Must-Stream Gambling Movies From Casino Royale to The Hangover

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It’s easily one of the top casino movies you could watch, packed with action and thrills. While the casino isn’t the main theme of this movie, it still deserves a place on our list of top casino movies. “Rain Man” earned an 89% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 90% from audiences, and it grossed $171.2 million in the U.S. The movie is of course a highly romanticized version of actual events, but it’s captivating and definitely one of the top gambling movies on Netflix to watch on any day.

Kenny Rogers as The Gambler

We’ve shown you our lists for the best poker and casino movies of all-time. Now it’s time to bust out our five favorites from the overall gambling space. Gambling is the setting rather than the content of this story and it’s all the better for it with the casino giving the film its heart and its edge while the engaging story of those who try and make money from it plays out.

The 6 Best Movies About Gambling Addiction

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. Bugsy is a great watch for anyone wanting to learn more about how the Strip was created or if you enjoy gangster movies with lots of drama. 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. 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.

Molly’s Game (

Known around the local poker scene as “The Cincinnati Kid,” Eric decides to challenge someone even better than him – a fellow poker master by the name of Lancey “The Man” Howard. After getting set up with Howard for a winner takes all poker games, Eric discovers that the odds are being fixed in his favor. This revelation pushes Eric to defy such a dishonorable victory and show everyone that he can win the match through his skills alone.

Best Netflix Films About Casino Games

As the British secret services seem to be out of their depth, they cannot outright go and arrest Le Chiffre, but what they can do is get close, play with the man’s hand, and beat him at a game of poker. Of course, there is no better-qualified agent to embark on this task than 007 himself. Our selection of Netflix gaming movies includes action, drama, thriller, and documentaries, along with a few international picks that will make for a great watch no matter what your preferred genre is. With this said, let’s plunge right into our Netflix must-watch gambling movies list.

Best Gambling Movies That May Come To Netflix

“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”!

  • This movie takes a deep dive into the psyche of this cold character for a moody, complex story.
  • Ocean’s Eleven isn’t just one of the greatest gambling movies, it could appear on lists for the best heist movies, best George Clooney movies, best movies from Las Vegas, and even best movies snubbed by the Academy Awards.
  • James Bond goes undercover in order to infiltrate Chiffre’s major poker game, which is secretly being used as a way to acquire even more funds to support his terrorist dealings.
  • This list has been dominated by masculine films led by male stars, which unfortunately reflects the genre as a whole.
  • Keep in mind that while most of these films are widely available, others can only be found in specific countries.
  • And Uncut Gems (2019) as a whole made decent money in theaters — it was actually production company A24’s highest-grossing film at the time of release — on top of garnering great impressions from critics.
  • Each of those movies shows a different drama thrilling story about some gamblers and their personal experience.

Vegas Vacation (

Several films have famous poker scenes, but one of the most famous is the James Bond film Casino Royale (2006), starring Daniel Craig in his first outing as 007. The film features a high-stakes Texas Hold’em poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro, where Bond faces off against the villain Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen. Yes, one of the primary reasons poker players love Rounders is that it accurately portrays the game. This is another classic film, so applying today’s poker standards to it might not hold water.

Game Mechanics and Probability

  • In the film, Jessica Chastain narrates the story of Molly Bloom, a champion skier who suffers a career-ending injury on her road to the Winter Olympics.
  • Because he may actually be able to pull off an insane caper and redeem himself.
  • Caan’s charismatic performance is key to the film’s grand act, for he turns Axel into someone we can’t help but root for even as he’s doing one terrible thing and making one nasty mistake after the other.
  • And although that film was well-acclaimed in itself, The Hustler (1961) has almost gone down as a classic.
  • 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.

A friendship between the two blossoms after a fellow gambler gets angry at them for beating him and taking their money. Leonardo DiCaprio plays poker in “Titanic” (1997), although the poker scene is brief and not central to the movie. Early in the film, Jack Dawson (DiCaprio’s character) wins his ticket aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic in a game of poker. While not solely focused on poker, the movie centers around the game of blackjack, a popular casino card game, and is based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team. Some people craved a unique atmosphere of watching movies about casinos.

