The Best Movies About Poker
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Voting Rules
Movies must feature poker prominently.
- 1Matt Damon, Ed Norton, John TurturroMike McDermott (Matt Damon) loses his money in a poker game against Russian gangster Teddy "KGB" (John Malkovich). Under pressure from his girlfriend, Jo (Gretchen Mol), he promises to quit gambling. This lasts until his friend, Lester "Worm" Murphy (Edward Norton), gets out of prison and needs to pay off an old debt. The pair come close to earning the money back but are caught cheating. Then Mike finds out the debt is owed to Teddy and makes one last-ditch effort to beat the Russian.More Rounders
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- 2Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James GarnerThe film Maverick, an intriguing blend of Western and comedy, showcases the adventurous life of Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson), a charming poker player. Not just seeking fortune, he aims to secure a spot in a high-stakes poker game. Alongside him is Annabelle Bransford (Jodie Foster), a crafty thief and Cooper (James Garner), a lawman with secrets. The trio navigates through con artists, outlaws, and Native American warriors. The narrative, studded with twists and humor, culminates at the poker table where hidden truths unfold. Garnering an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design, Maverick remains a delightful watch.More Maverick
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- 3Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert ShawFollowing the murder of a mutual friend, aspiring con man Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) teams up with old pro Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to take revenge on the ruthless crime boss responsible, Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). Hooker and Gondorff set about implementing an elaborate scheme, one so crafty that Lonnegan won't even know he's been swindled. As their big con unfolds, however, things don't go according to plan, requiring some last-minute improvisation by the undaunted duo.More The Sting
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- 4
Molly's Game
Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Michael CeraThe true story of Molly Bloom, a beautiful, young, Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknown to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led people to believe.More Molly's Game- #14 of 14 onThe Best Movies and TV Shows Written By Aaron Sorkin
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- 5Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
Is this one of the best movies about Las Vegas?
In the heart of Las Vegas's glitz and glamour, Casino unfolds. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this crime drama features Sam Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a meticulous casino operator with ties to the mob. Alongside him is Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), an impulsive enforcer whose volatile nature threatens their empire. Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) completes the trio as Ace's opportunistic wife, her loyalty wavering between love and greed. This gritty portrayal of ambition, power, and downfall won Stone a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1996. As an exploration of corruption within the neon glow of Las Vegas, Casino remains a significant entry in Scorsese's filmography.More Casino- #251 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
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- 6Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads MikkelsenAfter receiving a license to kill, British Secret Service agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) heads to Madagascar, where he uncovers a link to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who finances terrorist organizations. Learning that Le Chiffre plans to raise money in a high-stakes poker game, MI6 sends Bond to play against him, gambling that their newest "00" operative will topple the man's organization.More Casino Royale
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- 7Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Ann-MargretYoung poker player Eric Stoner (Steve McQueen), also known as the "Cincinnati Kid," wants to build his reputation by beating the best player around, Lancey "The Man" Howard (Edward G. Robinson). Through Stoner's friend, "Shooter" (Karl Malden), a game with Howard is scheduled. However, Stoner discovers the game is being fixed against Howard by Slade (Rip Torn) out of revenge for a bad loss he suffered to Howard. Stoner objects because he feels he can take the match on his own merits.More The Cincinnati Kid
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- 8
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story
Michael Imperioli, Renee Faia, Michael NouriIn this film based on a true story, Stuey Ungar (Michael Imperioli) moves from teenage card prodigy to world-renowned gambling superstar. Early on, Stuey takes a liking to gambling, but his obsessive habits put him in debt to the mob. Vincent (Michael Nouri), a gangster with a family connection, offers a second chance in the form of a Las Vegas rummy competition. Stuey is victorious and moves on to a high-profile poker career, but with success comes a troubling lifestyle of addiction and excess.- #41 of 76 onThe 75+ Best Movies About Gambling
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- 9Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria GolinoIn Rain Man, Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise), a self-absorbed car dealer, discovers his estranged brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman) is an autistic savant who inherited their father's fortune. In a bid to get his share of the inheritance, Charlie embarks on a cross-country journey with Raymond, leading to unexpected bonding and self-discovery. This 1988 drama, directed by Barry Levinson, won four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hoffman's portrayal of Raymond. The film artfully explores themes of family dynamics, autism and personal growth through its compelling narrative.More Rain Man
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- 10Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne21 is a 2008 American drama film directed by Robert Luketic and stars Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, and Aaron Yoo. The film is inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in Bringing Down the House, the best-selling book by Ben Mezrich. Despite its largely mixed reviews and controversy over the film's casting choices, 21 was a box office success, and was the number one film in the United States and Canada during its first and second weekends of release.More 21
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- 11Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick MoranIn the heart of London's gritty underworld, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a crime comedy that spins an intricate web of chaos and humor. The plot centers on Eddy (Nick Moran), a card shark who, along with his friends Tom (Jason Flemyng), Soap (Dexter Fletcher), and Bacon (Jason Statham), finds himself owing a hefty debt to Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarty). In their desperate bid to repay the debt, they stumble upon two antique shotguns and unwittingly get tangled in a turf war. Directed by Guy Ritchie, this film boasts of a unique storytelling style interspersed with offbeat humor and won the BAFTA Audience Award for Best British Film.
