Over the last few decades, several movies based on the casino industry have been produced. Where gamblers play casino games and win prizes. The films also highlighted the lifestyle of the casino players and the risks they took. However, from many movies, choosing the most popular ones is not a cup of tea. Fortunately, this article prepares a list of 8 casino-inspired Hollywood movies you must watch at least once- especially if you are a poker player.
List of Casino-Inspired Hollywood Movies
Here is a list of the 8 best Hollywood films inspired by the casino industry.
- Casino Royale (2006)
- California Split (1974)
- Rounders (1998)
- The Gambler (1974)
- Molly’s Game (2017)
- Casino Jack (2010)
- The Card Counter (2021)
- Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)
Go through the section below for detailed information about these casino-inspired Hollywood movies.
1. Casino Royale (2006)
Available on: Prime Video
After getting a license to kill, a secret agent James Bond has to play superb casino games for real cash with real prizes to defeat a private banker financing terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, in Montenegro.
Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench
2. California Split (1974)
Available on: Prime Video
When casual gambler Bill Denny befriends professional gambler Charlie Walters, Bill begins to mirror Charlie’s life, falling deeper and deeper into the scandalous world of gambling, where the stakes keep getting bigger.
Cast: George Segal, Elliott Gould, Ann Prentiss
3. Rounders (1998)
Available on: Prime Video
This is one of the top Hollywood films inspired by casino events. It starts with a law student who must have to play high-stakes poker to bail out of a friend. At the same time, he has to maintain his personal life and his commitment to law school. How will he do that?
Cast: Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Gretchen Mol, John Malkovich
4. The Gambler (1974)
Available on: Prime Video
The best Casino Hollywood movie starts with a gambler addicted named Axel Freed who lost everything in gambling. He then takes money from his girlfriend, his mother, and finally from a loan provider. But he lost all his money in gambling. Things get worse when his girlfriend decides to leave him, his mom decides to disown him. Also, the loan provider wants to kill him. How will Axel handle the situation?
Cast: James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Morris Carnovsky
5. Molly’s Game (2017)
Available on: Netflix
Based on true events, the film starts with a beautiful young Olympic-class skier named Molly Bloom who runs the world’s most high-stakes poker game. But later, arrested by the FBI. Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans, and other celebrities play games at her casino. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera
6. Casino Jack (2010)
Available on Not Known
The film focuses on Jack Abramoff, a businessman who was involved in a massive scandal and was arrested. He spent in the prison for six years and was then released. After that, he was assigned to a halfway house.
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Jon Lovitz
7. The Card Counter (2021)
Available On: Prime Video
The best Casino Hollywood film revolves around an ex-military interrogator named William Tell who lives under the radar as a low-stakes gambler. His life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters a young man who wants to take revenge against a mutual enemy. He takes him to the casino to set a net path for him.
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan, Willem Dafoe
8. Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)
Available on: Prime Video
On her deathbed, a mother makes her son Jack promise never to get married. But he’s committed to marrying his girlfriend Betsy. Finally, they decided to marry in Vegas. But at the wedding week, Jack loses $65,000 in poker. The wedding will have to wait as the poker winner wants the weekend with Betsy to cancel the debt. She accepts. Whom will she marry?
Cast: James Caan, Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, Pat Morita
Conclusion
Each of above mentioned casino-related Hollywood films provides a unique perspective on the dangerous world of gambling. The Casino Hollywood movies are must-watch, for their powerful storylines and the risks we take in life.
