Are you organising a movie night with friends who are interested in a gambling thriller? Maybe you are preparing for a weekend of fun and gambling in Las Vegas.
Whether it’s craps, baccarat, roulette, or poker, a gambling film is a great way to learn more about your favourite casino game. It can be a great inspiration before you try it out for real at online casinos on casinotop3, for example. Fortunately, it is not difficult to locate the best gambling films.
To assist you in making an informed decision, listed below are the 5 best gambling films. So, break out the popcorn and gather your friends because the show is about to begin!
21 (2008)
It can be difficult to find a true-life gambling film that is packed with suspense, excitement, and humour. The classic film 21 by Robert Luketic provides all of these and more. It is both serious and humorous, which is why IMDB’s 6.8/10 rating does not do it justice.
You may forget that the film is based on the true story of six MIT students who were taught to count cards by their unconventional math professor Micky Rosa (played by Kevin Spacey). After multiple weekend trips to Las Vegas, they eventually took The Strip casinos for millions in blackjack winnings.
The story of Ben Campbell (portrayed by Jim Sturgess), a talented student and aspiring physician, is perhaps the most heartwarming. Ben joins the card-counting team because he is unable to secure $300,000 to attend Harvard Medical School. Unfortunately, power and greed prevail over the students, jeopardising their plans.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003)
Stu Ungar needs no introduction if you follow the poker world closely. He is a well-known poker expert renowned for being the first player in the World Series of Poker history to win three Main Event tournaments. Unfortunately, he gambled away the vast majority of his poker winnings.
Michael Imperioli portrays the high roller Stu Ungar in High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story, an independent biographical film about his fascinating life. Vidmer’s documentary covers every aspect of the player’s life, from when he had everything and experienced hedonistic highs to when his life imploded. The film spares no expense in depicting Stu’s meteoric rise to the pinnacle of poker gambling and subsequent equally meteoric fall.
Rounders (1998)
It is somewhat difficult to find a gambling film that is both humorous and dramatic. Rounders offers a little bit of everything, including a script filled with drama and a star-studded cast (with the ranks of Matt Damon as the main star, as well as Edward Norton and John Malkovich). What else could you want?
In Rounders, Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) must defeat Teddy “KGB,” a Russian gambling baron, in a high-stakes poker game. McDermott’s girlfriend, Jo, is pressuring him to give up gambling at home. However, he must use his poker winnings to cover his college expenses.
The tug-of-war between the couple continues until McDermott’s friend Lester is released from prison and required to repay an old debt to the KGB. The showdown unfolds in front of your eyes, with much table talk and poker bluffing strategies.
Casino Royale (2006)
James Bond (Daniel Craig’s 007) attempts to defeat Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a well-known terrorist financier, in Casino Royale, which is arguably one of the most famous gambling films ever made.
MI6 enlists Mr Bond’s assistance to defeat Le Chiffre at the poker table after learning that he intends to use high-stakes poker to raise funds for terrorist activities. Bond not only displays remarkable bluffing strategies but also manages to dismantle Le Chiffre’s organisation.
Casino Royale is one of the most popular and viewed James Bond films. The film receives an outstanding eight stars on IMDb and scores points in every category, from the cool gambling moves to the action sequences.
The Hangover (2009)
The Hangover is a humorous (and somewhat literal) parody of the gambling idiom, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” The film is not centred on gambling, but there are several gambling-related scenes scattered throughout.
Doug (portrayed by Justin Bartha) and his three friends Alan (Ed Helms), Stu (Zach Galifianakis), and Phil are involved in a series of mishaps (Bradley Cooper). Two days before Doug’s wedding, the odd crew decides to travel to Las Vegas for a bachelor party.
The following morning, however, the trio has no recollection of what transpired the previous evening. Interestingly, they, too, are lost and unable to locate the groom. Now, now. Just hours before the wedding, the three groomsmen must assemble their thoughts and search for their missing friend.
The first Hangover film was such a huge success that Warner Bros. released Hangover II in 2011 and Hangover III in 2013. Each film in this series is not only hilarious but also provides an exaggerated depiction of Las Vegas and its imposing casinos. Can we maintain optimism regarding the release of Hangover IV?
