10 Best Movies with Casinos: Glamour, Grit, and High Stakes

The glamour associated with casinos, for example, through the lights, the money, and the potential to win, has made it a favorite place for directors. Whether it is the dazzle of Las Vegas, the pressure of a high-stakes poker game, or the darkness of the criminal world, casino movies are a real film feast. 

Below are ten of the best movies that depict casinos and their environment in all their glamour and vice. If the movies mentioned above interest you in trying your hand at the slots, then you should visit Slots Paradise to try acting out your favorite movies in some top-tier casino games.

1. Casino (1995)

It is a classic movie anchored on the direction of Martin Scorsese and it captures the ugly side of Las Vegas. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this movie features Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone as the main actors; the plot revolves around the establishment of a casino business. The leading roles are taken by De Niro who acts as Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein, a very organized casino manager, while Pesci takes the role of the hot-headed enforcer Nicky Santoro. The movie is extremely violent, does not glamourize the life of the casino in any way, and presents the dark side of it.

2. Ocean's Eleven (2001)

”Ocean’s Eleven,” directed by Steven Soderbergh, is a stylish movie about a group of thieves who plan a heist in a casino, with stars like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and more. The movie revolves around the main character, Danny Ocean (Clooney), and his plan to rob three casinos in Las Vegas at the same time. 

The movie has liberal use of comedy, thriller and mystery along with a great story full of twists and turns with the beautiful backdrop of Las Vegas, which is why it is a must watch. The cast – both the main and the supporting ones – are excellent and the heist plot never gets boring.

3. The Cooler (2003)

Based on the film by Wayne Kramer, “The Cooler”, the issue of luck that determines one’s fate in a casino is explored in detail. In the film, William H. Macy portrays the character of Bernie Lootz, a cooler who is as unlucky as a person can get and hence is employed to sit beside winners in casinos to jinx their luck. Also the film has Alec Baldwin, who plays the role of a very cruel casino owner, and Maria Bello, who plays the role of Bernie’s lover. This is a romantic drama film with a slight twist of magical realism that gives the audience a close up of casino life.

4. Rounders (1998)

”Rounders” by John Dahl is a classic movie among the poker enthusiasts. The lead role is played by superstar celebrity actor Matt Damon, who is a smart law student and a poker enthusiast who gets back to the poker table to assist his friend (Edward Norton), who is in a hole with some mobsters. The film is most famous for accurately depicting the strategies of poker and the world of underground poker games. John Malkovich's portrayal of the ferocious Russian mobster Teddy KGB also helps in building up the pressure in the movie.

5. Casino Royale (2006)

”Casino Royale,” directed by Martin Campbell, is the movie that starts the new era of the James Bond series with Daniel Craig as the main hero. The film then moves to a poker game in which Bond has to face Le Chiffre, a terrorist financier, for a sum of $150 million. The poker scenes are intense, the action scenes are spectacular, and Craig’s interpretation of the character makes for one of the best films in the series. The film’s beautiful backdrop and the intense card game portrays the beauty and the risk of the casino world.

6. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

”The Cincinnati Kid” directed by Norman Jewison is another poker film that is based on the 1930s period. The film’s protagonist is Eric “The Kid” Stoner portrayed by Steve McQueen, who wants to defeat the current champion Lancey “The Man” Howard played by Edward G. Robinson. The final poker scene of the film is one of the greatest scenes in the history of films, reflecting the confrontation of the main characters. Thus, McQueen’s composed character and Robinson’s authoritative character on the set make for an interesting combination.

7. 21 (2008)

The movie ‘21’ directed by Robert Luketic is a real life based movie based on the MIT Blackjack Team. Ben Campbell, played by Jim Sturgess, is a talented student who gets his admission to MIT, and to get a scholarship, he joins a group of card-counting students to win in Las Vegas. Kevin Spacey plays their boss in the series. The film’s element of the heist and drama and the pleasure of outsmarting the system make it an entertaining watch. It also raises the difficulty and the ethical issues in card counting.

8. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

”Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas”, directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Hunter S. Thompson, is a movie that is as crazy as it is unpredictable; a trip through the city of sin. The movie’s main characters are Raoul Duke played by Johnny Depp and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo played by Benicio Del Toro. Although the plot of the film is not based on casinos, the representation of Las Vegas in the movie reflects the city’s atmosphere of rave and debauchery. The visual and comedic elements of the film give the audience a different view on the magnetism of the metropolis.

9. Hard Eight (1996)

”Hard Eight” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson is a neo-noir film which revolves around a professional gambler Sydney played by Philip Baker Hall who takes a young drifter John played by John C Reilly under his wing and teaches him about casino gambling. The plot of the movie raises such issues as trust, forgiveness, and the gray area of interpersonal connections within the context of the gambling business. This is a fine character study that benefits from Hall’s rather low key turn and Anderson’s measured direction.

10. Molly's Game (2017)

”Molly’s Game,” directed by Aaron Sorkin with the screenplay written by the same person and based on the memoir by Molly Bloom, is a movie that is based on the real-life events of an Olympic-class skier who used to operate an elite poker game. Top billed Jessica Chastain plays Molly Bloom, with Idris Elba as her legal representative. The film provides the audience with a spectacular view of poker underground, famous people involved in poker and lawsuits. Chastain’s great acting and Sorkin’s good writing make the story interesting.

Conclusion

Thus, casino-themed movies present the audience with all the gloss and hustle-bustle of casino life, the adrenaline rush of gambling, and the tension that accompanies it. Whether you are more of a poker player, a fan of Vegas style and lights, or a psychological one who likes to watch the battles in the blackjack table, these films will give you a good insight into what happens in casinos. Perhaps following these films, you will want to try your hand – go to Slots Paradise and try your luck, maybe this time luck will be on your side.