Let’s be honest; few movies are cooler than those with casino games. The Bond series has honed that fact over the years.
There are also plenty of casino movies to choose from, with poker hit Croupier and Kevin Spacey’s legendary blackjack movie 21 ahead. And then, of course, there’s Ocean Eleven. Roulette is also a common feature of Hollywood movies, although the popular roulette wheel strategies may not be as easily portrayed on screen as some of the other alternatives.
Roulette is also plagued by the fact that it’s erroneously called James Bond’s casino game of choice, when in fact the world’s deadliest secret agent only enjoys a few rounds of baccarat. Of course, it depends on who he is chasing. Who knows, maybe in the future we’ll see a roulette movie based on an Ohio roulette scam or something.
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Uncut Gems
Adam Sandler has a reputation for starring in some really ugly movies, but The Uncut Gem will certainly stay away from the crowd. Sandler played the likable New York jeweler owner Howard Ratner, someone who likes to be around him. He puts his acting talent on full display in this gripping crime thriller with an ending you won’t know from miles away.
The movie does a great job of immersing you in the action, as you will always feel part of the world of the protagonist. What’s more, you feel like you’re getting closer to your seat when you see Howard keep saying “yes” to the horrific decision at the end of the movie. Revolving around gambling, sports betting, drugs and crime, Uncut Gems deserves a spot on our list of the best gambling movies of all time.
Even though Adam Sandler is the only known actor name in the film, all the other actors did a lot of work for Sandler’s stage as Howard Ratner. Former NBA player and Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett also plays a fictional version of himself in the film, and he’s impressive as one of Ratner’s big clients.
Honeymoon in Vegas
The first (but definitely not the last) poker movie on our comprehensive list, Honeymoon in Las Vegas stars James Caan, Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker and Peter Boyle starring.
The film even casts 7-year-old Bruno Mars as an Elvis impersonator. In fact, there are a lot of Elvis impersonators in this movie – so many that you can expect to see a skydiving team of them at some point!
But things take an unexpected turn when they meet old Las Vegas gambler Tommy (James Caan). Tommy pointed out that Betsy bears a striking resemblance to his late wife. He arranges a regular game of poker, which he wins, and suggests that Jack let him spend the weekend with Betsy to pay off his debt.
If you’ve ever planned a honeymoon in Las Vegas, this movie will make you realize why it might not be such a hot idea. That said, it’s a fun, light-hearted romantic comedy that focuses on poker, Vegas, and everything the city’s bright and charming nightlife has to offer.
Ocean’s Eleven
Directed by Steven Soderbergh and featuring a cast of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and many other big names, Ocean Eleven is almost a cool movie. While not a movie about the casino itself, these venues play a big role in the movie.
Ocean Eleven’s storyline is similar to the 1960 original, but with specific script changes.
Immediately after his release from prison, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) breaks his probation by heading to Vegas to meet Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) to plan a major casino heist.
He recruited two crooks, a pickpocket, a mechanic, a surveillance expert, an explosion expert and a brilliant acrobat. They plan to rob the casino on the night of the big boxing match between Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis, as they predict the Bellagio’s coffers alone will contain more than $150 million.
Personal events, shouting, and unexpected results overshadowed bold efforts.
In fact, as one of the best casino robbery movies of all time, Eleven Oceans is a must-see even if you’re not a gambling fan. If you like Soderbergh’s version, be sure to check out the two sequels as well as the original 1960 film starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.
21
Often overlooked by film critics, 21 doesn’t score as well as the other films on our list. However, as far as the best gambling movies go, 21 is a stirring tale of adventure, friendship and betrayal.
The film’s synopsis revolves around six MIT mathematicians who master the art of card counting and travel to Las Vegas for the ultimate test. Once there, their ingenuity and skills helped them amass huge sums of money, but their actions also drew unwanted attention from casino operators.
When they got a taste of success, the players began to part ways. Ben (Jim Sturgess) completely ignores his role in the varsity engineering competition and is overwhelmed by the constant game of blackjack.
This cost him $200,000. Ben starts counting cards again to pay off the debt, but this time without his valuable teammates. As the film unfolds, he is quickly caught by security and reveals a series of personal problems he is trying to solve.
What makes the 21 such an amazing watch is that you simply won’t believe the events are based on a true story, which makes the movie even more interesting. Great performances from familiar faces such as Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne and Kate Bosworth are perfectly matched to the gripping story.
Molly’s Game
Molly Bloom was training to be an Olympic skier, but her injury took her down a very different path. She started playing poker, got into trouble organizing an illegal, high-stakes game in Los Angeles, and ended up writing a memoir about it called Molly’s Game.
A few years later, STX Films acquired the rights to make a film about her wonderful life.
The film begins with Molly trying to qualify for the 2002 Winter Olympics, but she falls while running and is seriously injured. Molly initially planned to go to law school, but soon changed her mind and decided to move to Las Vegas to take a year off. She started working as a bottle attendant at a club and soon became acquainted with many famous and wealthy Los Angeles people.
After initial success, Molly quickly ran into all the problems that come with working with erratic poker players, compulsive gamblers, and the Mafia itself. Molly’s Game stars Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom and other lovely cast members such as Idris Elba, Kevin Costner and Michael Cera.
The film was nominated for an Oscar and is generally considered one of the best biographical crime dramas of the past decade, and not just in terms of best casino movie.
Croupier
Croupier, starring a young Clive Owen, is a film that helped the actor rise to fame in Hollywood. This is a unique neo-noir gambling film about the life of a young and talented writer who earns a living working as a dealer while trying to make a breakthrough in his writing career. As he learns the ins and outs of the industry, he struggles to avoid indulging in the grim world of gambling addiction, which he fails to do at the lowest point of the film.
This succinct plot description is as much as we can share about the film because of how completely unexpected it ends. Crupi’s main takeaway, however, is that this isn’t a movie that’s essentially about plot. What sets it apart are the characters and exciting atmosphere of the neo-noir casino. With many of the early noir crime movie-style inner monologues, Crupi knows how to set the tone of a plot from start to finish.
Croupier is such a unique gambling film because it doesn’t just focus on the player side of the industry. Instead, we also see the other side of the coin through the eyes of the person on the other side of the table. Because of this, we’ve firmly placed it in the top gambling movies ever made.
