In Hollywood, the casino has been one of the most-visited tropes in the industry. That’s because the casino offers a naturally high-stakes environment that’s totally unique. In fact, until recently, most people had to travel great distances just to find themselves among the card and table games on a casino floor.
Today, it’s much easier to find online casino offers. In the US, for example, casino brands like 888 offer deals to welcome newcomers to the platform. There, players can find live dealer games, jackpot slots, and much more, which they can play straight from a remote device. But back in the day, the casino was a bit more out of reach—and this helped make it almost a mythic location for viewers.
There’s intrigue, mental gymnastics, luxurious trappings, a vibrant atmosphere, and a lot on the line anytime a casino floor comes on screen. And this isn’t a Hollywood affair only. With gaming centers in Macau in China and Jeju Island in South Korea, there are dozens of Eastern films that cover the topic from a variety of angles. Keep reading for some of the best titles—starting with 1964’s Pale Flower.
A Japanese Classic: Pale Flower (1964)
This crime drama takes an old-school look at the casino. While modern projects are happy to highlight the mental skills and fortitude necessary to succeed in card and table games, older projects focused on the more challenging elements of gaming. In Pale Flower, a young man meets a young woman while at a casino.
Their love story plays out through the context of gaming, viewed through a lens of destructive and codependent behavior. If you like films like The Card Counter, which takes a grittier look at gaming culture, then you’ll enjoy this film. Roger Ebert gave it four stars, then added it to his notorious list of ‘Great Movies’.
Poker King Takes on the Zeitgeist (2009)
Back in 2009, an online poker boom was still making waves worldwide. After a few decades of World Series of Poker coverage, players around the world were trying their hand with online platforms. This Hong Kong film rode the coattails of this trend, where two Texas Hold’em sleuths battle to be known as Macau’s poker king.
One of these characters, Jack, has spent the last few years playing poker in Canada. But now he has to take on one of Macau’s greatest poker players, named Uno. But there’s more at stake than the pot, as both Uno and Jack are vying for control of massive Macau casinos. Whoever wins will hold the fate of the islands in their hands.
From Vegas to Macau: An Ocean’s Twist (2014)
Just like the US’s Ocean’s 11 franchise, this three-part film series takes a highly entertaining look at life in Macau. However, this crime-drama largely takes place in Macau rather than Vegas. And just like its Western counterpart, the film focuses on a group of rag-tag sleuths who spend their time divesting major casinos of their funds in order to provide for the poor.
But when the group is exposed for their Robin Hood-esque activities, they have to engage in all sorts of hilarious quests in order to escape danger. Equal parts drama, comedy, and action flick, it has all the intrigue and laughs of a classic casino film.
Laughing Through God of Gamblers (1989)
This Hong Kong film includes an all-star cast that helped put it on the map—and keep it there—for fans of casino movies. With plenty of laughs and drama, the film takes viewers into the life of the ‘God of Gamblers’, a renowned gamer who’s kept his identity a secret. However, as of late, he’s been rumored to be losing his memory.
Two individuals plan on taking advantage of the God of Gamblers’ amnesia—only to realize he’s not so dimwitted after all. Soon, the trio are working together toward a common goal to take down a nemesis in the game of mahjong: the Demon of Gamblers.
