Indeed, Las Vegas (nicknamed Sin City) is best known for its casinos and all the gambling that happens therein. From comedic heist movies to dark crime dramas, there are all kinds of movies about the ups and downs and wins and losses of the gambling world. What makes Casino Royale so popular is the 007-style mixture of secret missions and high-class gambling. It is no wonder that this James Bond remake has quickly made a place for itself on our list of the best and most famous casino movies. The remake of a 1973 original, this James Bond movie beautifully presents a world of high stakes bursting with wealth, risk, and class. The plot revolves around the world’s most famous secret agent – James Bond – on his mission to stop Le Chiffre from winning a high-stakes game of Texas hold ’em at a glamorous casino – Casino Royale – in Montenegro.
Best GAMBLING movies
Rounders has become a cult favorite, particularly within the poker community, for its authenticity. 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. There are several movies that revolve around the theme of winning money at a casino, often with high-stakes gambling and big payouts as central plot elements.
- “The Cincinnati Kid” became famous for its impressive poker scenes and powerful demonstration of the psychology behind the game.
- Along the way the pair ingest epic amounts of drugs and come across a cast of bizarre characters.
- Two con men get revenge for a fallen friend in this buddy comedy starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
- There was a time that Mel Gibson was considered such a light and lively leading man that a big-budget studio movie could coast on his charm as a card shark and con man.
- Shade tells a story of a group of professional card cheats who are planning to pull off a major con in Los Angeles by outsmarting a gangster.
- Indeed, Las Vegas (nicknamed Sin City) is best known for its casinos and all the gambling that happens therein.
- “Casino” received positive reviews for its ability to capture the essence of Las Vegas as a capital of gambling.
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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. An odd little comedy about a perpetual loser gambling addict (Richard Dreyfuss) who, for one day, hits on every single bet at the horse races.
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He steals $44,000 from his own mother and heads to Vegas, looking for a big score so he can settle all of his financial obligations. When you get Terry Gilliam to direct a biographical gambling movie based on a Hunter S. Thompson novel, it’s more than clear the result won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you are open to a mix of scary, gross, hilarious, and bizarre elements, you’ll definitely love it. The group faces many obstacles and challenges which they, quite naturally, manage to get out of cleverly. Because they succeed in their exceptionally complex mission and deliver an unexpected twist in the end, this movie deserves its spot on the list of the best casino movies in the history of cinema. Movies about gambling have been popular since the very beginning of cinematography.
House of Games
While filming, James Caan was battling his own addiction to drugs, and he used that to suffuse his character with a raw sort of desperation. Casino follows Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert handicapper who is asked by the Chicago Outfit to oversee the day-to-day casino and hotel operations at the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. Other significant characters include Nicky Santoro (Pesci), a “made man” and friend of Sam, and Ginger McKenna (Stone), a streetwise chip hustler whom Sam marries and has a daughter with. But Mississippi Grind eventually ends up being Hollywood’s archetypal tragicomic casino movie. Axel Freed, played by James Caan in the original, heads the cast of the film as a gambler who is also an inspiring English professor and author.
Casino (1995 film)
The movie is still a very enjoyable comedy with decent suspense and a layered storyline. To prove himself, Eddie challenges top dog Minnesota Fats (played by Jackie Gleason) to a high-stakes game of pool. The Hustler isn’t just one of the best gambling movies, but best sports movies of all time. The accurate representation of gambling psychology is one of the reasons this film is worth watching. Unlike other movies about poker we’ve listed here, this one features characters who are convinced they will magically strike gold.
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- Like other 007 films, Casino Royale provides plenty of violence, intrigue, romance, and dirty mind tricks, all wrapped up in classic Bond style.
- The movie combines smart comedy, decent suspense, and very enjoyable styles of directing and performance.
- Of course, being a Scorsese and De Niro movie, you know there’s going to be some serious gangster undertones.
- Through the journey of the two brothers, the film sheds light on the challenges and strengths of individuals on the autism spectrum and the challenges for their families.
- “Killing Them Softly” combines intense performances, stylish cinematography, and sharp dialogue to deliver a compelling and atmospheric crime drama.
That’s pretty smart if you think about it, with casinos holding as much cash as a bank probably does, but also louder, busier, and easier to slip through undetected. In Croupier, Mike Hodges gives us a neo-noir take on gambling from the other side of the casino—one in which Jack Manfred (played by Clive Owen) is a dealer rather than a gambler. John Dahl’s crime-drama narrates the thrill and addiction of playing from Mike’s point of view, even if it just looks like a bunch of guys sitting around a table for hours on end. In Rounders, Matt Damon stars as a card-player-turned-law-student who’s trying to put his poker days behind him, but that proves almost impossible when Worm tornadoes back into his life. In a sense, William is spending his days in sort of afterlife, given that his former life was spent in a military prison. During those eight years, he learned to count cards while serving time for his hand in torturing and abusing Abu Ghraib prisoners (a real tragedy that surfaced in 2004).
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“Eight Men Out” was appreciated for historical accuracy and portrayal of the players of the time period. “Hard Eight” is a neo-noir crime drama about an experienced and enigmatic gambler who takes a young man under his wing. “Hard Eight” is all about fate, redemption, and the complex dynamics between its characters.
- The film follows the story of a charismatic but compulsive New York City jeweler with a gambling addiction and immerses viewers in the frantic and chaotic world of gambling.
- Sam soon discovers their affair, confronts Ginger, and ends his friendship with Nicky.
- “House of Games” became known for its complicated and twisted plot and sharp dialogue.
- The movie describes the seductive hidden side of the casino industry, the charm of chance and fate, and the adrenaline of risk-taking.
- “The Gambler” is full of gambling scenes and delves into themes of addiction, obsession, and the consequences of one’s choices, providing an intense portrayal of the protagonist’s downward spiral.