#5: “The Gambler” (

Faced with $44,000 worth of debt and a rich family that is ashamed of him, Freed travels to Las Vegas in the hope of winning big. When the chips are down, gambling movies have always been the best backdrop for intrigue from heists to heartache. Here is SPYSCAPE’s countdown of the top 10 gambling scenes from memorable movies you’ll want to stream right now. A good gambling movie will have high stakes, both for the characters and the audience. The characters should be put in jeopardy, and the audience should be invested in their struggle. The stakes should be believable and exciting, making for a suspenseful and thrilling experience.

Netflix

These movies go into the lives of various gamblers, their struggles, and their obsession with gambling. Based on a true story, “Molly’s Game” has a fantastic cast and a captivating script. Jessica Chastain plays Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who runs an exclusive poker game for the wealthy and famous. One night, she gets arrested by the FBI and wrapped up in a high-stakes investigation into her players, some of whom are members of the Russian mob. Directed by Jeff Probst, the movie has an interesting if somewhat unlikely plot. Tepper, the protagonist, finds a lost wallet on the street and he calls the owner to come and pick it up.

‘House of Games’

Unfortunately, He loses that stone and spends several days chasing after him and at the same time escaping from being chased by angry creditors. Sunday was Stroud’s eighth game with multiple passing touchdowns and no interceptions, tying Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson for the most by a player age 22 or younger in NFL history. “The Sting” is a 1973 American caper film set in September 1936, involving a con artist and a rookie grifter who seek revenge on a crime lord who murdered one of their partners. The film was directed by George Roy Hill, written by David S. Ward, and starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the leaders of the con artists. The title refers to the scams (“stings”) used by the grifters to con their mark. These films give further insight into the complex, often tense relationship between people and their wagering habits.

Uncut Gems is one of the few recently made movies to feature on this list. Adam Sandler stars as a hopeless gambling addict seemingly bend on destruction so why are we on board for his crash? Because he may actually be able to pull off an insane caper and redeem himself. Uncut Gems took 10 years to make as the Safdies brothers couldn’t get financing but this was their passion project.

During the night out, one of the friends steals casino poker chips belonging to a gangster. However, they all request one of the friends who happens to be good at counting cards to help them win the money needed. It is an exhilarating ride from start to finish and definitely worth watching if you are a fan of gambling movies. The 1961 original is less concerned with a swaggering Tom Cruise–Paul Newman movie-star face-off and more focused on loyalty and integrity and ambition. Newman’s Fast Eddie Felson is like a more interesting version of Cruise’s character, and his battle to take down Jackie Gleason’s Minnesota Fats follows a more human, soulful narrative than a typical sports-movie arc. It’s better the less it is about the pool hustling … which is great, but keeps it lower on this list.

Top Gambling Films You Need To Watch

So, if you’re craving a compelling cinematic experience, grab some popcorn, settle into your favorite armchair, and prepare to be immersed in the electrifying world of gambling cinema. The response to “Uncut Gems” was overwhelmingly positive, with a strong approval rating of 91% on the review website Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised its ability to create a suffocating feeling of anxiety through its cinematography and Sandler’s dynamic and compelling performance. Many critics have even hailed this as Sandler’s best performance, showcasing his ability to act outside his usual comedic-centric roles.

The 20 Best Gambling Movies to Watch if You’re Feeling Lucky

Based on a true story and one of the MGM casino movies, “21” portrays the thrilling account of a group of MIT students who become experts in blackjack card counting and subsequently win millions in Las Vegas. Led by an unorthodox math professor, the team navigates the high-pressure environment of blackjack, dealing with the extravagant lifestyle, the excitement of big money, and the watchful eye of casino security. When the exciting world of high-stakes gaming collides with Hollywood’s cinematic magic, the result is often unforgettable. Suspenseful movies about gambling are a unique blend of excitement and drama. From the glitzy charm of Las Vegas to nerve-racking poker games, these films transport us to a universe where luck can change in the blink of an eye. Poker extraordinaire Eric Stoner has made it his mission to become the best poker player in town.

