11 Best Gambling Movies of All Time
There are many classic gambling movies: too many, in fact, to list. However, we at Gambling.com have trawled through the film archives and picked out what we think are the 11 best gambling movies of all time.
The following films cover a pretty broad range of gambling-related topics—everything from casinos to online gambling to hustling and more. Most important of all, they are simply good movies.
No. 11: High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story
One of the better biographical gambling movies around, the affectionately-named Stuey features Michael Imperioli as Stu Ungar, a high roller famed for being the only poker player to ever win three WSOP Main Events. A.W Vidmer’s spectacle is no high-octane thriller but shows the breakdown of a man who once had everything.
The film portrays the gambler’s whole life, from beginning to end, showing the hedonistic highs and terrible lows. Eventually losing most of his money on horses, the story of Stu’s meteoric rise to the top of the gambling world and then dramatic fall is as devastating as it is entertaining.
No. 10: The Cooler
William H. Macy plays an unusual character in Wayne Kramer’s movie. Macy is the "cooler" of the title—a man whose luck is so bad that casinos employ him to stand at the table of punters on hot streaks.
Without fail, their luck changes, and the casino’s house edge is restored. However, when the cooler’s own fortunes change, he suddenly finds himself being the lucky charm of every gambler in Vegas—much to the chagrin of the casinos that employ him.
A fun premise, backed by a superb central performance, this offers a great insight into casino gambling superstitions and the concept of luck.
No. 9: Seabiscuit
Though not specifically focused on gambling, Seabiscuit tells the charming story of a jockey, a trainer, and a horse’s rise from rags to riches.
Jeff Bridges plays a depressed, down-on-his-luck individual, but with one possible redeeming feature in his life: Seabiscuit, an apparently useless horse found by a cowboy trainer (Chris Cooper). Tobey Maguire plays the unlikely jockey who goes on to steer Seabiscuit to numerous victories in one of the great underdog stories of the twentieth century.
This is about as stirring a true story as you’ll find anywhere.
No. 8: Rounders
Featuring a young Matt Damon, Rounders is the tale of an entrepreneur who pays for his university fees by winning at the poker table. The film is full of famous faces, including John Malkovich and Edward Norton.
The movie’s showdown culminates in a dazzling high-stakes game, with Malkovich playing the irrepressible poker baron that Damon must try to defeat. The film is carried along by brilliant performances—Norton, in particular, is spectacular—and by authentic depictions of poker strategy and table banter that few other gambling movies render so successfully.
No. 7: The Gambler
Aptly named, The Gambler tells the story of a university professor (played by a compelling James Caan), who has an addiction to gambling.
As the film continues, we see Caan’s character plunge into self-destruction and his mental state become increasingly precarious. As his borrowing steadily worsens and his need for thrills threatens to endanger his life, the film builds to a crescendo and a brilliant climax.
This is one for the gambling purists, who will be able to identify regularly with the character on screen. It also serves as a pretty severe warning against addiction of any kind.
No. 6: The Cincinnati Kid
Another film with a host of good performances, The Cincinnati Kid, starring Steve McQueen, tells the story of an up-and-coming gambler who pits his wits against the high roller of the day, Lancey Howard.
Played with verve by Edward G. Howard, Lancey agrees to take on McQueen, seeing as the Kid had made his name only in backroom games with little serious competition. The Kid is further hampered by a series of distractions—not least a beautiful girl—which threaten to topple his chances.
The film culminates with both players raising their stakes and, in an exciting finale, one of them thrillingly coming out on top.
No. 5: 21
Based on a remarkable true story, 21 is a modern classic of the casino gambling movie genre. Set in the era before online gambling had set down its stall, this is the tale of a math professor (Kevin Spacey) training up a group of talented students to count cards in the major casinos on the Vegas strip.
What follows is a thrilling tale of adrenaline-fuelled trickery, betrayal, and hedonism that wouldn’t be believable if it hadn’t actually happened. Anyone out there with even a passing interest in casino gambling, blackjack, and card counting will enjoy this exciting ride.
No. 4: The Hustler
A classic, anyway you look at it, The Hustler is a tale set in an era when online gambling was about as close in reality to mankind living on Mars.
Paul Newman’s “Fast” Eddie Felson is the upstart with an attitude, trying to pit his pool skills against the legend that was Minnesota Fats. A chastening experience soon sees him out of pocket and down on his luck, and only the ruthless mentoring of manager Bert Gordon can take him anywhere near where he once was.
This is one of those gambling movies with its heart right in the origins of the pool-halls and backrooms that US gambling was built on.
No. 3: The Sting
The star duo of Newman and Robert Redford—who worked so successfully together over the course of their careers—play two con men, one a novice and the other a professional. Together, they target a high-flying criminal boss who loves a good gamble and who is after Redford’s character from the outset for a previous swindle.
Gambling movies rarely have as many twists and turns as you’ll find here, as the "long con" gets ever more complicated and the danger levels for both protagonists reach a crescendo.
Finally, a dramatic denouement provides an ample payoff for a truly nail-biting, suspense-filled thriller.
No. 2: Casino Royale
There are two versions of Ian Fleming’s story, but without doubt the most accomplished is director Martin Campbell’s take, starring Daniel Craig.
Set at breakneck speed, the story follows James Bond as he takes on another villainous figure, this time in the form of the poker-playing, torture-inflicting Le Chiffre. The most memorable scene in the movie—and one of the most unforgettable scenes in recent film history—centers on an incredible showdown at the felt in Monte Carlo when Bond takes on his adversary in an all-or-nothing game.
The pace is furious, Eva Green is sumptuous, and the poker is simply jaw-dropping.
No. 1: Casino
Perhaps the most famous of all gambling movies and a sweeping classic that’s on most film buffs' Top Ten All Time Favorites lists, Casino is the epic tale of mob-controlled casino gambling in Vegas. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci star, the former as a casino owner with mafia ties and the latter as a psychotic enforcer whose increasingly erratic behavior starts to threaten both their lives.
Throw the seductive charms of Sharon Stone into the mix, some towering support performances, and some of the most harrowing and memorable scenes in film history, and you have the perfect combination for a classic great.
Did we leave any out? Let us know in the comments:
