Who doesn’t love an action-packed movie full of twists and turns? Well, a movie about gambling is just that—it’s dramatic and full of moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Casinos have been around for quite some time now, and even people who’ve never gambled before love to see a good casino movie scene and watch their favorite actors win big money by tricking the system. The best part about these types of movies is their versatility, meaning that the plot doesn’t have to strictly revolve around gambling. In fact, the main storyline can be something completely different and still feature a gripping casino scene.
Veteran casino players enjoy these movies as they get to see the casino from another perspective and maybe learn a thing or two on how to make a good poker face. Also, as land-based casinos were off-limits for a while due to the COVID safety measures, it was nice to get a taste of the casino atmosphere, even if it was just on the laptop screen. So, if you’re an avid casino player in the mood for a good movie, we’ve listed some suggestions below that’ll keep you glued to the TV. Keep reading for four movie ideas to add to your watchlist.
Bugsy (1991)
The charming Warren Beatty brings to life the character of the famous Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. As the movie genre is a biography, I know what you must be thinking—a boring documentary? No thanks, I’ll pass. However, for those who are not familiar with Bugsy, he was an American mobster back in the day—the first beginning of the 20th century to be precise. Many even say that had it not been for him, Las Vegas would not become what it is today. It was Bugsy who made Las Vegas famous.
The movie retells Bugsy’s story and his dream of creating a “gambling oasis.” Therefore, the movie not only covers the gambling theme, but it also gives the audience insight into how Las Vegas was born. The critics also recognized the quality of the movie as it was nominated for eight Oscar awards and even won two—one for best costume design and the other for best set decoration. Trust us, you don’t want to miss out on this movie.
The Color of Money (1986)
The Color of Money is actually a sequel to The Hustler starring Paul Newman. The famous actor reprises his role as Fast Eddie Felson and this time he got an Oscar award for Best Actor, so we can definitely say that his efforts paid off. The movie was directed by Martin Scorsese and, although this isn’t one of his best-rated movies, it’s still worth watching. The plot revolves around the main character who has a gambling problem and needs to quit this nasty addiction. However, the character finds other ways of putting his luck to the test.
The actors did a great job and they simply draw you in the story with their magnetic portrayals. You don’t have to watch the first part to understand the sequel, but we recommend taking a look at both movies to get a better idea of which messages they’re trying to convey.
Casino (1995)
Similar to the previous one, the American crime drama Casino was also directed by Martin Scorsese in 1995. The main actor is someone we all love to see on our TV screens—Mr. Robert DeNiro, who plays a Jewish-American gambling pro. The movie witnessed a huge box office success and even got an Oscar nomination. The plot perfectly describes the ways of Las Vegas, so if you want to get a sense of the casino atmosphere, be sure to give this movie a chance.
We get to see how casino owners react when some of their clients win big cash. In fact, there is a famous scene where one man hits the jackpot three times in a row on a slot machine. I know you must be thinking—that guy must have figured out how to manipulate a slot machine. We won’t tell you how the casino mobster deals with the situation. You’ll have to check it out yourself.
The Card Counter (2021)
The Card Counter is a new movie released just a couple of months ago in September. The main character William Tell, played by the handsome Oscar Isaac, is a casino veteran who has a passion for playing cards. He has an interesting philosophy when it comes to gambling—bet small and win modestly. That’s the secret to not getting caught in his opinion. However, his past catches up with him and he has no choice but to deal with the consequences.
The movie is evidence that the casino theme will never go out of style as people love to see a good action-packed game of poker on screen, especially when there’s someone trying to trick the system
Key takeaways
Hopefully, some of these movies will spark your interest and you’ll add them to your Saturday movie night list. If you’re a pro gambler, you’ll definitely enjoy these movies as you’ll get to compare fact and fiction. On the other hand, even if you’ve never played a game of poker before, you won’t be disappointed.