  • With the owner coming to retrieve the ticket, Tepper realizes that he needs to win the game not just for the sake of the owner, but also for the chance to get his Finder’s Fee for securing the ticket and the lottery ticket.
  • Famously set to an anachronistic ragtime soundtrack of Scott Joplin standards, “The Sting” is irresistible fun — a light and witty caper that has us fully rooting for its con men.
  • 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.
  • California Split remains perhaps the director’s most underrated classic — and its gut-punch ending is so muted, yet so perfect.
  • Critics of the production have argued that many of the arguments made in the documentary were actually debunked and disproven over the years and that Fine should have done a better job of the narrative he put together in the end.
  • If you want a light-hearted knockabout with a guys getting dealt quads over quads this isn’t the film for you, but if you want a film about gambling warts and all then check it out.
  • So, if you’re craving a compelling cinematic experience, grab some popcorn, settle into your favorite armchair, and prepare to be immersed in the electrifying world of gambling cinema.

But as you will find out from the film this doesn’t come without some serious consequences. So, our list has something for everyone, whether you are a fan of classic casino games like poker, blackjack, or roulette or prefer to explore the darker side of the casino world. You can trust us to provide a fair and honest review of each movie and accurately portray the gambling world. As one https://true-fortune.us/ of the best casino movies out there, “Casino” got several nominations for Oscars and Golden Globes. It earned a 79% rating from critics and a whopping 93% from audience members on Rotten Tomatoes. Another great documentary series on Netflix, Untold takes a good hard look at some of the biggest scandals in sports – from match-fixing to doping and performance-enhancing substances.

gambling movies

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.

The two men agree to a high-stakes poker match, with the winner taking all. As the game progresses, the stakes get higher and higher, and both men are forced to put everything on the line. The Cincinnati Kid is a gripping story of ambition, rivalry, and deceit.

“The Gambler” presents a haunting exploration of addiction that strips away the bright lights and glamor from a poker game. James Caan plays an English professor with a dangerous penchant for betting who’s consumed by his obsession. The Sting is a classic film that’s the perfect onscreen representation of what it takes to pull off a major con job. The movie follows two fellow conmen that decide to get revenge on a crime boss who’s responsible for the death of their mutual acquaintance. The two men concoct a fail-proof plan that starts out easy enough but soon gets harder and harder to maintain as unexpected elements enter the picture. A whole lot of big bets, plus plenty of surprising twists and turns come to pass in this film that’s all about pulling one over on an unsuspecting victim.

gambling movies

The gambling in “Casino” is on a macro-level; rather than taking place in the casino or on the card table, it happens behind closed doors, where the stakes are sky high. 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. The shady world of professional tipsters is pretty well laid bare here, but it also conveys the tension, adrenaline rush and mentally bruising nature of sports betting with real heart. There is, of course, the obligatory love story sub-plot and it loses its way a bit towards the end but it’s well worth two hours of your time. Whether exploring the high-stakes world of professional poker, the adrenaline-fueled rush of card counting, or the dark underbelly of addiction and betrayal, these films offer a captivating blend of excitement, suspense, and drama.

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.

However, Axel seems discontent with his safe existence, and gambling increasingly consumes him. The film illustrates how gambling addiction can affect those around you as Axel ends up borrowing money from friends and, eventually, loan sharks. It addresses the ethical issues of gambling, its potential as a broader societal problem, and how difficult it is to escape addiction. In doing this, it promotes gambling safety, and that’s something that should be celebrated. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn, this comedy-drama was directed by American filmmaking duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, and it was released by A24. It’s almost a road film of sorts, as Mendelsohn’s character — a gambling addict named Gerry — befriends Gosling’s character Curtis, and deems him a good luck charm.

Bernie, once an unassuming cog in the vast machinery of the gambling industry, becomes a poignant focal point for exploring the broader moral and ethical implications of the casino world. Paul Schrader makes stern, austere and existential movies about stern, austere and existential people. The Card Counter is less about cards and more about grief, trauma and faith, and it delivers those themes through the dark dazzling eyes of Oscar Isaac.

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