When it comes to finding movies that are suspenseful, drama-filled, and action-packed, casino movies are hard to beat. Casino-themed films have dominated the big screen for decades, whether a mafia story or a spy special.
The most difficult decision will be deciding which one to watch is choosing the casino movie to have popcorn over.
When a movie revolves around placing bets on boxing matches, horse races, and other sporting events, you know it will be fun. And it’s easy to get lost in the tales of people who find themselves in the crosshairs of the tycoons who lord their gambling underworld.
Some of the greatest gambling movies have starred Daniel Craig, Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, George Clooney, and several other A-list actors.
So, to ease your dilemma, here are three amazing casino movies that also performed well commercially for your viewing pleasure;
Casino Royale
What’s a casino list without a James Bond feature? If you saw this feature coming, then voila! After its release in 2006, Casino Royale will go down in history as one of the most expensive films ever produced. Its final budget was estimated to be around $150 million. That means it had to perform exceptionally well to break even.
Although this was a remake of the original, it was a huge success. And if anything makes you want to go to the casino, it’s Casino Royale, which contributed greatly to the rise of online casino gambling at paddy power.
The film grossed around $600 million and contributed immensely to Daniel Craig’s shot at superstardom. This was his first outing as Bond, and he has since featured in several sequels before his last tour in “No Time To Die,” as covered by Yahoo.
Rounders
Starring Oscar winners Edward Norton, John Malkovich, and Matt Damon, Rounders is one of the best poker movies. We see Worm and Mike take on mobsters and high-stakes poker games and compete for a chance to play in the Poker World Series. It is the first film to carry viewers along with the poker action and garner excellent reviews.
It was ahead of its time, created before online poker became a worldwide phenomenon. Poker terms like blind, fold, and bankroll are so common that even non-poker players understand them. You don’t have to be a poker player to appreciate the plot, but if you are, you’ll appreciate the authenticity of the poker scenes.
The Hangover
What’s a list of the highest-grossing casino films without a movie set during a bachelor weekend in Las Vegas? Although the main theme of The Hangover isn’t specifically about gambling, the hilarious card-counting scene at the blackjack table has earned it its place with other stellar casino movies.
This 2009 film, the first in a successful series, cost $35 million to make and grossed roughly $460 million at the box office. It also had impressive review scores like a 79% on rotten tomatoes.
Conclusion
Numerous gambling films have been released over the years, and this list is just scratching the surface. From Matt Damon’s “Rounder” to Tom Cruise’s “Rain Man,” there’s a plethora of casino-based movies worth watching.
