For all the casino lovers, here is a list of the best casino movies of all time. Check it out to see if your favorite gambling movie made the cut to our featured hits. These are some of the most famous and legendary films in the world of gambling. Beginning from the bottom-up:
10. Hard Eight
This hit first premiered in 1996, directed by Paul Anderson. It is a casino movie about one gambler, a pro at what he does and was just past his prime years. It had a fantastic cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Reilly and the legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman. The casino movie has a combination of black humor and pro-casino gambling. It is a must-watch!
9. Owning Mahowny
Premiered in 2003, Owning Mahowny is a casino movie where yet again Philip Seymour Hoffman stars as a bank manager who turns into a pro-criminal gambler. The starring character throughout the film goes deeper into the addictive art of gambling. Directed by Richard Kwietniowski, this was one of the perfect casino movies ever created.
8. Croupier
It seems like 1998 was one of the best years in the history of casino movies. Croupier was released in 1998 as well as Rounders. Featuring in Croupier, Clive Owen acts as Jack Manfred, an aspiring writer whose literary works never amount to anything. Soon enough he falls into the jaws of online casinos and gambling; his world gets dark with deceit, adultery and worst of all, murder.
7. The Cincinnati Kid
Released in 2003, the Cincinnati Kid, directed by Norman Jewison, was the talk of the town in the world of gambling. The movie features Steve McQueen, and the poker pro is Eric who is the Kid. The casino movie is thrilling!
6. California Split
It is a film directed by Robert Altman in the 1970s. The story revolves around the life of a pro gambler, featuring George Segal and Gould Elliot. The movie is still among the best since 1970.
5. Casino Royale
The famous Casino Royale 007 features in our top 5. Featuring James Bond, the peak of this movie is the gambling match between Daniel Craig and the terrorist Le Chiffre. This will keep you glued to the screen.
4. The Music of Chance
The gambling movie is based on the novel, the Music of Chance, written by Paul Auster. The story is told of an ex-fireman, Jim, who had his last $20,000 when he crosses paths with Pozzi, a pro gambler. The film was a hit in 1993 and has remained so.
3. Rounders
Rounders hit the cinemas in 1998 alongside Croupier. It is a gambling story of Matt Damon, a young lad who was being abused by a Russian psycho. The film was directed by John Dahl and tells a classic tale with a talented cast.
2. The Hustler
Making top 2, the Hustler is a casino movie directed by Robert Rosen. It has a thrilling plot describing all the misfortunes of the life of a gambler. It features Paul Newman, George Clooney, and Piper Laurie. The hustler tells a tale about the value of a thing and its price, painting the real picture of the lonely life of a gambler, coupled with heartbreaks and alcoholism. It is worth watching.
1. The Gambler
Top on our list is The Gambler, which premiered in 1974. It features James Caan and is based on the novel written by Dostoyevsky. The starring, Cann has a gambling obsession that he goes to the extent of borrowing cash from his family and girlfriend to quench his addiction. It is a casino movie that has a ton of lessons to teach. These are some of the best gambling movies of all time and will be enjoyed for years to come. If you want to learn how to play poker like these unforgettable movie characters, OnlineCasinoBlueBook has some great resources and tutorials.