Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world, so it’s not surprising that Hollywood has created several casino-themed movies featuring poker over the years. Poker-themed movies tend to be full of high drama and suspense, making them entertaining from beginning to end. These movies are so good that many have become cult classics and won some of the entertainment industry’s most prestigious awards.
If you’ve ever played poker in the US online or at a land-based casino in a gaming city like Las Vegas, you may have even felt like you were in the movies. Although there aren’t any movies featuring online poker, we’re sure as it continues to gain popularity, we’ll see online casinos make appearances on the big screen. In the meantime, let’s take a look at some of the top poker-themed movies worth watching now.
Rounders—1998
Rounders is one of the most well-known poker-themed movies for a good reason, it’s full of intrigue and plot twists that keep you glued to the screen until the credits begin to roll. This movie tells the story of law student Mark Dermott (Mike Damon) who returns to the world of poker to help his friend. Mark crosses paths with Teddy KGB (John Malkovich), a Russian club owner, and ends up losing a large sum of money. After being taken for a ride by Teddy, Mark returns to his studies until his friend Worm (Edward Norton) gets out of prison. Mark joins his friend Worm in the world of poker clubs and the movie follows their experiences as they face deadlines and a final confrontation with Teddy KGB.
Casino Royale—2006
Although this movie isn’t strictly about poker, the game is a big part of the plot. The movie features many scenes with the main characters seated at a poker table and there are several card games featured throughout the movie. In the 2006 adaptation of Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel, Texas Hold ‘Em poker replaces baccarat as the movie’s legendary poker scene where Agent 007 has to defeat criminals during a high stakes poker competition. While this movie is most famous for its connection to James Bond, it remains a favorite of poker lovers everywhere.
The Cincinnati Kid—1965
The oldest poker movie on this list is also one of the best poker-themed movies of all time. The Cincinnati Kid starred Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson in a classic that’s reminiscent of Rounders. The movie follows the life of one of a young and talented poker player who sets out on a journey to play the best poker player in the world. The movie features the Five-Card Stud variation of poker with the first card dealt face down and the other four face up. New Orleans in the 1930s is the backdrop for this entertaining that’s a classic poker film well worth watching.
Lucky You—2007
If you’ve ever watched the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, you’ve already got an idea of what this movie is about. It follows the story of a poker player who’s dream is to compete in the famous competitions but he doesn’t have enough money to enter. The talented poker player is also battling a host of personal problems as he strives to achieve his goal. If you want to find out if he makes it to the tournament of his dreams, check out this movie the next time you have free time.
