Poker is a pretty universal game, which means that it translates well to the big screen. If you want to get your fill of poker movies but you’re not sure where to start, we have a great list for you. Below is the list, which will include mostly poker but some general casino gambling too. It’s hard to separate the two, but we’ll do our best!
1. Casino Royale
You not only get double crosses, high stakes poker tables, and glamour, but you get James Bond. Daniel Craig is the latest Bond to take over the role, and we think that he does it pretty well. Gambling in order to stomp out terrorist attacks? It’s a bit of a stretch but definitely worth checking out. Casino Royale is a few years old, but it’s still one hell of a film.
2. Maverick
If you loved the old late 50’s TV series, then you’ll love this movie. It’s a comedy with a touch of seriousness in there. Plenty of poker rounds to check out too!
3. Rounders
High stakes poker is the theme of Rounders, and they pull it off very well. This 1998 film focuses on a very talented poker player that ends up losing his shirt… and then gets it back again. The story unfolds through what happens between losing and winning. Just how far do you go when you’ve already promised to leave the tables behind?
4. The Cincinnati Kid
There’s a fierce poker scene or three in this movie. Of course, there’s plenty of plot to go around it, but who cares? We’re in it for the poker!
5. A Big Hand For a Little Lady
What would you do if your husband suddenly had a heart attack in the middle of a high stakes poker game? Well, you take over his hand! That’s the big premise behind “A Big Hand For a Little Lady”. We won’t spoil the ending for you, of course, but this one would be great for a night you have to watch something good with your girlfriend. She’ll love how strong minded this “little lady” on screen really is.
There’s plenty of poker and casino movies out there. Of course, we left off the Godfather series. Although there’s gambling, it doesn’t really take up that much of the movie. What other movies did we leave off that should be on the list instead? Tell us in the comments, and we’ll include them in another post!