Generally, people love to do activities relating to what they love and enjoy as it gives a different feeling of contentment and happiness. Watching movies related to hobbies is one such activity, yet people tend to intentionally avoid them, especially when it comes to gaming or gambling.
Victoria Oliveira, a gaming expert, gave an insight into this. She noted that “Os filmes são uma ótima forma de retratar qualquer atividade, e isso não é diferente com o jogo. Ao longo dos anos, muitos filmes sobre jogos de fortuna e azar e casinos capturaram a verdadeira essência das artes. Os principais diretores cinematográficos, como Martin Scorsese, realizaram filmes que representam, com precisão, as atividades nos casinos online legais em Portugal e outros países. De certa forma, esses filmes contribuíram fortemente para a popularidade e aceitação do jogo”.
For most movies about gambling, the whole concept is usually misrepresented as they portray gamblers as addicts, debtors, and even homeless people that desperately make wrong gambling decisions for the wrong reason. Hence, most gamers tend to avoid watching such movies.
However, several titles out there are very accurate representations with great plots and storylines that should not be missed. Following strict reviews, we have compiled a list of unique films that will revive your interest in gambling.
- The Gambler
The Gambler was released in 1974 to critical reception. It is a great watch and should be seen by every casino lover worldwide. The reason is that the writer of this film is not foreign to the casino world as he wrote about his life story.
Many writers who make movies about gambling addictions and downsides tend to portray it wrongly. However, this one shows lessons to learn and actions to avoid when playing at the casino.
The screenwriter emphasized his addictions and behaviors, which almost pulled him down in life, which is simply amazing. Mark Wahlberg attempted a remake of this flick in 2014, but gamers and critics were not having it as it did not tell the story the way the original did.
- Croupier
This is another gambling classic that was released in 1999. The classics do it best when it comes to films about gambling, as traditional casino life was still very much in vogue back then. Featuring top locations in the world, including Las Vegas, this movie showcases the beauty, glamour, and one-of-a-kind entertainment that can only be found in a casino setting.
It is a cult classic starring Clive Owen as a croupier who is also a novelist. However, his interest swiftly changes from penning down words to spinning roulette tables every night.
- Casino Royale
When considering films about gambling, one would seldom think about a James Bond movie. However, Bond showed through this movie that he can be the guy chasing bad guys with guns, but he is also perfectly capable of being the guy with nasty poker skills. Bond’s role in this movie was to prevent money laundering activity.
Somehow, he found himself gambling in Montenegro and other popular locations worldwide. Bond showed off his skills in this masterpiece as he played multiple high-roller poker games and still managed to stop the villain. Bond’s acting in this cinematic title was excellent as he showed his casino skills are relaxed and natural, and he just proved beyond doubt that he is the man that can do it all.
- Molly’s Game
Moving on from the classics, Molly’s game which was released in 2017, made it to our must-watch list. Molly, in this movie, is a boss lady who knows exactly how money works and uses it to her advantage.
She ran a business solely for rich people where she allowed them to gamble against each other in a classic casino setting. Along with Kevin Costner, who acted as her father, Molly ran the show and called the shots in her games.
- Oceans 11
Now, Oceans 11 might not be the traditional casino movie you expect. However, it is a great watch, and you will enjoy every bit of it. It also became a franchise, as the producers have released Oceans 12 and Oceans 13, which were just as spectacular.
In this motion picture, Ocean and his friend Ryan planned and pulled off the most elaborate Vegas heist of $160 million. The target in this blockbuster was the lover of Ocean’s ex-wife, who owned a casino in the heart of Las Vegas. Certainly, you would love to see how these masterminds pulled off this impossible heist after breaking out of prison and how the story plays out.
Conclusion
These films about gambling gave us the thrills, and we were certainly glued to our seats while binge-watching them. The greatest part is that these are but a few of the masterpieces available to see, and you will certainly find yourself checking for more after watching our recommendations.
