Best Gambling Films of All Time

You do not have to be a gambler or a frequent casino guest to enjoy these movies. These are some of the best classics you should watch at least once, as well as, what we think to be the best gambling films of all time. Many movies did not make it to the list, and we are prepared for you to agree or respectfully disagree with some of these choices. But here is our list of 6 movies you should watch!

Casino Royale

Casino Royale is simply a masterpiece and clearly one of, if not the best James Bond movie ever. Daniel Craig has been voted many times as the best Bond actor, as he makes the character more humane, and at the same time very distant and out of reach. Eva Green makes a great Bond girl, just like Mads Mikkelsen plays frighteningly the role of the bad guy, Le Chiffre. The villain differs a lot from the usual bad guys Bond movies have; he does not want to destroy or conquer countries – or the whole world. He is though as cold as snow and does not care much about others. Mikkelsen plays the role of an arrogant terrorist banker, who ends up playing at Casino Royal for his life. It is a game of life and death, where the characters are gambling for their lives; that is why it is number one on our lists.

California Split – 1974

If you are a fan of old classics and gambling movies, then you were waiting for this film’s name to appear on the list. In Robert Altman’s nightmarish drama-comedy, the great Elliott Gould and George Segal invite us to a world of night casinos, booze, and loose relationships. California Spirit is a full-fledged close-up not only of gaming as a way of life but also of the American culture of money and luck. The vibrancy of emotion and improvisation seems to be unsurpassed in Altman's production as well.

Eight men out – 1988

With director John Sayles and main actors Charlie Sheen, David Strathairn, D.B. Sweeney, and Gordon Clapp, Eight men out is a movie you should definitely watch. The movie is about a baseball match-fixing scandal in 1919. Inside the overwhelming Chicago White Sox, eight-team players have been bribed to lose matches. The film depicts conflicts within a team when not everyone agrees to accept a match-fixing. However, bettors will make the most of the event!

The Gambler - 1974

The Gambler directed by James Toback is an outstanding movie. The feelings of a gambling addict are portrayed perfectly, as Toback himself has had gambling addictions in the past and tries to convey his feeling through the movie. A wonderful drama about an English language teacher who gets addicted to gambling; and gets chased by debts and creditors.

In 2014, the movie was remade by Rupert Wyatt and William Monahan starring Mark Wahlberg, Brie Larson, and John Goodman. The new film confused the critics, as some were praising the movie and others criticizing it.

Hard Eight – 1996

Paul Thomas Anderson is known for his films Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Both would be full of characters and stories in a way reminiscent of Robert Altman’s films. Anderson’s debut-length Hard Eight (1996; originally called Sydney) is a whole another story; it focuses greatly, not rushing at all, on its four protagonists.

Hard Eight is an extremely controlled film, tight as a fist. Its basic tension arises from the question of why Sydney is starting to help John. An answer is also obtained at the end of the film, which is unexpected, as we have not gotten any hints from Anderson. The answer is so surprising that it touches the boundaries of credibility, if not go beyond that. The internal logic of the film works great; the actors do an amazing job. The film is a masterpiece, and it deserves respect for the quality of drama created by such simple materials.

Tricheurs – 1984

Many fans describe this movie as the best gambling film of all time. It is no wonder why; Barbet Schroeder, also famous for big hits as Barfly, Reversal of Fortune, and Single White Female, was the director behind this crazy, enticing thriller. Jacques Dutronc plays the role of a charming man with a severe gambling addiction. The character continues playing even if wins or loses. His situation becomes more complicated when he gets entangled in the cheating schemes of another man. Watch this thriller and follow these gamblers’ inevitable road to doom.

If you have watched all these movies, then congratulations! You are a true fan of gambling movies. If you have not watched some of these yet, roll under your blanket and get ready for a thrilling ride full of gambling, betting, and drama.