Who doesn’t love watching a classic crime-thriller movie? Well, if you are a gambling enthusiast, then there are probably plenty of options available for you. In this article, we are going to list the top 10 movies based on casinos that are the best of all time. Gambling movies are full of drama, thrill, and excitement. There have been many films made on this theme that became a success at the box office. Check out the complete article to know the top movies on casinos.
10 Must-Watch Top Movies on Casino
From the classic James Bond movie to the thrilling Ocean series, film directors have given some highly appreciative movies to the audience. Now that gambling is mainly online in different parts of the world, people rarely get a chance to witness what it actually feels like to visit a brick-and-mortar casino. This is why we are here, including a list of movies that have a storyline involving casinos and gamblers. You can watch these movies and get an idea of the functioning of land-based casinos. From comedy, drama, thrill, and crime, these movies are a complete package of entertainment archives present on our website.
1. Casino Royale
IMDb Rating: 8.0
Casino Royale is probably the best movie based on gambling. This James Bond movie is directed by Martin Campbell, who is known for making best-rated movies that won Academy Awards nominations. The movie Casino Royale has won several awards and nominations. This 2006 spy film is written by Robert Wade, Neil Purvis, and Paul Haggis. While Casino Royale can introduce you to the world of gambling in movies, certain informative websites like Casinowebsites.in can teach you the basics of real-life gambling. Casino Royale tells the beginning of James Bond’s career as Agent 007, where he earns his license to kill. This movie can be very entertaining for people who love thrills and gambling. Casino Royale became famous for its main character James Bond which was played by Daniel Craig.
2. The Hangover
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Well, who does not know the most iconic dialogue, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” For such iconic dialogues and the entertaining storyline, The Hangover became one of the big hits of its time. This movie stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha. The movie tells the story of three friends looking for their friend who went missing before his wedding.
Writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore did a great job with the script. Even the soundtrack of this movie became very popular among the audience. This comedy film was also named one of the top ten films of the year 2009 by the American Film Institute. The movie shows the casino life of Las Vegas and the things that could go crazy so far.
3. Rounders
IMDb Rating: 7.3
This 1998 American drama film is entirely based on a casino where a gambler is returning to play big stakes poker. Now that sounds exciting and thrilling at the same time. Directed by John Dahl, this movie gained high appreciation from audiences. Rounders stars Matt Damon, Edward Norton, and Gretchen Mol. Due to the poker boom in the early 2000s, Rounders became a cult hit. The writers of this movie are David Levien and Brian Koppelman.
If you love high-stakes poker, then this movie is surely a must-watch movie for you. Rounders will take you on the exploration of New York clubs. The movie tells the story of a law student who loses his entire savings to a club owner. The student with his friend goes into a non-stop and no-sleep gambling binge. If poker is your favorite game, then we suggest you should watch Rounders.
4. Hard Eight
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Hard Eight is one of the best movies on casinos. This film stars Philip Baker Hall, Gwyneth Paltrow, and John C.Reilly. This 1996 American film tells the story of a professional gambler who teaches tricks of the trade to a homeless man. The man’s life changes, and he becomes a small-time professional gambler. However, later things change when he falls for a cocktail waitress.
Hard Eight had a collection of $69,486 on the opening weekend in the US and Canada. The famous critic Roger Ebert gave 3.5 stars out of 4 to this movie. He once said that Hard Eight gives original and compelling characters to the audience. If you are a casino lover and looking for a movie based on gambling, then Hard Eight can certainly be a treat to your eyes.
5. California Split
IMDb Rating: 7.2
California Split is also a popular movie on gambling which was released in 1974. This comedy-drama movie stars George Segal, Ann Prentiss, and Elliott Gould. California Split was written by Joseph Walsh and directed by Robert Altman. Many people consider California Split an underrated classic by Robert Altman. This movie tells the story of a casual gambler who befriends a professional gambler.
Later both of them enter the sleazy gambling world. The movie California Split is mainly set in casinos and races. California Split can also be a great addition to your watching list. You can watch this movie on various streaming platforms. You may find a few differences in gambling in real-life vs. in movies.
6. The Gambler
IMDb Rating: 6.0
Directed by Rupert Wyatt, The Gambler is one of the best movies on casinos. It is partially based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange, and John Goodman. The Gambler tells the story of a literature professor who has a gambling vice. After losing all of his money, he has to borrow some from his close ones, and then the bad guys chase him. There are a lot of things happening in the movie.
However, you will get enough gambling scenes in the film. The writer William Monahan has written an amazing screenplay for the movie. Another special thing about this movie is that it features the last performance of American actor George Kennedy before his death in 2016. If you like watching crime and thriller films, then The Gambler can be a suitable option for you.
7. Croupier
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Croupier is a great movie starring Clive Owen, Nick Reding, and Nicholas Ball. The movie was released in 1988 and used monologues in the style of early noir detective films. Croupier was directed by Mike Hodges and written by Paul Mayersberg. This movie depicts the story of a writer who works as a croupier at a casino. Later, he realizes that his life as a croupier can be a great subject for a novel.
The movie received widespread critical praise in the US. At that time, Croupier made a collection of $7,075,068 at the box office. Many people consider that Croupier gave a realistic depiction of casinos. If you love watching thrillers but realistic and best-rated movies, then you must add Croupier to your watching list.
8. 21
IMDb Rating: 6.8
Another movie based on casino or gambling is 21. Released in 2008, 21 stars Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Kevin Spacey. 21 is actually a fact-based story where six MIT students who are experts in card counting take Vegas casinos for millions in winnings. This popular movie was directed by Robert Luketic and written by Peter Steinfield and Allan Loeb.
During its first and second weekends of its release, 21 became the number one film in the United States. This movie is inspired by the book named Bringing Down the House, which tells the story of the MIT Blackjack Team. Gambling lovers looking for a true story based on casinos can watch 21.
9. Ocean’s Eleven
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Released in 2001, Ocean’s Eleven is a crime-thriller movie directed by Steven Soderbergh. This film is the first installment of the Ocean franchise. Ocean’s Eleven stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and various other actors. If you are looking for a classic movie based on a casino, then Ocean’s Eleven can be the best for you. This movie tells the story of a man and his ten accomplices who plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos one by one. Ocean’s Eleven has even received many awards and recognitions. If you want to see a story of a heist involving casinos, then Ocean’s Eleven is a must-watch for you.
10. Casino
IMDb Rating: 8.2
This 1995 classic film is loved by a large number of people across different parts of the world. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Casino is a movie that depicts a story involving greed, power, deception, money, and murder. All this happens between two friends who compete against each other over a gambling empire. This movie stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci. The casino had worldwide box office success at the time of its release. It is also considered one of the best movies on casinos.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these top 10 movies based on casinos offer a thrilling and exciting glimpse into the world of gambling. While brick-and-mortar casinos may be a rarity for many nowadays, the excitement of playing games and placing bets is still alive and well with the rise of online casinos. For those interested in experiencing the thrill of playing online pokies NZ, there are many informative websites available that offer a wealth of knowledge on the basics of gambling. So, whether you prefer classic crime-thriller movies or high-stakes poker dramas, these films are sure to provide a cinematic adventure that will satisfy your gambling cravings.
