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. Molly’s Game was the directorial debut for writer Aaron Sorkin, based on the alleged true story of a former Olympic skier who ran an international underground poker tournament for celebrities, high profile businessmen, and the Russian mob. Played by Jessica Chastain, Molly Bloom tries to keep her gambling empire afloat while the FBI investigates the massively illegal operation. No scientific studies have proven if Tom Cruise in the ‘80s could make anything cooler.

The Accuracy of Gambling Movies – Hollywood VS Reality

This isn’t one of Scorsese’s best movies — and as we said earlier, The Hustler is the better overall film — but it’s solid and despairing. Like with Scorsese’s mobsters, these are people who are magnetic but not ones you’d want to spend time with in real life. Matt Damon is terrific as the main character, a brilliant poker player who tries to bail out his friend Worm, played by Ed Norton. John Malkovich plays the iconic Teddy KGB, and John Turturro is Knish, the wise old grinder. The movie is filled with realistic characters and covers the highs and lows and massive swings of no-limit hold ’em as well as other games.

Letterboxd — Your life in film

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 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.

• Thanks to Martin Scorsese’s direction, plus an award-winning turn from Tom Cruise, The Color of Money is proof that not all sequels have to be scams, even when they are, in fact, about scams.
• In Croupier, which translates to “dealer,” Clive Owen plays a struggling novelist who gets a job at the casino.
• But Bernie’s “cooler” abilities start to falter when he comes across a waitress named Natalie Belisario, who he falls head over heels for.
• John Malkovich, Grethchen Mol, John Turturro, and Martin Landau all played supporting roles in a well-conceived New York underground poker world.
• “Molly’s Game,” one of the best movies about poker (in our humble opinion), is a compelling journey into the clandestine world of high-stakes poker, showcasing the rush and pitfalls of hosting the world’s most exhilarating casino game.
• Still, if there were, the magnetic bravado he brought to pool hustlers in the 1986 film The Color of Money would be all the evidence you need of his infectious coolness.

Money, Explained

Heist films are the ultimate guilty pleasure, a scheming world of cons and quips with the audience along for the ride as accomplices. With signature Guy Ritchie action and flair plus rugged British accents, this card-game-gone-wrong flick is a jolly good romp. Check out Player 5150 (2008, Ethan Embry), about a day trader amidst high-stakes gambling. The soundtrack and performances of the main cast are excellent and warrant a watch just for them. Keep in mind the movie is in German, though, so you may need to use subtitles. However, he was not alone in his endeavors, as he was also joined by his partner, Virginia Hill, played by Annette Bening.

#4 – Cincinnati Kid (

With John (the veteran) mentoring John (the novice), the film immerses viewers in a compelling narrative that is as much about human connection and moral ambiguity as it is about the perils of gambling. John, despite his seasoned, stoic exterior, embodies a complexity and vulnerability that seep through his interactions with his younger counterpart and others he encounters. His decision to mentor John stems from an intertwined mesh of paternal instinct, penance, and perhaps, a quest for redemption, offering a layered and morally complex protagonist.

We had great times and heard few sour notes watching 26 acts at POP Montreal last week

Memorable lines, moments, people…It really is the gambling movie all others will be measured against. It is no wonder why; Barbet Schroeder, also famous for big hits as Barfly, Reversal of Fortune, and Single White Female, was the director behind this crazy, enticing thriller. Jacques Dutronc plays the role of a charming man with a severe gambling addiction. His situation becomes more complicated when he gets entangled in the cheating schemes of another man. Watch this thriller and follow these gamblers’ inevitable road to doom. According to Matt Damon’s protagonist in “Rounders,” real poker players don’t gamble, they grind.

Casino 1995

Houston’s passing game, led by Stroud and Collins continues to be the team’s strength. Stroud had a season-high 345 yards passing with two touchdowns Sunday to become the seventh quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 300 yards seven times through their first 19 games. He leads the NFL by a wide margin with 489 yards receiving and is the first player in franchise history with more than 450 yards receiving though the first four games. New York Giants rookie Malik Nabers was second entering Monday night’s games with 386 yards. High on suspense and complete with all the casino trappings—tumbling chips, stylish tuxedos, and martinis (shaken, not stirred)—this Bond film illustrates just how high the stakes can get at the casino table.

