Check Out the Top Five British Films about Gambling
The gambling industry is big business in the United Kingdom and has been for a very long time. In 2018, for instance, the gross gambling yield (GGY) on the British Isles was more than £14.4billion. As a result, it’s easy to understand why gambling has been such an important part of British cinematic culture.
Some very successful and memorable movies have used gambling to propel the action along. Everything from high stakes Texas Hold Em to underground betting on illegal boxing matches has been featured in British movies.
Find out about the top UK online gambling sites by visiting Online-casinos.com. Keep reading to learn about the top 5 British gambling movies of all time.
Britain’s 5 Best Gambling Movies
Snatch (2000)
Guy Ritchie’s gritty gangster noir Snatch has just about everything you could want in a gambling movie that explores the seedy criminal underworld. Memorable characters such as the blood-thirsty crime boss Bricktop and Brad Pitt’s Pikey make this movie one you will not want to miss if you love British gambling culture.
Iconic and unforgettable, one of the most enjoyable things about Snatch is the way it is able to flesh out a cohesive and interwoven story involving so many different crews and areas of the U.K.’s criminal landscape. Snatch’s epic soundtrack keeps the action rolling along as the main character, played by Jason Statham, tries his best not to end up getting killed as card games, boxing matches, and all sorts of other gambling take place on screen.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Guy Ritchie’s first film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels catapulted him and his chosen leading man, Jason Statham, to the upper echelons of British fame and fortune. The movie’s main action takes place during and around a very special card game featuring some rather unsavory characters.
Though many gambling movie fans prefer Snatch or Revolver, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels introduced the world to Guy Ritchie’s unique take on British gangster culture. This movie is famous for its swaggering cockney dialogue, tough guy ensemble, and unforgettable gambling moments.
Revolver (2005)
As promised, Revolver is the third movie in Guy Ritchie’s grand trio of films starring Jason Statham and exploring the dramatic intersection of British underground gambling and criminal culture. In this movie, Statham’s character is fresh out of prison for a crime he didn’t commit and hot on the idea of revenge.
The film’s action follows Statham’s character to one of Ritchie’s favorite cinematic backdrops: the unsanctioned, illegal, underground casino. It’s worth exploring Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and Revolver if you are a fan of British gambling movies, snappy innuendo laden dialogue, and gangster culture. Many have tried but few have been able to recreate the game plan Ritchie laid out with these cult classic British gambling films.
Casino Royale (2006)
Many classic James Bond films could have ended up on this list. Dr. No, Diamonds Are Forever, Octopussy, and Goldeneye are just a few of the other 007 movies that feature lots of gambling. Unlike Guy Ritchie’s films, Casino Royale takes place in a luxurious international casino located in Monaco.
As Daniel Craig’s Bond tries to take on super villain Le Chiffre, Texas Hold Em is the centerpiece of the action. In fact, many consider Casino Royale to be one long and drawn out montage of ultra-high-class luxury gambling action. Worth a look if you haven’t seen this film before.
Croupier (1998)
Croupier stars a brooding Clive Owen as a struggling writer who takes a job working in a high-class casino. Eventually, he meets a high roller and is offered a deal he just might not be able to refuse.
Croupier is similar to many of the other movies on this list, but nonetheless has its own unique personality and approach to portraying British gambling culture through the lens of a neo-noir. You’ll have to watch to figure out if Owen’s character is able to survive the high-tension action that is a driving force behind this movie.
More Movies
So, there you have it: our top five films about gambling produced in good old Blighty. If you’ve already made your way through these fantastic movies, don’t despair. We have plenty more great recommendations to keep you busy over the holidays!
