Perhaps you’re interested in the artistic aspect of gambling. If so, then you’re in luck. Thousands of movies have been recorded on this subject over the years. Some of them are not so good, some are fun to watch, and some have the power to change how you view life. So if you need a break from gambling and using the Las Atlantis no deposit bonus, you may prefer to watch some of the best movies about casinos and gambling.
Sometimes, it can be confusing when you’re about to pick the next movie you’d like to watch. As mentioned before, the fact is that many movies are simply subpar – and you’ll just lose time if you see them. So, you may need a piece of advice on finding the best movies in any genre. We’re here to help you out – specifically for the genre of gambling movies. Below you’ll find our top 10 list of the best movies on this subject. So, let’s get to it.
1. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
We’ll start the list with a war-up movie – “Ocean’s Eleven”. Though, technically, it’s not a movie about gambling, per se (it’s a movie about heists), the team of talented misfits is on a mission to rob a casino in Las Vegas. Thanks to its incredible cinematography, you’ll get to see the gambling city of lights in all its glory. Some world-renowned casinos are shown in this movie, with the casino floors full of bright and flashy colors, slot machines, roulette and blackjack tables, and so much more. The star-studded cast, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts, turns the movie into an exceptional experience not only for fans of this genre. So, “Ocean’s Eleven” is a must-see for anyone who wishes to witness Las Vegas in all its glory.
2. Casino (1995)
“Casino” is one of the best mob movies in history. Made by the legendary movie director Martin Scorsese, it details the intertwined relationship between the world of casinos and the world of organized crime. This movie has a star-studded cast, including Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sheron Stone. The story is, once again, not about the casinos themselves (though the glorious Tangiers Casino of Las Vegas is the movie’s centerpiece). Instead, the story is about two eccentric mob bosses – one calm, smart, and all-seeing (Robert De Niro), and the other as volatile as a bag of explosives (Joe Pesci). A prominent role in the movie belongs to the wife of De Niro’s character, acted by Sheron Stone, for which she was nominated for an Academy award. The movie, over three hours long, seems to pass in a breeze. It’s a testament to Scorsese’s expertise, alongside the incredible cast of actors. As such, Casino is yet another indispensable movie for fans of casinos and gambling. It will make you think about how the casinos operate behind the curtain and what people do not see.
3. Casino Royale (2006)
In almost any list of movies whatsoever, there ought to be a James Bond movie. He’s the legendary MI6 agent that has saved the world from psychotic villains time and time again. In “Casino Royale”, as the name suggests, many scenes are centered in a casino. The movie culminates in the final “battle” between James Bond and his nemesis, the evil Le Chiffre – on the poker table. Both Daniel Craig and Mads Mikkelsen are excellent in their respective roles as the hero and the villain. And the poker play near the end of the movie is nothing short of legendary – with all the tension and brooding atmosphere that a high-stakes poker game can bring about. This movie has, in fact, introduced Daniel Craig as James Bond. Ever since, he has garnered much esteem as being one of the best “Bonds” in history, right up there with Sean Connery’s classic iterations of the character. After the immense success of “Casino Royale”, Daniel Craig has continued to star in James Bond movies for a long time.
4. Rain Man (1998)
“Rain Man” is another legendary movie that topped the box office when it came out. We should also mention that it came out in the same year with other legendary movies, including Die Hard and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. So, the fact that “Rain Man” was a best seller speaks volumes about its quality and how fun it is to watch. In the movie, there’s a legendary scene involving the two brothers (Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise), where they need to make a lot of money in a short period of time. But the story of the movie is so much more than that. It details the relationship of two brothers, where one of them has a problem with a debilitating disease. Dusting Hoffman’s character has autism – and he has some special powers with his mind, making him a savant. So, he wins tens of thousands of dollars at the blackjack table by memorizing the cards. This scene is forever embedded in cinema history – and all fans of casinos and gambling ought to watch it at least once in their lives. But again, this movie has to offer a lot more than just this scene – and chances are that you will like it and you will be touched by it regardless of who you are or what your interests in life are.
