Players love to be entertained as much as they love to play. They need a poker movie list to help them enjoy how they pass their spare time and also gain knowledge about playing poker with the best and most popular poker movies.
Rounders
Rounders is one of the most famous poker movies ever made. It was released in 1998 and starred Matt Damon as a law student forced to return to playing poker after dropping out of school. The film received positive reviews from critics and is considered one of the best gambling movies ever made.
The film was based on Mike McDermott, a fictional character created by author Edward Gorman who appeared in his novel titled “The Biggest Game In Town”. The movie also starred John Malkovich, who played Teddy KGB, a Russian mobster who wants to play Damon for $5 million.
Maverick
The 1994 film Maverick, starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, is one of the best poker movies ever. It’s a western set in the late 1800s that follows two brothers who are skilled poker players who travel to Texas to compete in a high-stakes poker tournament. This film has a good mix of suspense and humorous action. Maverick was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
The Cincinnati Kid
The Cincinnati Kid is not just one of the best poker movies of all time; it’s also one of the great poker movies about gambling.
The movie follows a group of poker players playing for high stakes in a back room of a casino in New Orleans. The main character is a young upstart who challenges the reigning champion to a Five Card Draw Poker game.
The Sting
This is hands down the best poker movie ever made. With a $5 minimum deposit casino in Australia is a leading place to play poker online and get the best experience.
The Sting is an American heist film set in 1936 that stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman. The plot follows two grifters who team up for a con against the mob. It was inspired by the real-life story of two con men who successfully pulled off this same trick in 1930s Chicago.
Let It Ride
Arguably the most successful poker movie of all time, Let It Ride was released in the shadow of Rain Man and Midnight Run and failed to find an audience. The story follows three friends going to Atlantic City for a weekend of cards, gambling, and women.
They stop at a casino, where they meet with a beautiful young woman, played by Jennifer Tilly, who offers to help them at the tables. She shows them how to play a new game called Let It Ride, which involves betting on three hands instead of just one. Tilly not only gives them advice on how to play but also ensures they have plenty of chips, so they can keep playing against the house.
Croupier
Croupier is among good poker movies directed by Mike Hodges and produced by Mike Hodges, Andrew Eaton, and Oliver Parker. The film stars Clive Owen, Michael Caine, David Hemmings, Brenda Blethyn, and Kristin Scott Thomas.
In the story of a young man working as a casino croupier, he sees gambling as an escape from his reality, which is filled with poverty and drug abuse. After winning big money at the tables, he deals with the consequences of his actions.
Casino Royale
Casino Royale is another big-time movie on the list of famous movies about poker adapted from a book. It was based on Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, released in 1953. Daniel Craig portrayed 007 in 2006’s Casino Royale, which received mixed reviews from critics but ended up grossing over $600 million worldwide at the box office.
The story follows Bond as he goes undercover at the fictional Casino Royale in Montenegro to stop an evil terrorist organization known as Quantum from stealing billions of dollars from other casinos around the world using high-tech devices; known as “baccarat bombs”.
Owning Mahowny
This David Cronenberg movie is based on the true story of gambling addict Dan Mahowny (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman), who embezzled $10 million from his bank to fund his gambling addiction. The movie focuses on how he got caught and how he dealt with it afterward — including going through withdrawal while in prison.
It’s a fascinating look at addiction and recovery from a different angle than most films about poker, drugs, or alcohol. It shows that nothing matters, no matter how much money you have, if you don’t have control over yourself.
Hard Eight
Hard Eight; a movie about poker about the life of a high-stakes poker player, is an excellent introduction to the world of poker. It’s not just a movie about poker; it’s also about redemption and friendship.
The film follows Joe, a professional gambler who takes a young boy he meets under his wing. Together, they play high-stakes poker games to make enough money to start their new life. In flashbacks, we see how Joe came to work in this field and why he is passionate about assisting people through difficult times.
California Split
George Segal and Elliott Gould feature in California Split, among the best movies about poker, about two buddies who go off across the country to find their fortune in poker. Robert Altman directed the film based on James Toback’s book and has a cast of eccentric characters and famous gambling sequences. It’s a must-see for fans of movies related to poker or anyone who likes classic comedies from the 1970s.
With these top poker movies, you can instantly familiarize yourself with the game and with poker’s history. Some classic poker films capture the game’s essence, and more recent movies showcase poker’s contemporary popularity.