Molly’s Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a world-renowned Olympic-class skier. Molly’s athletic career is certainly noteworthy, but her side gig garnered even more interest once it was made public. Molly just so happened to be running an exclusive poker game ring for an entire decade that welcomed celebrities, business tycoons, and even mobsters. After being arrested during a massive FBI sting, Molly comes into contact with a criminal defense lawyer and relays more of her enthralling life story to the viewing audience. Hard Eight features three A-list actors that you might not have expected to see in a film such as this one – John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel Jackson.
“The Cooler” (Wayne Kramer,
2016 spy film starred Daniel Craig as James Bond, a British Secret Service agent with a license to kill. He heads to Madagascar to discover a terrorist financier, Le Chiffre. Bond plays Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game at Casino Royale to topple his organization. This classic dramedy often tops the list of the best casino movies, offering a stellar performance from Elliot Gould, who plays a casual gambler. He and his seasoned friend, played by George Segal, head on a gambling streak to win big. They have their ups and downs as they take on the betting world in this Robert Altman film.
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- The film does not mention the glamorous big winnings of Las Vegas, as it focuses more on the negative side of the gambling world.
- A few of these are in abroad casinos, and others aren’t set in gambling houses at all.
- The film is about a young poker player who challenges an established pro to a high-stakes match.
- The girl continues to defeat the school’s best gamblers and she soon takes on the staff and anyone who has money or ambition to challenge her.
- Some of the more famous poker movies are The Cincinnati Kid, Molly’s Game, Rounders and Casino Royale, all of which have poker form some of all of the action in the film.
- He encounters Vincent Lauria, a talented & green player, proposing a partnership.
- There are so many options for watching movies these days, so you may be wondering how to watch A Big Hand for the Little Lady.
- After her career was derailed by a life-changing injury to her spine, Molly was then put in charge of an underground poker game within the Viper Room in Los Angeles.
During the night out, one of the friends steals casino poker chips belonging to a gangster. However, they all request one of the friends who happens to be good at counting cards to help them win the money needed. It is an exhilarating ride from start to finish and definitely worth watching if you are a fan of gambling movies. The 1961 original is less concerned with a swaggering Tom Cruise–Paul Newman movie-star face-off and more focused on loyalty and integrity and ambition. 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.
The Gambler (
- Manfred takes a job as a croupier, similar to a dealer, to inspire his writing.
- 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.
- For instance, the illusion of control is a common cognitive distortion in gambling, where players believe they can influence outcomes that are actually determined by chance.
- We meet Ace Rothstein and Nicky Santoro, both deeply embedded in the mafia world, making fortunes in casinos before it all goes wrong in a spiral of power, love, greed, drugs, and violence.
- Cusack, in typical fashion, puts on an excellent performance as Buck Weaver, one of the ringleaders on the team who helped convince the other seven players to follow his lead.
- New York becomes a manic monstrosity full of bookies, sad sacks, and noise; the entire city seems to reflect Sandler’s down-on-his-luck, out-of-options plunger.
- His awakening to love and genuine companionship starkly contrasts with the superficial allure and ephemeral joys peddled by the gambling world.
Of course, it also features Bradley Cooper, which helped establish him as a juggernaut of the industry. As a recent modern Bond film, it’s relatively easy to find a way to watch Casino Royale online. However, you can watch California Split on several streaming services. Simply tag us (@filmshortage) on a social media post with your trailer link and the hashtag #shortfilmtrailer included. Due to the popularity of bingo, it made its way into several sectors, and the entertainment industry is not an exception.
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The script brims with wit until the final hand is dealt, and the poker players themselves are portrayed wonderfully by each respective performer. Directed by Norman Jewison, many hardcore film fans would cite this as the greatest gambling movie, period. And while director Norman Jewison didn’t top the list with The Cincinnati Kid (1965), the number five spot is nothing to complain about. Billed as “the wildest poker game in the west,” the poker featured in A Big Hand for the Little Lady is realistic in that it portrays several common poker motifs such as degeneracy, high stakes, and the con. The “big hand” that results in a massive pot of $20,500 – remember it takes place in 1880, so that’d be equivalent to about $550,000 in today’s dollars – is a lot of fun, though today’s poker audience might take issue with the betting. He finds himself in over his head and his wife has to step in, though all may not be as it seems.
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As in the best films about gambling and casino, famous saying is, ‘See, life is a people game too.’ The rating is 6/10 on IMDb and 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. You should check out Molly’s Game, a movie based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a high-stakes poker player. She hosted one of the most exclusive underground poker games for the wealthy and powerful, including members of the Mafia, politicians, and celebrities. The movie portrays her life and how the FBI began to track her down, leading to her downfall. If you’re looking for a gambling film that has a lighter edge to it, then this pick should elicit a few laughs. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is a British crime/comedy that stars Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones.
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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 https://true-fortune.us/bonus/ 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.
- Each of those movies shows a different drama thrilling story about some gamblers and their personal experience.
- When films like The Card Counter uncover the psychological connection between being good at gambling and dealing with being a human, they create something truly magical that stands the test of time.
- 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.
- There’s always a risk when it comes to picking a movie, but there are ways of limiting that risk; like, say, reading a list of the best movies in the genre.
- If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced movie with a bit of gambling thrown in, Rounders is definitely worth checking out.
- This movie takes a deep dive into the psyche of this cold character for a moody, complex story.
- If you are looking for a gripping gambling movie that is based on a true story, then Casino is a must-watch.
