Casino movies attract attention with an intriguing plot and catchy characters. Lots of movies are produced yearly, so it is challenging to select a good and interesting one to watch, especially with a gambling theme.
We have curated a list of films based on extensive research and several online user ratings. Let’s get into it.
Impact of the Gambling Industry on Cinema
The intersection of the gambling industry and movies has given rise to a captivating genre that explores the thrill, risk, and allure of casinos and high-stakes gaming. Before we dive into the best casino movies ever made, let’s consider how this genre has contributed to the entertainment sector:
- Vegas glitz and glamour
- Character-driven narratives
- Risk and reward themes
- Shaping pop culture perceptions of casinos
Now, let’s start our journey into this cinematic realm where luck, strategy, and the roll of the dice take centre stage.
Rounders (1998)
In John Dahl’s 1998 American drama film Rounders, Matt Damon plays the law student Mike McDermott, who loses all his savings to club owner Teddy KGB. He decides to stop gambling in favour of his academics and girlfriend Jo, who is concerned about Mike’s old gambling partner Worm being released from prison.
Mike eventually does so, but Gama threatens to return the money Worm owes him. Mike and his friend, Worm, gamble endlessly for days without sleeping, but their gambling addiction leads them to Teddy KGB. The movie deals with friendship and addiction as consequences of compulsive gambling.
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Croupier (2000)
The setting of this movie is a British casino. Manfred is called by his father to work as a croupier, but his addiction consumes his life. The main character becomes lost in the casino and has a failed relationship. Inspired by his insanity, he writes his latest book about his life.
However, his plans go awry when he befriends gambler Alex Kingston, who asks him to be his go-between for a casino robbery. Manfred consents, but his former policewoman girlfriend puts the plan into cold water.
The Color of Money (1986)
Paul Newman stars in Martin Scorsese’s pool hustler film Fast Eddie, where he becomes a protégé of Vincent Lauria. After a series of arguments and Vincent’s outrageous behaviour, they part ways. Fast Eddie regains his desire to play while Vincent pursues his professional path. During a tournament, they cross paths and face off in a decisive match.
Newman earned the Oscar for Best Actor in this movie, his one and only. The Hustler is discussed in critiques and for its sequel, but Newman’s performance as Fast Eddie earned him many Oscar Awards.
Casino Royale (2006)
The movie stars James Bond as a top-secret agent. He is tasked with the mission of penetrating a private banker who sponsors acts of terrorism. To achieve this, Bond must win the Casino Royale in Montenegro, a high-stakes poker game. He enters the $10 million buy-in poker game to foil future terrorist actions.
Bond travels to Montenegro with Vesper Lynd, a British Treasury agent, to protect the $10 million buy-in. Vesper Lynd, in Bond style, does more than is requested.
Mississippi Grind (2015)
It’s a combination of comedy and drama where popular stars including Ryan Reynolds, Sienna Miller, and Ben Mendelsohn play the main roles. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck wrote the movie.
At the Dubuque in Iowa, Gerry meets Curtis, an aspiring gambler looking for companionship. Curtis accepts Gerry’s proposal for a gaming journey down the Mississippi that ends in a New Orleans casino. Then Gerry plays in every casino, loses, and asks Curtis for money.
Uncut Gems (2019)
This movie stars Howard Ratner as the lead. He is a con artist who doubles as a jeweller with a gambling addiction. Ratner always finds himself in tight spots and cheats on his wife.
After Ratner buys a rare Ethiopian black opal to pay off his debts, NBA player Kevin Garnett falls in love with it. After reluctantly lending Garnett the opal, Ratner sets up a nationwide manhunt to retrieve it. Ratner’s brother-in-law and goons are closing in on him, and his whole life is at stake.
21 (2008)
The cast of 21 included Laurence Fishburne, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Kavin Spacey. Ben Campbell, a top student at M.I.T Boston who wished to get into Harvard School to become a doctor, was the main character. Having financial difficulties, Ben joins a group of four skilled at card counting: Jill, Choi, Kianna, and Fisher.
They take weekend excursions to Las Vegas, using hand signals and code speak to win hundreds of thousands of dollars at blackjack. Ben’s first goal is to earn only the money he needs to attend Havard, but his pride and greed cause him to put both the gang and Code Williams, the casino security guard, in jeopardy.
Casino (1995)
The Casino movie revolves around a bookie named Sam Rothstein, who also doubles as an Italian mafia. He operates the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. Other cast members of the movies are Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, and Robert De Niro.
Ace’s childhood buddy Nicky and his wife Ginger McKenna pose a danger to Ace’s success, which gives the thrilling gambling film a new angle.
Conclusion
It is clear that each movie adds a distinctive touch to the table, and thus, they are evergreen classics for anyone who loves movies or enjoys gambling. These gambling-related videos will make you smile, regardless of your experience level. Watching some of them might be a great way to bridge the gap if you enjoy gambling but your friends do not.
