It has long been a trend for movies to feature gambling. Since extreme gambling is associated with high stakes, emotion, and desperation, it is practically made for television and film.
There have been a lot of great films about gambling, from the heyday of the genre in the 1960s and 1970s to the contemporary feature films made today. We’ve chosen our top picks for this section.
In some of these films, gambling serves as the setting for compelling plotlines and exciting action. Some people concentrate on the psychological benefits and pleasure of winning at the tables.
What, however, unites these films in any way? Right up until the credits roll, they’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
1. Casino (1995) is one
Casino is a timeless movie that features the incredible acting partnership of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.
Casino is based on actual events that happened when the Mob controlled Las Vegas in the 1970s, like many other Martin Scorsese movies.
The movie centers on Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro), a casino manager for the Chicago Mob. He collaborates with self-made mobster Nicky Santoro (Pesci).
Until Ace becomes distracted by Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone), they successfully navigate the competitive world of cazinouri online work and generate enormous profits for the criminal enterprise.
Casino licence and develops a frenetic energy as Ace’s life starts to fall apart and the Mob’s hold on Las Vegas starts to wane.
Casino is among the best gambling-related films ever made because of this exhilarating excitement.
2. 1974’s The Gambler
The Gambler’s Axel Freed, a brilliant James Caan, plays an English professor.
Freed has a crippling gambling addiction in addition to his love of literature.
Traveling to Las Vegas in the hopes of striking it rich, Freed faces a $44,000 debt and a wealthy family who are ashamed of him.
The movie received positive reviews when it was first released and has endured as a superb examination of the negative consequences of compulsive gambling. Its classic status is a result of its open, unvarnished examination of gambling.
A 2014 remake starring Mark Wahlberg did not fare as well, regrettably.
3. Uncut Gems 2019
Among the few recently released films on this list, Uncut Gems is one.
Uncut Gems is already regarded as one of the best gambling movies despite only being released a few years ago thanks to its incredible pace and tense soundtrack.
In Howard Ratner, a New York City jeweler with a terrible gambling habit, Adam Sandler departs from his usual comedic roles.
Ratner meets NBA star Kevin Garnett through a fortunate series of events and begins to work with him. Ratner places a wager on the NBA Championship Finals using some insider knowledge.
The problems Ratner is facing will all be resolved if this wager wins. But a few loan vultures run the risk of destroying everything.
4. California Split, 1974
Audiences are entertained by California Split while also learning valuable lessons.
A professional player named Charlie (Elliott Gould) and amateur gambler Bill (George Segal) become friends.
As a result of their new friendship, they both decide to give it their all on a thrilling gambling trip to Reno.
The movie also focuses on friendship, gambler psychology, and the most crucial gambling advice of all: knowing when to stop.
This makes it a crucial watch for everyone, regardless of whether you want to play poker or not.
5. The Hustler, from 1961
The Hustler is unquestionably a work of its time because it is the only film on this list to use pool as the primary form of gambling.
Although pool hustling has become less popular in recent years, this doesn’t make the movie any less deserving of a spot on the list.
This is due to the fact that The Hustler is a tale of grit and perseverance. Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, and George C. Scott all put on outstanding performances to support it as well.
Upon its debut, The Hustler was a huge hit, and people’s perceptions have remained the same.
The movie was chosen for preservation in the American National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1997.
The Hustler was preserved by the Academy Film Archive six years later to ensure that subsequent generations could enjoy it.
We are at a loss for words if that isn’t a sign of quality.
6. The 2017 film Molly’s Game
Unfortunately, the majority of the movies on this list are men-oriented and star men, which is representative of the genre as a whole.
Too frequently, women in gambling movies are relegated to the roles of love interests or the archetypal prostitute with a golden heart.
In Molly’s Game, however, this isn’t the case.
Instead, this inventive movie adopts a completely different strategy by retelling the true tale of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), a woman who manages an underground poker empire for Hollywood’s wealthy and famous.
Everything is going smoothly until the FBI shows up and threatens her multimillion dollar business…
7. The Card Counter (in 2021)
We have The Card Counter to complete our list.
Paul Schrader, the author of enduring screenplays like Taxi Driver, wrote and directed the movie.
It’s interesting to note that The Card Counter is just as gory and also centers on PTSD.
The Card Counter, which stars a restrained Oscar Isaac, combines gambling and action in a nonstop movie.
The Card Counter’s meticulous recreation of the World Series of Poker tournament will appeal to gamblers in particular, and the final few scenes are sure to catch everyone’s attention.
