Gambling can encompass poker and other card games, of course, but also sports betting, the lottery, and anything else of that ilk you could muster. 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. He owes money to everyone in town, including the mob, bookies, watch salesmen, his own brother-in-law, and basketball legend Kevin Garnett.

Hard Eight

This is a classic American film noir crime drama about a cynical gambler who becomes involved with a corrupt casino owner and then meets a woman and falls in love with her. As the plot unfolds, the protagonist has to solve his problems trying to protect himself and those he cares about.”Dark City” is known for its dark and moody atmosphere with its shadowy visuals and morally ambiguous characters. The story of “5 Card Stud” begins with a poker game where one of the players is caught cheating. Years later, in a remote town, the players mysteriously start getting murdered one by one. The movie combines elements of the classic Western genre with a murder mystery plotline.

Molly’s Game

William H. Macy plays the ultimate loser employed by a casino to jinx high rollers in “The Cooler.” The film is a unique take on luck, love, and the possibility of change, offering a heartwarming narrative amid the glitz of Las Vegas. This comedic western revolves around a high-stakes poker game that ensnares a family man who can’t afford the buy-in. “A Big Hand for the Little Lady” cleverly combines humor with tension, leading to an unexpected twist. Clive Owen shines as a writer-turned-casino dealer in “Croupier,” offering an insider’s look at the casino world from the perspective of those running the games. What’s worth noting off the bat about this project is its utilization of interior monologues to emulate the neo-noir or detective style of film that screenwriter Paul Mayersburg and director Mike Hodges drew inspiration from.

Hard Eight (

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. Adam Sandler delivers a career-best performance in “Uncut Gems,” playing a jeweler and gambler whose life spirals out of control. The film is a relentless, anxiety-inducing journey through New York’s diamond district. In this sequel to “The Hustler,” Paul Newman reprises his role as “Fast” Eddie Felson, mentoring a young pool player played by Tom Cruise. Along with The Sting, this is the other film on the list that almost transcends the gambling ilk from a sheerly critical perspective.

House of Games

“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.

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• It gets to the point where Axel has to borrow thousands from his mother—and even bet his own life—in order to fund his gambling addiction.
• That crime boss takes the win under dubious means, which forces the main man who convinced his crew to enter the game to pay up or be forced to give up his father’s pub as collateral.
• Here with Molly’s Game (2017), though, the screenwriter took his directorial debut and chronicled the life of Molly Bloom, a former Olympic skier.
• Besides a stellar cast including The Goodfellas’ Paul Sorvino and American Gigolo’s Lauren Hutton, The Gambler is a psychological thriller masked as a gambling movie.
• The film balances the allure of easy money with the moral complexities of bending the rules.
• It shows an impressive moral dilemma between personal choices and the impact on careers and reputations.

However, the introduction of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Clementine character as a waitress and prostitute who John falls for threatens to drive a wedge between him and Sydney. Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jimmy, only complicates matters further and inject a little violence into their dynamic. While most gambling movies focus on high-stakes action, “Hard Eight” centers entirely around low-stakes gambling. Sydney’s teachings largely revolve around how to avoid losing money gambling rather than how to win money. Bloom’s incredible life story saw her competing as a skier in the Olympics until suffering a devastating injury. Not content to live a normal life after recovering from the injury, Bloom wound up getting herself involved in Hollywood’s underground poker world.

• Nothing brings together crime, mystery and comic relief quite like a good gambling film, and Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is a classic example.
• Inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, “21” is a thrilling tale of math, memory, and money, highlighting the strategy of card counting and the casinos’ efforts to stop it.
• Recently, both actors made waves at the Venice Film Festival while promoting their latest collaboration, Wolfs, demonstrating that their on-screen magic continues to captivate audiences.
• “Poker Queens” is a documentary released in 2020 that explores the world of professional female poker players.
• How the movie unfolds can make you forget that it’s based on a true story of 6 MIT students who were taught by their unorthodox math professor Micky Rosa (played by Kevin Spacey) how to count cards.

Rounders (

With strong performances, excellent action sequences, and a tight script, “Casino Royale” shines as one of the finest films in the lengthy James Bond series and as one of the overall best gambling films out there. Few https://crazystar-casino.com/ portray gambling less as a talent and more as a coping mechanism, like Paul Schrader’s 2021 crime drama The Card Counter. Oscar Issac plays card counting wizard William Tell who teaches himself how to count cards in a military prison to practice the patience and restraint from succumbing to the darker impulses that landed him in prison in the first place. Throughout the film, this control of one’s decisions central to gambling is what he tries to instill in a Cirk Baufort (Tye Sheridan) seeking to avenge his father’s death lethally. When films like The Card Counter uncover the psychological connection between being good at gambling and dealing with being a human, they create something truly magical that stands the test of time.