• Gambling is an integral part of each story’s unfolding, whether through the gamblers’ pursuit of fortune, the excitement of outwitting adversaries, or the psychological battles they wage against themselves.
• 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.
• From the glamour of Las Vegas to the realities of gambling addiction, these films offer a true journey into the world of gambling.
• This film delves into the psychological aspect of gambling, portraying the superstitions, fallacies, and the thrill of the game that keeps players coming back for more.
• “The Cooler,” featuring William H. Macy as Bernie Lootz, steers the audience through a distinctive narrative path within the alluring yet morally complex world of Las Vegas gambling.
• A popular quote is, ‘Gambling’s not about money… Gambling’s about not facing reality, ignoring the odds.’ Croupier release was two years later & features 3 alternate types, with a 7/10 rating on IMDb and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Netflix

Matt’s character (Mike McDermott) ends up losing a ton of money during a poker game against a Russian gangster. After experiencing such a devastating loss, Mike leaves the poker scene behind due to his girlfriend’s pleas to leave the game behind. But the game comes calling once more when Mike finds out his friend Lester “Worm” Murphy needs to pay off a huge debt to the same Russian mobster that Mike took a major loss to. Rounders follows Mike and Lester as they try to work the system to their advantage and find a way to get one over on the man who’s responsible for their financial misfortunes. 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.

CASINO ROYALE (

• Even today, eleven years after its release, people still enjoy “The Hangover”!
• 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.
• The two leads develop a legitimate friendship, too, one which mirrors the chemistry of the actors themselves.
• The two men agree to a high-stakes poker match, with the winner taking all.
• In this action-packed heist film, Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, gets a skilled group together to rob the biggest casinos in Las Vegas.
• The title refers to the scams (“stings”) used by the grifters to con their mark.
• Ever hear about the underground gambling dens that were visited by multiple A-list celebrities?

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 https://true-fortune.us/ 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.

• Starring Oscar Isaac, “The Card Counter” is about the exploration of personal redemption set against the backdrop of poker tables.
• Billy and Sidney would become friends and team up to take on anyone willing to put up the money to play a game of two-on-two.
• The Sting won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, and many more in 1974, as the smart but tense comedy keeps the audience guessing who will come out the better grifter.
• “Casino” does not merely settle into a narrative about gambling and its accompanying perils but sprawls expansively into themes of power, greed, corruption, and the intricate, dark web spun between the gambling industry and organized crime.
• But when he falls in love with Natalie (Bello), a cocktail waitress at one of the casinos, he realises that his bad luck may be changing.
• “Rounders” paints a colorful depiction of a seedy poker underworld filled with enough pulse-pounding river cards to keep the average poker enthusiast on the edge of their seat.
• It earned a 79% rating from critics and a whopping 93% from audience members on Rotten Tomatoes.
• Reprising his role from 1961’s “The Hustler,” Paul Newman plays retired pool player Fast Eddie Felson, who takes Tom Cruise’s character, Vincent, under his wing as a pool shark-in-training.

FILM AS PROPAGANDA – ART, TRASH, HEROISM, TREASON, EVIL?

The 2001 version of the 1960 Rat Pack film ends up being a far superior rendition that features a who’s who of Hollywood A-listers. George Clooney stars as Dapper Danny Ocean, a thief who’s up to no good just hours after being released from his parole. He puts his big casino heist plan into motion alongside a top-notch crew. That ragtag group of fellow thieves consists of familiar faces such as Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mack, etc.

Trailer for Alfonso Cuarón’s Apple TV+ series ‘Disclaimer’

This criminally underrated movie shows the intense highs and lows of the gambler’s mind, with the audience having a front-row 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. From the glamour of Las Vegas to the realities of gambling addiction, these films offer a true journey into the world of gambling.

Best Casino Movies to Watch: Top 10 Gambling Movies

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. By exploring themes like obsession, addiction, deceit, and redemption, some of the top movies about gambling reveal the complex nature of human beings and the consequences of their actions. While not strictly a poker movie, the classic scene means Casino Royale has to make the list. The classic showdown between James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, and the villainous Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen, has had poker players fantasizing about playing poker for the highest stakes—with millions of dollars on the line.

Lucky Number Slevin (

The plot centers on the Hyakkaou Private Academy, which, as noted, is all about teaching its students to gamble. Uncut Gems is perhaps one of the most gutting dramas on the big screen which goes to show how successful people, through bad judgment calls, can end up in bad situations caused by gambling. So far as gambling movies on Netflix go, this one is a fair warning to everyone who hopes to turn gambling into a full-time job and highlights the dangers that the activity invites. The Cooler embeds itself into the casino milieu, showing the techniques that casinos use to get all the money they can from gamblers. In addition, the film sheds a light on the change in casino policies as the movie’s setting is forced to undergo changes to keep up with modern casinos. The charm of the 1950 crime noir film Dark City is how quickly a movie about gambling can turn into a murder mystery revenge flick.

The 15 Best Gambling Movies on Netflix 🎬

Some had to rewatch their most favorite film about casinos, such as poker movies. All too often women in gambling movies are limited to love interests, or that classic cliché – a prostitute with a heart of gold. Apart from a love of literature, Freed also has a debilitating gambling addiction.

The Sting ( – The Heist is On

The billion-dollar franchise – spinning off three sequels at last count – may be a superstar take on the casino heist theme, but there are plenty of other legendary films. Casino is the test of a friendship, a marriage, and a cutthroat businessman, and every minute of it will have you on the edge of your seat. Starring The Sopranos alum Michael Imperioli, High Roller is a triumphant, harrowing, and downright interesting take on this legend’s life, perfect for any game-lover out there. If you like Molly’s Game, Follow the Bitch (1996, Michael Cudlitz) depicts single guys at an all-night poker game and the woman who shows up. 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.

The Gambler

And those accolades are more indicative of the film’s actual quality than its acclaim from critics or number of tickets sold in theaters. 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. And it actually explores its characters to a meaningful extent while also showcasing the inner workings of Vegas. It’s one of the more modern poker movies, especially since it is based on a true story. 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. The hilarious movie features a group of friends who decide to spend a night out in Las Vegas at a bachelor’s party.

Movies about gambling take audiences on exhilarating journeys with characters who face overwhelming odds, yet navigate through with luck, strategy, and skill. Gambling is an integral part of each story’s unfolding, whether through the gamblers’ pursuit of fortune, the excitement of outwitting adversaries, or the psychological battles they wage against themselves. The immersive plots and stunning visuals of these casino movies cause viewers to become fully invested in the characters and their gripping stories.

• After she’s fired from her gig of overseeing the games on behalf of a local tycoon, Molly takes her professional contacts and creates an underground ring on her own.
• Players and fans were never really impressed; instead, they waited for a film that did the game justice.
• Gambling movies are so remarkably tense for viewers because the stakes of casino games are already inherently high.
• Charlie Babbit, a selfish, debt-laden car salesman, learns his wealthy father passed, leaving millions to his autistic brother in a trust fund.
• The payoffs to the mafia, the politicized wranglings with the Nevada Gaming Board, the berated Blackjack dealers, and the showgirls are explored like parts of the blueprints of the Vegas gambling world.
• The incredible casino scene that captures many arises when two players bet $ on one roll of dice in a high–stakes game.
• It is an exhilarating ride from start to finish and definitely worth watching if you are a fan of gambling movies.

As much as Mark Wahlberg tried to give “The Gambler” a successful remake, it’s almost impossible to top the dramatic heights and thrills of Karel Reisz’s original. James Caan gives one of his best performances as English professor Axel Freed, who faces an uphill battle when he must find a way to pay back a huge $44,000 gambling debt to his bookie. 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.

Gerry and Curtis, while united by their love for gambling, each bring their own layered emotional and psychological baggage to the trip, adding depth and nuance to their characters and the storyline. What is distinct about “Mississippi Grind” is its careful avoidance of moralizing or providing easy answers about gambling addiction. The viewers are not merely spectators to a progressive downfall or redemption but are instead immersed in the experiences, choices, and consequences that evolve naturally from the characters and their journey.

However, the movie is a helluva ride if you’re willing to go with it. One thing to remember is that back then, no-limit hold’em wasn’t really played, while the popular game at the time was Stud. In the case of The Cincinnati Kid, it was five-card stud, which means one card down and four cards placed face up one at a time with a round of betting between each street. The Cincinnati Kid tells the classic tale of an up-and-coming young gun poker player working his way up to take on the best player in the game.

It is also a film that captures the essence of poker and the people who play it. Next on our casino movies list is an evergreen classic called “The Sting,” which brings together Paul Newman and Robert Redford in a brilliant story about elaborate cons and cunning wit, all centered around a dangerous betting plot. Set against the backdrop of a complex horse race gambling operation, the film ingeniously weaves a tale of deception and redemption. The Hustler should be seen first as it is the predecessor to that other highly recommended gambling film. The Hustler charts the early origins of “Fast Eddie” Felson and his days as a notorious poolroom hustler. Throughout the film, viewers will get to see Eddie play against a billiards champion, fall in love with a woman with plenty of emotional baggage and come into contact with an experienced gambler who wishes to take Eddie under his wing.