The casino is a place that has always been of great interest to filmmakers, and there are quite a few films about casinos. We’ve reviewed some of the most important ones on this list, along with brief reviews that will help you choose which casino movie is your favourite. Enjoy!
Casino (1995)
If you’re a fan of Martin Scorsese, it’s likely that you’ve seen this film. It’s one of the director’s most iconic works, starring Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone as casino owners. The other main character is played by Joe Pesci, who received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance here. Casino was based on Nicholas Pileggi’s true-crime book Casino: Love and Honour in Las Vegas, which documented multiple mobsters controlling various casinos during the 1970s and 1980s.
Rounders (John Dahl, 1998)
Rounders is a film that I think you will enjoy, especially if you are a fan of poker. It stars Matt Damon as a law student who is also a gambler and John Malkovich as one of the Russian mobsters with whom he has to do business. The movie presents an interesting take on the world of poker and its players: some are professionals like Teddy KGB (Malkovich) who play very seriously and others are amateurs who play just because they love it.
People who love casinos might enjoy visiting the Casino online or similar websites.
Croupier (Mike Hodges,1998)
This film starring Clive Owen is a great choice if you’re looking for a movie about casinos. It was based on the novel by James Toback, who also wrote the screenplay. The film takes place in London, England. It tells the story of an aspiring writer who works as a croupier at a casino during his free time so he can write his book about gambling.
Molly’s Game
Molly Bloom, a former Olympic skier becomes a professional poker player after her sports career is cut short by a serious injury. After she’s arrested for running an illegal high-stakes poker game in Los Angeles, she tells her story to her attorney (Idris Elba). It’s based on Bloom’s real life journey as a young woman who went from being an Olympic hopeful to running one of the biggest private games in America—and getting away with it for years!
21 (2008)
In 21, you’ll find yourself rooting for the smart young men and women who are out to make a quick buck by counting cards. The film is based on the true story of a group of MIT students who were trained by a maths professor to count cards and take down the casinos.
Honourable mentions
How about a casino comedy starring Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler. The House is a movie that tells the story of a family who starts an illegal casino in order to fund their daughter’s college education.
Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels is an action packed movie that is based around a big poker game.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a movie that will take you through the highs and lows of the American dream and the culture of that time in a casino setting.