• The movie is very lighthearted and entertaining and features clever plot twists and witty dialogues.
• The Mafia then hires him to run a casino in Las Vegas, where he meets Ginger McKenna, portrayed by Sharon Stone, and falls for her.
• “Swingers” captures the spirit of the 1990s and explores themes of friendship, love, and the struggles of young adulthood.
• Thus, he recruits Curtis on a cross-country road trip to New Orleans to partake in a high-stakes poker game.
• Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck take us all across the South, from Memphis to Mississippi, as they piece together bits, blues, and bumbling characters.
• If you’re looking for thrillers, these underrated features on Netflix are guaranteed to deliver the tension you seek.

Poker Queens

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.

Television & Film

If you have 1hr 57min to spare, this is a casino heist movie that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. He comes across John, played by John C. Reilly, by chance after John has gone broke and takes pity on him. The two enter a mentor-mentee relationship centered around a Reno casino, and Sydney even becomes a father figure for John. “Rounders” not only made a big splash as a movie but was also hugely influential to the development and popularization of Texas Hold ’em poker in the real world. According to PokerListings.com, “Rounders” can be credited with elevating no-limit Texas Hold ’em to its current status as the most popular card game in the world.

The 30 Best Gambling Movies of All Time

Vincent and Eddie embark on a road trip to all the pool halls, betting and scamming their way to the big bucks. Atlantic City and the nine-ball beckon them, but their combined egos threaten to block the way. Rupert Wyatt’s 2014 remake of The Gambler received indifferent reviews because it pales in comparison to the taut 1974 classic. Karel Reisz directed the original movie, in which James Caan’s strong central performance was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Make Money

Little Knife’s hustling mindset kicks in once he discovers Ko Chun’s supernatural abilities, and he puts them to use as the pair dive back into high-stakes gambling. Jessica Chastain gives a phenomenal performance in the lead role, and both Idris Elba and Kevin Costner shine in supporting roles. The drama surrounding the world of gambling can suck you in with its tales of big wins, devastating losses and criminal masterminds.

All In: The Poker Movie

Set in New Orleans during the Great Depression, this classic American drama tells the story of a talented young poker player who aspires to be the best in the game. He gets the opportunity to prove his skills when he challenges the reigning poker champion to a high-stakes poker game. “The Cincinnati Kid” became famous for its impressive poker scenes and powerful demonstration of the psychology behind the game. Even today, despite the movie’s age, it is considered one of the key gambling movies of the time.

“Casino Royale” redefined the Bond franchise with its intense action and psychological depth. It won two of its nine nominations at the 34th Academy Awards, and has since been selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry. And as Fast Eddie seeks to test his pool hustling aptitude against the professional player “Minnesota Flats”, the stars of this sports show in Newman and George C. Scott lead the project to utter greatness. Directed by Robert Altman, this gambling saga tells the tale of its two primary characters, Bill Denny and Charlie Waters — played by George Segal and Elliot Gould, respectively. A friendship between the two blossoms after a fellow gambler gets angry at them for beating him and taking their money.

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The movie was made on a very small budget, and the great premise, along with excellent performances by Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, and Kevin Costner, makes it a great gambling movie to enjoy. To make matters worse, he has unfettered access to accounts with millions of dollars in them. If you love casino heist films, the chances are very good that you have watched Steven Soderbergh’s crown jewel Ocean’s Eleven. Rounders follows the story of Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) who must beat Teddy “KGB”, a Russian gambling baron in a high stakes poker.

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.

Casino (

Unfortunately, Mark Rydell couldn’t effectively depict the ills of gambling, which is a shame considering its highly ambitious storyline. The characters aren’t well developed, but the highly impressive cast, which include the likes of Danny DeVito, Forest Whitaker and Nick Cannon, deliver honest performances that make for a one-time watch. Within the titular “Casino Royale,” a Texas Hold ’em poker game unfolds between Bond, Le Chiffre, and several other players.

• To avenge his partner’s death, Hooker teams up with the best grifter in the game, Henry Gondorff, played by Paul Newman.
• “Casino Royale” redefined the Bond franchise with its intense action and psychological depth.
• The characters aren’t well developed, but the highly impressive cast, which include the likes of Danny DeVito, Forest Whitaker and Nick Cannon, deliver honest performances that make for a one-time watch.
• All the while, Charlie relies on his brother’s amazing mathematical skills to help him win big at every gaming table they come across during a stop in Las Vegas.
• 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.
• Molly’s Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a world-renowned Olympic-class skier.
• And in this case, the epic was directed by Martin Scorsese in one of his most ambitious films to-date.
• 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.