Movies are always a fun watch because they’re all about risk and drama. In this guide, we will outline some of the best movies out there.
1. Bugsy (1991)
Bugsy is set in Las Vegas and is the story of Bugsy Siegel, a gangster who travels to the desert with a dream of creating a mecca. Warren Beatty plays Bugsy Siegel, and Barry Levinson directs this classy, smart and lavish film.
2. Atlantic City (1980)
Written by John Guare, Atlantic City features Susan Sarandon as a casino waitress, who dreams of becoming a dealer. The film is about the legalisation of gambling in the financially desolate urban landscape of Atlantic City and a story of hope among the poor dreamers who live there.
3. Eight Men Out (1988)
Eight Men Out is a historical drama created by John Sayles, about the Black Sox scandal of 1919. In this, the Chicago White Sox team members, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, chose to throw the 1919 World Series to gamblers. The movie is less about corruption and more about a labour-management conflict. The players decide to fix the series out of desperation, when their owner refuses to pay them what they deserve for a season well played.
4. The Color of Money (1986)
Paul Newman won an Oscar for playing the character Fast Eddie Felson in The Color of Money, a sequel to The Hustler, which came out in 1961. The Color of Money is about an ageing pool shark, who decides to stop gambling and start selling liquor instead.
5. The Sting (1973)
The Best Picture Winner, The Sting, tells the story of two con men, played by Paul Newman and Robert Redford, who decide to take down a mobster, portrayed by Robert Shaw.
6. Owning Mahowny (2003)
Owning Mahowny is the true story of a Canadian bank manager, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals money from the bank and uses it to make some pretty risky bets in Atlantic City.
7. Rounder’s (1998)
Rounder’s is essentially Citizen Kane for gamblers. Matt Damon plays the lead, portraying a professional poker player, and there is a wonderful supporting cast, including big names like John Malkovich, John Turturro, Martin Landau, Famke Janssen and Bill Camp.
8. Mississippi Grind (2015)
Half Nelson filmmakers, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, created this film about inveterate gamblers, who drive down south to a New Orleans poker game. The movie star Ryan Reynolds, as the backslapping Curtis, befriends Gerry, portrayed by Ben Mendelsohn.
9. Croupier (1998)
Clive Owen plays Jack, an aspiring author who is desperate for money, so he becomes a croupier. He is pretty new to the world of casino gambling.. The movie’s realistic portrayal of casino life makes it a film worth watching.
10. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
This movie was considered a knockoff of the 1961 movie The Hustler at the time of release. However, over time, The Cincinnati Kid has become famous for its great portrayal of poker. The movie features Steve McQueen as the kid and feels relevant even 55 years later.
11. Tricheurs (1984)
This is one of the lesser-known gambling movies, but it is an excellent watch. Barbet Schroeder created this thriller about a charming man with a gambling addiction. The role is portrayed by French rock star Jacques Dutronc. He meets a man who enlists him for an elaborate cheating scheme that makes his situation even more unmanageable.
12. Hard Eight (1996)
Hard Eight was Paul Thomas Anderson’s first movie. It tells the story of a sad, lonely man who survives in Las Vegas’ underworld by being quiet and unassuming. He eventually meets people who need his help. The movie offers a fairly realistic portrayal of Las Vegas.
13. Uncut Gems (2019)
In this recent but incredible film, Adam Sandler portrays Howard, a gambling addict who cannot stop destroying himself and his life. Josh and Benny Safdie created this intense and manic thriller.
14. The Gambler (1974)
While this film was recreated in 2014 with Mark Wahlberg, the 1974 classic film is truly one of the best gambling movies out there. James to back based the screenplay on his own gambling addiction. The movie stars James Can as the title character who is obsessed with danger and self-destruction.
15. California Split (1974)
These film stars Elliot Gould as Charlie, a gambler who befriends another gambler named Bill, portrayed as George Segal. The buddy film is an underrated classic and genuinely the best gambling movie out there.
With so many gambling movies coming out every now and then, it won’t be long before we spot an instant play casino or internet gambling movie! But these traditional gambling movies have stood the test of time and remain a favourite among gamblers and non-gamblers alike.
