There’s something about a good gambling movie that draws you in and keeps you hooked. So if you’re looking for a few films that really capture the essence of what it means to be a casino lover, we’ve got you covered.
One of the most famous casino movies is Martin Scorsese’s classic, Casino. The film explores the lives and workings of underworld figures and their dealings with each other.
1. Casino
If you’re a fan of gambling movies, there are several classics that you can watch. These films are all about the world of casinos, and they offer a look into the glamour that is found at these establishments.
One of the best casino movies is Casino, which takes you into a world of greed, betrayal and violence. It features an all-star cast and a compelling story about two mob members who are working to build opposing gambling empires.
2. The House
The House, a new comedy from writer-director Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien (of “Neighbors”), finds a pair of suburban parents (Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler) who open an illegal casino to pay for their daughter’s college tuition. It’s a sort of aspirational, wacky endeavor that should be able to inspire a whole bunch of soccer-parent reenactments.
But while the movie’s premise might seem like a simple one, it turns out to be anything but. The script is slack, the cast is spotty and the movie’s overall tone is uninspired and unconvincing.
3. Ocean’s Eleven
Casino movies are a staple of cinematic storytelling. They explore a wide range of themes, from high-stakes gambling to gambling addiction and even one-night stands.
Ocean’s Eleven is a classic casino film that tells the story of a group of criminals planning to rob three Las Vegas casinos. It features a star-studded cast and a pulse-pounding storyline that makes it one of the best casino movies ever made.
Unlike most casino-based films, Ocean’s Eleven doesn’t take itself too seriously and isn’t afraid to have some fun with its themes. It’s a reminder that there’s nothing wrong with taking risks, even if the odds are against you.
4. The Card Counter
In Paul Schrader’s latest film, Oscar Isaac stars as William Tell, a professional poker player who grew up in prison. He travels the country, visiting casinos to play blackjack for modest winnings.
The movie is a slow-burn study of a man who’s haunted by the past, and it’s also a film about violence coming home. It falls into the tradition of loners and lost souls that extends from First Reformed’s Ernst Toller to Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle.
Tell’s gambling career takes him to a hotel-expo meeting with Major John Gordo (Willem Dafoe), the man responsible for torture at Abu Ghraib, and he finds his way under the thumb of a skeevy opportunist named Cirk (Tye Sheridan). It’s a buddy-gambling relationship that’s a lot like that of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight.
5. The Sting
The Sting is one of the most entertaining and exciting casino movies of all time. With its fast-paced plot, excellent acting, and retro ragtime soundtrack, this film is sure to entertain everyone.
Directed by George Roy Hill, The Sting has a fantastic story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It also has beautiful cinematography and a great soundtrack by Marvin Hamlisch.
The Sting was a huge hit in 1973 and is still a favorite of many. The movie was re-released in 4K Ultra HD and the visuals are now even better than ever.
6. Croupier
The 1999 film Croupier is one of the best casino movies of all time. It tells the story of a writer who takes a job as a croupier in order to find inspiration for his novels.
The movie was directed by Mike Hodges and starred Clive Owen as Jack Manfred. It was a low budget movie that was successful in Britain but won critical acclaim stateside.
7. The Cooler
A first-time helmer, Wayne Kramer delivers a stylish casino movie that is as entertaining as it is wryly insightful. It’s the tale of a man who has bad luck and makes his living by changing other people’s fortunes in Las Vegas.
Alec Baldwin’s character is a holdover from a casino in a bygone era, and resists change. He refuses to let his casino be replaced by the family-oriented entertainment world that is encroaching on his Shangri-La.
His cooler, Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy), has a natural talent for jinxing other gamblers and he uses his skill to make his living. But when he meets and falls in love with cocktail waitress Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello), his luck changes for the better.