5. Rounders (1998)
After “Good Will Hunting”, Matt Damon had another role where he got the chance to play a “boy genius”. This time around, it was in Rounders where he got to shine. Sharing the scene with the bad boy Edward Norton, Matt Damon did a pretty convincing act playing poker. In one of the final scenes, Matt Damon plays an unsettlingly tense game of poker against legendary actor John Malkovich. On the other hand, Malkovich plays his sinister character with delight – for an awesome performance that significantly boosts the movie’s overall quality. Malkovich also uttered a legendary line in movie history: “Pay dat man his money!” This movie is an excellent choice to watch for fans of casinos and gambling – especially for fans of the game of poker. We especially liked Edward Norton’s character as he made the movie that much more volatile and exciting to watch. So, “Rounders” definitely has something unique to bring to the table, which is why we feature it so prominently on our list of top 10 movies about casinos and gambling.
6. The Card Counter (2021)
Here we have another movie about the game of poker – a more modern movie made recently in 2021. Through Oscar Isaac’s eyes, we see a man’s travails through grief, faith, and trauma. It’s one of Paul Schrader’s best movies, and we can get a glimpse through life itself via the gambling table. It means that we have another classic on our list of the top movies about casinos and gambling, as “The Card Counter” is another excellent choice for fans of the genre.
7. The Hustler (1961)
The role in “The Hustler” is one of Paul Newman’s finest. This movie is not about casinos but the game of pool. Mind you, this is not a laid-back game between a few friends after work. No, Fast Eddie is engaged in high-stakes pool play against other experts in the game. There are some excellent pool games that you can witness as you watch this movie. Of course, the games are played with high stakes – and we wouldn’t expect anything else from a Hollywood movie about gambling. There are some exceptional trick shots that the pool fans will enjoy seeing. Best of all, we have Paul Newman in his bad boy role that will captivate the viewers. Overall, you’ll likely enjoy watching this movie regardless if you’re a fan of pool and gambling or not.
8. The Color of Money (1986)
Paul Newman got to shine in his role in “The Hustler” as an expert in the game of pool. Twenty-five years later, “The Color of Money” was published in 1986. It is a direct sequel to the predecessor, and once again, Paul Newman is starring as Fast Eddie, a little bit older and wiser than before. This time around, we also have Tom Cruise as a co-star in the movie. It usually happens in Hollywood that sequels to popular movies turn out to be shameless cash grabs. But “The Color of Money” is no such thing. It’s an excellent movie that stands its own ground, even without its classic predecessor, “The Hustler”. Tom Cruise also gets to shine in this movie, having won multiple renowned awards for his role. It’s a movie about pool and scams. So, if you’re a fan of these genres and gambling in general, chances are that you will profoundly enjoy this movie. But once again, you’ll likely enjoy it even if you don’t care much about gambling per se.
9. The Big Sleep (1946)
“The Big Sleep” is a classic movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in their prime. If you’re a film fan, then chances are that we don’t even need to introduce these two actors to you. Humphrey Bogart is a legendary actor with his calm and brooding demeanor. In “The Big Sleep”, he’s a private investigator who flirts with Lauren Bacall’s character – who’s addicted to gambling and has accrued a lot of debts. “The Big Sleep” is an outstanding, old-school movie that you’re highly likely to enjoy, especially if you’re a fan of the classics and Humphrey Bogart’s incredible skills and talent as an actor.
10. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Last on our list, we have a cult-classic comedy made by director Guy Ritchie. It’s about a group of four misfits who dream of winning big money and living better. So, they pool their money on one of their friends, an avid poker player. However, the poker player gets scammed along the way by an aging (but still sharp) mob boss and losses all of his money and even more. The four friends have a week to return this money to the mob boss. They hustle and think about what to do to make ends meet. It’s an incredible movie that manages to stick together several different stories and intertwine them so that it remains cohesive. Also, it’s one of Jason Statham’s earliest movie roles before he became a Hollywood action hero. The late Lenny McLean, known in real life as the Governor, has his last appearance on the screen as Barry the Baptist before dying shortly after the movie was finished. “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” may not be all about gambling and casinos, but it sure is about the perils of gambling and how easy it is to overreach and get too greedy – and lose all your money in the process.
The Best Movies about Gambling
So, there you have it. You now know our list of the top 10 movies about casinos and gambling. Without a doubt, there are many more movies that you can find that cover the subject of casinos and gambling properly. Some legendary movies transcend the genre and reach deep into the human soul – these movies have the power to change your life forever after watching them.
You’re likely to enjoy many of the movies on our top 10 list, even if you aren’t a fan of gambling in general. It is because many of these films offer much more than just a simple story about gambling. So, you won’t be mistaken if you pick any of the movies you see on the top 10 list above. We hope that you will have a great time watching some of Hollywood’s best movies about gambling, people, and a couple of tricky cards.
