrated movie shows the intense highs and lows of the gambler’s mind, with the audience having a front-row https://crazystar-casino.com/bonus/ seat. Acting as a realistic portrayal of gambling addiction, Ben Mendelsohn’s performance as Gerry shows the misery and recklessness that comes with his type of dependency. There is a trove of exceptional movies about gambling that match Peaky Blinder’s level of entertainment.
‘The Cincinnati Kid’
After moving from the big city to Hollywood, Bugsy ends up finding love and success from his underground gambling rackets. Soon after, he develops an idea around a gambling epicenter that people from all over the US could come and place their bets. That gambling haven ends up being Las Vegas, a place that’s attributed to Bugsy’s forward-thinking approach.