The allure of gambling is unmatched, so much so that producers have been creating films about the activity for years. Arguably, some of the best motion pictures at the box office involve the glitz and glam of the casino world. Filmmakers use gambling as an inspiration for various genres, including drams, thrillers, and action-packed adventures. Whether you like the exciting atmosphere that a live casino or traditional brick-and-mortar offer, gaming enthusiasts get captivated by the storylines and performances of these iconic movies. Here are the top 5 casino movies of all time you should include in your must-watch list if you want to raise the stakes and enjoy a memorable movie experience.
1. The Gambler
The Gambler is an excellent movie with a great cast and well-developed plot. Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett, a literature professor who leads a secret life as a high-stakes gambler and risk taker. He ends up owning $200K to an underground gambling ring proprietor and another $50K to a loan shark. Bennett only has seven days to pay off his debt, or his life is at stake. To try and get his life on track, he runs into a series of misfortunes that sees his girlfriend kidnapped. He then tries to devise a strategy to free him from debt and save his life and that of the woman he loves. Directed by Rupert Wyatt, it also stars Brie Larson, John Goodman, Jessica Lange, and Michael K. Williams. The crime drama film was released in 2015 and grossed about $33.7 million.
2. Rounders
A 1998 film, Rounders is an American drama movie about the underground world of high-stakes poker. It is a premium production that gives viewers a little bit of everything from inspiring drama and humor. Directed by John Dahl, it also boasts of a star-studded cast with the ranks of Matt Damon, Edward Norton, and John Malkovich. The story follows a hero who has to win a high-stakes poker game fast to pay off a considerable debt. It is after he gets into compulsive gambling away his law degree, tuition, and girlfriend. The term “rounder” is a person who travels from one location to another looking for high-stakes card games. The movie was launched in 2009 and distributed by Miramax Films.
3. Ocean’s Eleven
An entertaining, fun, and fascinating movie, this is a production that can appear on the best list of several genres, including
- Best movies from Las Vegas
- Best George Clooney movies
- Best heist movies
- Best movies snubbed by Academy Awards
The creative works center around (George Clooney) Danny Ocean, an internationally recognized thief rounding up ten criminal specialists on the quest to rob $15 million from the MGM, Mirage, and Bellagio casinos. Ocean has to gamble his freedom to win back Tess Ocean (Julia Roberts), his ex-wife. The movie gives you a front-row seat to gambling in Las Vegas, showcasing that it is more than rolling dice and blackjack and how gamers sometimes have to make their own luck.
4. The Card Counter
Starring Oscar Isaac, who plays William Tell, and Tiffany Haddish, who was cast as La Linda, The Card Counter will have you at the edge of your seat for almost two hours. Written and directed by Paul Schrader, the movie released in 2021 is about Tell, a former serviceman and gambler. He sets out to reform a troubled young man seeking revenge on an enemy from the past. Tell, who would instead focus on playing cards, is forced to help the guy get revenge as the move might help him mend his relationship with Cirk. Both men go on the road hoping from one casino to the next, trying to win the World Series of Poker in Los Angeles.
5. Casino Royale
An action/adventure production, Casino Royale is a 2006 spy film masterpiece. It was adapted from a novel of the same name written by Ian Fleming and published in 1953. It was the first motion picture to feature superstar Daniel Craig as the fictional M16 agent James Bond. The film takes place at the beginning of Bond’s career as the famous Agent 007, where he finally gets the license to kill. He is on assignment to bankrupt Mads Mikkelsen, a terrorist financier, in a high-stakes poker game that happens at the Casino Royale. Bond falls in love with a treasury employee assigned to offer the money he needs to participate in the game. The movie did well, receiving overwhelming positive criticism and earning more than $600 million.
Closing Remarks
The film industry has several productions with a gambling theme. The article above has highlighted the top five casino movies that everyone should watch if you have not had the chance to do so. These are movies that were produced in different years, some as early as 1998 all the way to 2021.