A Small List of Gambling Movies Comprised of Big Casino Titles

The Hollywood studios are money-making powerhouses. Some movies make billions of dollars in grosses, while others win critical and audience acclaim. With hundreds of movies coming out as if on conveyor belts, most of the themes are rehashed, cliched, and dull because you can use an idea only so many times. Luckily, auteurs and fresh minds still exist, and they manage to bring a new take on what appears as a worn-out formula.

The casino genre – like any other for that matter – has seen some hits and misses throughout the decades. Here, we would like to point out some of the best gambling movies that deserve your attention and stand out in a particular way from the rest of the bunch. There won’t be any particular order and no bad films will be mentioned in this article. We wouldn’t want to waste your precious free time with uninspiring or badly scripted pieces of film.

1. Molly’s Game (2017)

We’ll start off with Molly’s Game. A recently released crime drama, the motion picture is based on the real-life story of Mooy Bloom: a former US ski team member turned exclusive underground poker club princess. It boasts phenomenal performances across the board with Jessica Chastain being the definitive stand out. Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin takes directorial and writing duties. Expect a fast-paced movie with a razor-sharp script and dialogue delivery.

2. Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale is our next pick. Daniel Craig’s first outing as the famous British spy is his best portrayal as Agent 007, not to mention one of the best Bond movies. It’s a well-directed, gritty, and downright intense action movie that features nail-biting poker scenes. Albeit not the most realistic ever depicted, the entertainment value they bring is tremendous. Special kudos to the entire cast that manages to bring their A-game and especially Daniel Craig who manages to elevate as one of the best Bond agents ever.

3. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Back in 2001, Steven Soderbergh introduced us to Danny Ocean and his gang in Ocean’s Eleven. The 1st in a trilogy and a spin-off, it is also the best of the bunch. The thriller with comedic elements takes place in Las Vegas, where the crew is hatching a plan to rob 3 casinos simultaneously. The ensemble features A-listers from start to finish that throw lines at each other like punches. Seriously, their interactions are amazing. The twists and turns throughout make it an unpredictable gem of a movie.

4. Casino (1995)

The last recommendation we would like to point out is a true classic from a legendary director and auteur. We are talking about Martin Scorsese’s 1995 “based on actual events” movie Casino. It is a crime/drama epic that revolves around the rivalry between a casino exec and a mafia enforcer and their fight for ownership of a gambling empire. The star-studded cast is at its best here with Sharon Stone scoring a Best Actress Oscar nomination. The harsh yet delicate tale provides the flip side of the glamour that disguises all the shady practices happening behind the scenes. A must-see!

5. 21 (2008)

“21” is another example of a movie based on actual events. The story centers on a team of MIT students that get trained into counting cards, becoming experts in the process and winning millions in various casinos in Las Vegas. The movie features a stellar cast of actors, among which Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, and Kate Bosworth. The film realistically depicts what can happen to you and your life if you fall victim to a gambling obsession, allow the greed to cloud your judgement and lose control. The reprocutions could be sweat inducing to say the least, as you will see for yourself when you watch the film. Turn up the volume, as the movie’s great soundtrack is great, too.