Six Timeless Hollywood Casino Movies That You Must Watch
Hollywood gambling movies are impacting and influencing the popularity of casino games online and offline greatly. As online gambling is becoming a bigger trend nowadays, more players are showing interest to watch casino movies in order to get a better idea of the atmosphere these films bring.
There is something iconic about the glamour, action, suspense, mystery and at times, comic relief that plays out in a casino movie and it takes great talent to be able to write and direct a movie to bring all of these elements together in a way that they can complement each other.
With gambling insights, mafia-based casino operations, and having a thrilling experience in the shoes of the main character, you can be assured that you will have a great time watching these films.
Let’s take a look at ten timeless casino movies that you cannot miss:
1. Casino Royale
Director: Martin Campbell
Year: 2006
Upon receiving his license to kill, British Secret Service agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) ventures to Madagascar, where he discovers a link to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who finances terrorist organizations.
Bond learns the Le Chiffre is planning to raise money in a high-stakes poker game, M16 sends Bond to play against him, gambling that their newest “00” operative will topple the man’s organization.
2. The Hangover
Director: Todd Phillips
Year: 2009
This comedy follows the mishap-filled story of Doug (Justin Bartha) and his 3 friends – Alan (Ed Helms), Stu (Zach Galifianakis), and Phil (Bradley Cooper). The varied group of friends decides 2 days prior to Doug’s wedding that it will be a good idea to take a trip to Las Vegas for Doug’s bachelor party. However, the next morning, the odd trio wakes up with a blank on what happened the night before, and now the three groomsmen need to retrace their steps from the night before so that they can find their friend just hours before the wedding.
The Hangover is a very relevant play on the gamblers’ saying, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. Despite the fact that the movie itself is not centered around gambling, there are several gambling scenes that play out throughout the movie.
3. Casino
Director: Martin Scorsese
Year: 1995
Casino is an early and timeless movie based on love and honor in Las Vegas. This movie is star-studded with some big names in Hollywood starring Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, and the one and only Robert de Niro.
Some of the big names included Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, and the one and only Robert de Niro. The Movie plays out the two sides of gambling in Las Vegas: The cruel and brutal dealings that take place behind the scenes, blended together with the glitz, ritz, and glamour that is shown by mainstream media.
Ace (de Niro) plays as a Vegas casino operator with a mob connection; however, he seems to live a normal and modest life with his family. But, when Santoro (Pesci) arrives in town, Ace’s life takes another turn.
4. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
https://youtu.be/h6hZkvrFIj0
Director: Guy Ritchie
Year: 1998
Guy Richie’s Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels brings together crime, mystery, and coming relief like no other gambling movie.
The film starts with 4 English friends who decide to pool money together so that they can beat a gangster named Hatched Harry in three-card brag (The UK’s version of poker). Regrettably, Eddy (The leader of the group) loses everything to Harry, who cheated.
After losing the mess of a poker game, the 4 friends must raise £500,000 so that they can pay off Harry’s gambling debt, otherwise, Eddy will lose his dad’s pub. It is a film of violence, heists, and clowning as you watch these guys bypass Harry’s short temper.
The biggest outtake of this film would be that you should never gamble more than you can afford and be careful when you pick your poker allies.
5. Ocean’s Eleven
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Year: 2001
You can be assured that this casino heist film will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Ocean’s Eleven targets three of Las Vegas’ largest casinos – the MGM Grand, The Mirage, and Bellagio. The characters play out as the ringleader, Danny Ocean (George Clooney), and a team of high-risk-takes who intends to execute one of the most detailed casino heists in history.
In this film, the three casinos are owned by Terry Benedict (Andy-Garcia).
Even supposing Ocean and the team have laid out a highly detailed and complex plan, the execution of the heist faces many twists, turns, and hurdles en route.
6. The Gambler
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Year: 2014
The Gambler is considered to be one of the best gambling movies ever.
This film is centred around the game of blackjack. The main character is played by Mark Wahlberg, a literature professor who plays blackjack as a hobby. A little gambling never did anybody any harm, however, Jim’s character let things go too far, as many gamblers do today. Jim ends up owing over $200.000 to some gangsters after a very unlucky session at the blackjack table and spends the rest of the movie looking for ways to get himself out of this dangerously large sum of debt and troubles.
The Gambler is a fun film to see if you are a blackjack lover yourself, but the bigger takeaway from it would be a lesson in the potentially negative consequences of gambling when it is taken too far.
