There are countless films in which scenes take place in a casino or in an underground gambling den. If casinos only make a brief appearance in some films, they are the central theme of other productions. Today, we present to you 8 of the best films about casinos and gambling.
This selection is in no particular order, as it would be too difficult to rank these films. Some are recent, others less so, and there is even a TV series.
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Casino Royale (2006), directed by Martin Campbell
We couldn’t start this selection with any other film. Casino Royale is a James Bond film released in 2006, in which all the action takes place in a casino, at a poker table. It also marks the first appearance of Daniel Craig as the famous British secret agent. This episode in the James Bond saga is known for being one of the most action-packed.
This James Bond film shows the beginning of agent 007’s career, at the moment he earns his licence to kill. Bond’s mission is to play (and win) a high-stakes poker game against terrorist financier Le Chiffre in order to bankrupt him. Le Chiffre is played by the excellent Mads Mikkelsen. This is also the film in which Bond falls under the spell of Vesper Lynd. This arc continues in Quantum of Solace, released in 2008.
California Split (1974), directed by Robert Altman
California Split is a film directed by Robert Altman, released in 1974. It stars George Segal, Elliott Gould, Ann Prentiss and Gwen Welles. It is considered by some to be one of the best films about gambling ever made.
Bill Denny and Charlie Waters develop a friendship around their shared interest in gambling after being beaten and robbed by someone they had just won money from. Charlie is an experienced gambler who bets on everything: poker, horse racing, boxing… The two friends spend all their time gambling. The only problem: they need to find money.
Rounders (1998), directed by John Dahl
Rounders is an American film directed by John Dahl, released in 1998. It stars Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Famke Janssen, Gretchen Mol and John Malkovich. It only achieved moderate success at the box office when first released. It’s thanks to the poker boom that it later became a cult film on the subject years later.
This film tells the story of two friends in debt. They are forced to win high-stakes poker games to pay off what they owe. These two friends are played by Matt Damon and Edward Norton.
Casino (1995), directed by Martin Scorsese
Casino is a 1995 American film directed by the great Martin Scorsese. It is inspired by the book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi. The cast includes Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak and James Woods. We’ve seen worse casts, haven’t we?
This film tells the story of Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro), who is sent by the mafia to oversee operations at the Tangiers casino in Las Vegas. He runs everything with an iron fist. The film shows how Sam manages the casino, the difficulties he faces, the mafia’s involvement, and the decline of his relationships and status.
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Las Vegas (TV series)
If you enjoy casinos and want to discover what goes on behind the scenes, you’ll love the Las Vegas series. It ran for 5 seasons and aired from September 2003 to February 2008. With a total of 106 episodes, each lasting 42 minutes, you’ll be entertained for quite a while.
This series was created by Gary Scott Thompson and is set in the Montecito, a fictional casino and hotel located on the Las Vegas Strip. The episodes focus on the team working there: the dealers, the casino security, and even its management. Mandalay Bay and Green Valley Ranch, two real hotels and casinos in the Las Vegas Valley, were sometimes used to represent the Montecito.
Molly’s Game (2017), directed by Aaron Sorkin
Molly’s Game is a film released in 2017 directed by Aaron Sorkin. It’s an American biographical crime drama based on the memoirs of Molly Bloom. It stars Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera and Joe Keery.
The film follows Molly Bloom, played by Jessica Chastain, who runs a huge underground poker empire for Hollywood celebrities, business tycoons, athletes and the Russian mafia. Unfortunately, her operations are exposed, and she becomes the target of an FBI investigation.
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Ocean’s Eleven (2001), directed by Steven Soderbergh
An American heist comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven was released in cinemas in 2001 (yes, that was already 20 years ago). It features an all-star cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac and Julia Roberts.
It tells the story of Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), who are planning a heist of 160 million dollars from casino owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). Benedict also happens to be the lover of Ocean’s ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts). The film was a massive box office success and spawned two sequels: Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007).
Las Vegas 21 (2008), directed by Robert Luketic
Las Vegas 21 is a film released in 2008 and directed by Robert Luketic. It stars Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth and Liza Lapira. This film is based on a true story.
It tells the story of a professor from MIT who forms a blackjack team with his most talented students. Together, they use card counting and secret signalling to increase their chances of winning at blackjack tables. They use the “Hi-Lo” system to count cards.