- With Matt Damon and John Malkovich in one movie, you know the film will be worth your time.
- Today, the legalization of gambling has become a Hail Mary last-ditch effort for many financially eroding urban areas like Detroit, St. Louis, and others — but Atlantic City did this first.
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Based on the true story of six talented MIT students with gifts for doing math, 21 is one of the best and most famous casino movies of all time. Gerry is a talented Texas hold ’em player whose adventures start once he encounters Curtis during a poker game in Iowa. The two instantly become friends and come up with an idea to try their luck in all the major cities along the Mississippi River. They will play until they win a high-stakes poker game at a casino in New Orleans. If you are looking for an action-packed film that combines the glamorous worlds of gambling, espionage, and secret agents, Casino Royale is the safest bet.
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The professor, played by Kevin Spacey, will later use the team’s skills to count cards at blackjack tables in Las Vegas. He has spent the magazine’s large cash advance on narcotics, which he indulges in liberally as he transforms his assignment into a search for the American Dream. Before they know it, the two friends are wrapped in a world of gamblers, dealers, druggies, and corrupt cops. Two con men get revenge for a fallen friend in this buddy comedy starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
- Clooney and Pitt’s chemistry is electric, and their camaraderie adds to the charm of the film.
- Roll the dice and hit play on these cinematic gems, where fortune and fate collide on the casino floor.
- As a “film noir”, this movie skillfully portrays the protagonist’s descent into the world of gambling, with elements of suspense.
- The movie is known for its clever storytelling, intricate plot structure, and a series of suspenseful and thought-provoking moments.
- The other players take justice into their own hands and decide to hang the cheater.
- In 1986, the bosses, finally fed up with Nicky’s recklessness and attempt on Sam’s life, order Frankie and his crew to kill Nicky and Dominick.
- In Casino, he’s Ace, a gangster running a mobbed-up casino who’s trying to do things “the right way,” only to be undercut by his hotheaded pal (Joe Pesci) and an ambitious woman (Sharon Stone) he shouldn’t trust.
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Because Raymond has the ability to count cards extremely quickly and to remember which have been played, the two end up in Las Vegas. Charlie takes Raymond to the blackjack table in hopes his card-counting gift will help Charlie win. Manfred https://thebescasino-login.com/ finds himself drawn to a woman who is a gambler at his table – a serious transgression of the casino’s rules for employees. Under pressure from creditors, the woman asks Manfred to be the inside man for a robbery at his own casino.
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Unforgettable gambling films offer electrifying narratives and memorable characters, reflecting the allure and rich complexity of the casino world. These cinematic achievements are just a few examples of the great films that transport viewers into the world of gambling. Steve McQueen is at his most watchable in this classic story of a young gambler, Eric ‘The Kid’ Stoner, a talented young poker player who aspires to be the best. He gets his chance when he is challenged by the legendary poker player Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson) to a high-stakes game. Along the way, he falls in love with a lounge singer (Ann-Margret) and has to navigate the dangerous world of gambling and the shady characters that inhabit it. Directed by Norman Jewison, the movie is widely regarded as a classic in the gambling movie genre.
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. 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. The movie is known for the protagonist’s outstanding performance and is a nice representative of the heist genre. The movie which seems to be rated as the worst of the three and combines elements of a heist thriller with clever twists and a stylish presentation. It features elaborate schemes, unexpected alliances, and the charismatic camaraderie between the characters.
Inspired by true events, 21 tells the story of a group of MIT students who use their math skills to count cards and win millions at blackjack tables in Las Vegas. Led by their professor (Kevin Spacey), the group devises an intricate system to outsmart casinos. The film balances the allure of easy money with the moral complexities of bending the rules.
Played by Edward Norton, Worm is one of those characters whom you hate to love, as his gambling habits tear Mike’s world down in a matter of days. William Tell (played by Oscar Isaac) lives a sad life, moving from one motel to the next, living out of suitcases and covering all the furniture in bedsheets. Impressive ambition and bravura performances from an outstanding cast help Casino pay off in spite of a familiar narrative that may strike some viewers as a safe bet for director Martin Scorsese. Four men – Doug, Alan, Stu, and Phil – go to Las Vegas for a stag night, awakening the next morning with the worst hangovers of their lives. While they can’t remember anything from the night before, the hangovers will then remember the trip to Las Vegas forever. Casino revolves around Sam “Ace” Rothstein, an ex-gangster managing a great casino in Vegas.
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In Casino, he’s Ace, a gangster running a mobbed-up casino who’s trying to do things “the right way,” only to be undercut by his hotheaded pal (Joe Pesci) and an ambitious woman (Sharon Stone) he shouldn’t trust. Martin Scorsese’s intricate drama is for you, chronicling Sin City’s evolution from seedy to sanitized over the span of several years. As he did previously with GoodFellas, Scorsese understands how American enterprise works in the criminal underworld — and also how individuals get trampled on along the way. There was a time that Mel Gibson was considered such a light and lively leading man that a big-budget studio movie could coast on his charm as a card shark and con man.
Whether you’re a seasoned gambler or simply seeking an adrenaline rush, these movies offer non-stop entertainment. It’s not quite Goodfellas (although Joe Pesci does play a similar, psychotically inclined character in both films), but Casino is just as bold, stylish, and slick as any other Scorsese picture of its kind. A nickname like “Worm” is itself a red flag for a person, and it’s made even worse when that person has served time.
“Casino” received positive reviews for its ability to capture the essence of Las Vegas as a capital of gambling. “Let It Ride” is a lighthearted comedy that explores themes of luck, risk-taking, and the charms of gambling. It presents a humorous and satirical portrayal of the gambling culture, with colorful characters and comical situations.