10 Best Gambling Movies of All Time
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Gambling movies are often thought to be cheesy and outdated. In reality, they’re more relevant than ever. The era of modern casino gaming has given rise to new gambling subgenres, such as table games, card games, sports betting, eSports, poker, and virtual casinos. Below, we share some of the best gambling movies to ever be made.
Best Gambling Movies of All Time
1. Casino (1995)
Best Gambling Movies of All Time: Casino (1995)
Stars: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone
A man is hired to rescue a kidnapped heiress from a Las Vegas casino that has become a haven for criminals. While on the job, he gets caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a mob boss who plans to use his daughter as leverage against him.
As events evolve into high drama, an unlikely romance develops between the hero and heroine. This was directed by Martin Brest, writer Nicholas Meyer, co-writer Danny DeVito, and stars Robert De Niro, Debra Winger, Sharon Stone, John Mahoney, and Joe Pesci.
2. Rounders (1998)
Stars: Matt Damon, Edward Norton
This 1998 baseball thriller is based on author James Toback’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, which won the 1993 National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. An aging gambler named Willie Mays (Damon), now nearing retirement, agrees to take part in a high-stakes poker tournament in Atlantic City, where he plays and loses for money he needs to pay back a loan shark. Soon after arriving in town, though, he finds himself pitted against rival gamblers who want to see if they can beat him at his own game.
3. Lucky Numbers (2001)
Stars: Tom Cruise, Susan Sarandon
The plot follows the story of Frank Capra, who lost everything in the 1929 stock market crash, but through hard work and good fortune comes out on top. When he meets wealthy socialite Anna Sage, she convinces him to use her lottery numbers to win the jackpot and build up enough money to start over again. However, before long, it becomes clear there\’s something very fishy going on.
4. The Gambler (2014)
Stars: Mark Wahlberg
Wahlberg returns to the role he originated in Steven Soderbergh’s 2013 film “Underworld.” He plays Reno ‘Razor’ Langdon, a professional gambler whose luck starts to run dry when he sets his sights on winning big at his local casino. He soon discovers that all the rules have changed — including whether or not he knows how to play cards.
5. Rain Man (1988)
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Raymond Burr
Hoffman portrays Raymond “Raymondo” Spenser Jr., a profoundly retarded savant who lives with his father (Burr). Spenser begins working for a car dealership so he can learn about cars. His new friends include two employees, Charlie Simms and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. They teach him things like how to make wagers on NASCAR races at the track and gamble on football games at home.
6. The Hustler (1961)
Star: Paul Newman
Newman portrayed pool hustler ‘Fast Eddie’ Fitzgerald, a master of trick shots who gets into trouble during World War II. After being captured by Japanese soldiers, he manages to escape their clutches. Once back in America, he teams up with a young soldier (Steve McQueen) to devise a plan to get rich quickly. Eventually, he wins the support of ‘pool shark’ Minnesota Fats (Sammy Davis, Jr.), who helps him set up business deals.
7. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Best Gambling Movies: Ocean’s Eleven
Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt
George Clooney and Brad Pitt star as Rusty Ryan and Danny Ocean, respectively, two brothers who form a team of thieves to pull off one last caper before retiring. Their first target is a casino in Las Vegas, but the details quickly become complicated when other members are added to their group.
8. Rounders (1998)
Stars: Matt Damon & Woody Harrelson
In this 1998 adaptation of John Pullmantel’s novel, Damon stars as former college pitcher/bookmaker Mac Whirter, who has fallen on hard times after losing most of his clientele when the sports betting ban was passed. Desperate for cash, he takes on an unsavory partner — a shady card player played by Woody Harrelson. Together, they embark on a scheme to rob a crooked businessman (Liev Schreiber), using inside information about upcoming sporting events to turn a profit.
9. The House I Live In (1945)
Stars: Edward G Robinson, Melvyn Douglas, Paulette Goddard
Edward G. Robinson stars as Dr. Martin Luther King Sr., a man who strives to improve life for those around him despite the many hardships laid on his shoulders. But he doesn’t always succeed because he lacks discipline and self-control. Instead, he loses himself to alcohol.
10. 21 (2008)
Stars: Kevin Spacey, Judi Dench, Kate Winslet
Spacey plays Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist. He uses his skills to help people land government contracts while getting pay for lobbying on behalf of foreign states. He eventually fumbles in a scandal where he attempts to buy the votes of US senators to pass a law that would benefit his clients.
Conclusion
What do you think? Do any of these movies deserve a spot on the list? Which ones should have been included? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below 🙂