Casino ( – An Empire Built on High Stakes
Manfred takes a job as a croupier, similar to a dealer, to inspire his writing. He goes against the casino’s code of conduct and gets wrapped up in a risky heist. Catacombe is a Dutch movie directed by Victor D. Ponten and one of the grittiest movies about gambling you will find on Netflix. Telling the story of match-fixing in soccer and the organized crime that preys on vulnerable athletes, the movie is a masterpiece of both narrative and cinematography. Even the promised reward of $10,000 for safekeeping the bag cannot help Garrett hold onto his word.
The Hustler (
Ping-ponging from casinos to hotel rooms to long monologues with her father (Kevin Costner), Molly is a show-stopping show-runner who runs a lucrative operation that allows rich people to gamble with other rich people. Jessica Chastain is so good in the role you sometimes forget about all that drivel coming out of Arron Sorkin’s script. This is one of the lesser-known films on the list from a modern perspective — and that isn’t to say that The Cooler (2003) was well-received upon release with millions of dollars accrued in theaters.
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The film is an exciting ride through the highs and lows of living a double life; one as studious college students and the other as high rollers. The drama surrounding the world of gambling can suck you in with its tales of big wins, devastating losses and criminal masterminds. Digital Celluloid, a comic strip by artist Chris Cirillo, pokes fun at the films of today, tomorrow and yesterday.
A few of these are in abroad casinos, and others aren’t set in gambling houses at all. Some are in more underground locations, or in other settings entirely. As such, we thought it’d be worthwhile to share a list of poker films you may want to watch. When PokerNews took to social media, fans mentioned many other poker movies. No, you can have the same fun when you try the Polish online casino sites that offer a variety of games.
The Cincinnati Kid (
- Handicapping is a serious business in Vegas and the high-stakes nature of the world may surprise some but the themes will be achingly familiar to anyone who’s placed a sports bet before.
- Its story of two professional grifters who team up to con a mob boss and avenge the death of their mutual friend.
- Although “Ocean’s Eleven” isn’t technically a gambling movie, it earns its spot on the list because it really feels like a gambling movie.
- The memorable casino scene is when Tommy DeSimone approaches the craps table with lots of money to place bets.
- The Cooler was met with positive reviews, with critics praising the acting and writing.
- To pay off his debts, Howard must get his hands on a rare and costly gem, all the while attempting to prevent his addiction from harming his relationships and personal life.
- For a little over 90 minutes, Hard Eight Sydney takes John under his gambling wing after helping his homeless protege get enough money for his mother’s funeral.
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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.
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If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced movie with a bit of gambling thrown in, Rounders is definitely worth checking out. “Casino,” directed by Martin Scorsese and widely regarded as one of the best casino movies ever made, tells the story of the early days of the Las Vegas casino industry. It’s important to note, however, that while the film is set in Las Vegas, it doesn’t focus on the first Vegas casino. Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie “Hard Eight” follows the story of a seasoned gambler who takes a young man under his wing, introducing him to the casino scene. The mentorship slowly evolves into a complex relationship as they navigate the unpredictable world of gambling.
- If you like to play roulette online real money, you can choose an interesting movie for yourself.
- The Mafia sends sports handicapper Sam “Ace” Rothstein to set things straight at a Vegas casino.
- Bugsy is less about gambling — although Siegel surely takes some big chances — than it is about Sin City’s messy birth, which proves fascinating, even if the movie’s glitzy, prestige-picture trappings are a bit limiting.
- 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.
- Of course, it’s also about British secret intelligence operatives and the undercover workings thereof.
- The whole truth about gambling is perfectly presented here, from the high ups to the steep downs.
- This is a drama film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, and Karl Malden.
- James Caan plays an English professor with a dangerous penchant for betting who’s consumed by his obsession.
- This complexity offers a fresh perspective on gambling narratives, reflecting not just the despair, but the human connections, dreams, and moments of joy that can be found even in the most seemingly desolate paths of life.
- Adam Sandler is known for starring in some…well, questionable comedies.
- In The Cooler, he put on one of his most brilliant performances playing a down-on-his-luck character named Bernie Lootz.
- Sandler portrays a frenzied jewelry store owner whose gambling addiction puts him in a financially difficult situation.
- It exudes a particularly anxiety-inducing tone to its general style of cinematography and sound design, which remains a main talking point among fans to this day.
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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. But Molly gets caught up in an outside scandal that sheds light on her poker ring, and the film follows the decisions she makes along the way. The advantage is that this motion picture is based on the real story of a group of students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The idea is that they were trying to rob one of the casinos in Las Vegas. As other casino gambling movies of all time, Atlantic City is a 1980 romantic crime film starring Burt Lancaster & Susan Sarandon, directed by Louis Malle. A gangster & aspiring blackjack dealer becomes involved in a dangerous scheme.
He encounters Vincent Lauria, a talented & green player, proposing a partnership. Check a 1988 American road drama film and one of the best casino movies of all time starring Tom Cruise for comedy. Charlie Babbit, a selfish, debt-laden car salesman, learns his wealthy father passed, leaving millions to his autistic brother in a trust fund. He breaks his brother out of a mental institution, using savant-level math skills to win while gambling in Las Vegas.
Bernie, uniquely employed as a “cooler” – tasked with jinxing the hot streaks of winning gamblers through his seemingly cursed presence – embodies a fascinating paradox. He is both a silent enabler of the casino’s dominance over hopeful gamblers and a sympathetic figure, ensnared in a role that exploits despair and dashed hopes. In weaving a story that is at once an exploration of addiction and a portrayal of friendship and human connection, “Mississippi Grind” showcases a narrative rich in empathy, complexity, and authenticity. James Toback based the screenplay on his own gambling habits, which might explain why he’s been hit with so many allegations for problematic behavior.