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- 12William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Maria BelloTruly down on his luck, lonely single guy Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy) works at a Las Vegas casino, where he uses his innate ability to bring about misfortune in those around him to jinx gamblers into losing. His imposing boss, Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), is happy with the arrangement. But Bernie finds unexpected happiness when he begins dating attractive waitress Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello) -- and when his contentment starts to affect his job, Shelly seeks to end the relationship.More The Cooler
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- 13Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason RobardsWhen a yearly high-stakes poker game begins between the five richest men in Laredo, Texas, all other activity in the Wild West town comes to a stop as everyone gathers to watch the action. Recovering gambler Meredith (Henry Fonda), passing through town on the way to San Antonio, gets roped into the game by lawyer Otto Habershaw (Kevin McCarthy). When the stress of the game becomes too much to bear, his disapproving wife, Mary (Joanne Woodward), must step in to save the family fortune.
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- 14Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison, Shannon ElizabethTommy Vinson (Burt Reynolds), a former cardsharp, gave up poker years ago when his wife threatened to leave him. Tommy finds a way to get back in the game when he meets Alex Stillman (Bret Harrison), an up-and-coming player who still has a lot to learn. Tommy strikes a bargain with Alex; he will pay the expensive entry fees to major tournaments if Alex will follow Tommy's instructions to the letter. However, a Las Vegas call girl (Shannon Elizabeth) soon threatens their profitable relationship.
- 15Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Dennis FarinaJack Faro (Woody Harrelson) is the grandson of a casino legend and a former poker champ himself, until he lost it all, including the casino he inherited, to liquor and alimony. In order to win back his casino, Jack must enter the upcoming World Championship of Poker, where he will face stiff competition from famous players like Deuce Fairbanks (Dennis Farina) and Lainie Schwartzman (Cheryl Hines).
- 16Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Robert DuvallHuck Cheever (Eric Bana) is a talented poker player who must balance an intense love affair with the feats he must accomplish to win a slot in the world championship game in Las Vegas. If he makes it to the table, there is a chance he may have to compete against his father (Robert Duvall), a poker legend who abandoned Huck's mother years ago.
- 17Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, Kate ReidWhen Sally Matthews (Susan Sarandon) leaves her Canadian home to relocate to Atlantic City, she aspires to a prosperous career in the gambling industry. With her criminal husband (Robert Joy) on her trail, however, it appears that she can't escape from trouble, until she finds an unlikely savior in Lou Pascal (Burt Lancaster), an aging small-time mobster. By becoming involved with Sally, Lou finds a way to achieve the success he's dreamed of, but his plan may endanger both their lives.
- 18Thandie Newton, Gabriel Byrne, Jamie FoxxTiffany (Jamie Foxx), Charlie (Gabriel Byrne) and Vernon (Thandie Newton) are con artists looking to up the ante from their typical scams. They figure a good way of doing this is taking down Dean "The Dean" Stevens (Dina Merrill), a well-known cardsharp, in a rigged game. However, they first need enough money to enter a game with Stevens, so they decide to strike a deal with fellow crook Larry Jennings (Stuart Townsend) to scam a local gangster -- which turns out to be a bad idea.
- 19Clive Owen, Rhona Mitra, Alex KingstonCroupier is a 1998 British film starring Clive Owen as a croupier, and was directed by Mike Hodges. It was the released on DVD by Alliance Atlantis in Canada and Image Entertainment in the USA. The film attracted a strong critical following in North America, and helped to launch Clive Owen's acting career there. Croupier was disqualified from the Academy Awards after it was shown on Dutch television. The film has been classified as neo-noir. It uses interior monologues in the style of many early noir detective films.
- 20Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye SheridanThe Card Counter, a 2021 film directed by Paul Schrader, follows William Tell (Oscar Isaac), a gambler with a dark past. The story follows Tell, an ex-military interrogator turned poker player, who seeks redemption through the meticulous world of card counting. His solitary existence is disrupted when he meets Cirk (Tye Sheridan), a young man seeking vengeance against a mutual enemy from their past - Major John Gordo (Willem Dafoe). As Tell takes Cirk under his wing in an attempt to steer him away from violence, the film explores themes of guilt, revenge, and the possibility of atonement amidst the backdrop of America's casinos.More The Card Counter
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- 21Diego Abatantuono, George Eastman, Alessandro HaberRegalo di Natale is a 1986 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Pupi Avati. It entered the 43° Venice Film Festival, in which Carlo Delle Piane won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. For his performance in this film Diego Abatantuono won a Nastro d'Argento for Best supporting Actor. The film has a sequel, La rivincita di Natale.
- 22
La Rivincita Di Natale
Diego Abatantuono, George Eastman, Alessandro HaberLa rivincita di Natale is a 2004 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Pupi Avati. It is the sequel of the 1986 film Regalo di Natale.
