A spectacular non GamStop casino heist, poker tournaments with illustrious figures at the table to cheating gamblers who steal millions: the non GamStop casino, like spicy jackpots, is a great source of inspiration for film producers.
Because of the wealth, glamor, excitement and sensation, casino films have great appeal. Some films became true cult classics. Which films and series about casinos are worth adding to your watch list? There’s a good chance that you’ve seen James Bond’s Casino Royale and Oceans 10 with George Clooney and Brad Pitt several times. So, we no longer have to mention them. That is why we list the 10 best casino films and series for you that you may not know yet.
Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
The crime film directed by Guy Ritchie led to the big break for actor Jason Statham. In Lock, Stock and two smoking Barrels, four friends compete against high rollers in a poker game. Their combined stake is around £25,000. They lose all their money because of a cheating team. To make matters worse, the friends build up a debt to a feared gangster. Expect a whole series of shooting scenes, lots of action and surprising plot twists.
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
This gem is based on the 1971 book of the same name by Hunter S. Thompson. Johnny Depp takes on the role of journalist Raoul Duke, who travels to Las Vegas with his lawyer (played by Benicio del Toro) for a motocross race. The trunk of their convertible is packed with drugs and booze, leading to a psychedelic road trip with two striking characters.
Owney Mahoney (2003)
What do you get when you give a gambling addict a top position at a bank? Right, problems. The film Owney Mahoney starring Philip Seymour Hoffman is based on a true story that took place in Toronto, Canada. Here a bank manager cheated his customers out of more than 10 million dollars. He spent the stolen money in the casinos.
Rounders (1998)
In Rounders we see how ex-gambling addict Mike (Matt Damon) quits poker to study law. His girlfriend manages to keep him on the straight and narrow for a while, but when his best friend Worm (Edward Norton) gets out of jail, he is dragged back into the poker circuit. To pay off Worm’s enormous debt, the two take on mob boss Teddy KGB (John Malkovich). Whether that ends well…
21 (2008)
The movie 21 is loosely based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team. The extremely intelligent student Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) must cough up a large sum of money (over $300,000) to be admitted to Harvard Medical School.
One evening he is invited to a blackjack team by Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey). Micky says he wants to train this team in card counting. Ben’s joining the somewhat obscure blackjack team is the starting signal for an exciting film full of greed, chases and deceit.
Croupier (1998)
Clive Owen plays the ambitious writer Jack Manfred, who makes a good living as a croupier at the Golden Lion Casino. A job that his father arranged for him. When femme fatale Jani de Villiers (Alex Kingston) comes into play, he sees opportunities for his novel. Jani uses her charms to involve Jack in her plan to rob the casino. Ultimately, Jack manages to finish his book about his exciting life as a croupier. The novel is published anonymously and turns out to be a big hit, after which the money flows in. Then a phone call from his father takes a surprising turn.
Casino (1995)
The 1995 classic by director Martin Scorsese should definitely not be missing from this list. Casino offers a glimpse into organized crime and the immense gambling palaces of Las Vegas in the 1970s and 1980s. The film is said to have similarities with the Scorsese film Goodfellas . Enjoy the fine acting skills of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, the beautiful camera work and intense scenes of violence.
Mississippi Grind (2015)
In Mississippi Grind, one of the few newer films on this list, gambling-addicted real estate agent Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) tries to make something of his life. He is deeply in debt and everything seems to be going against him. When Gerry meets charismatic poker player Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), the sun seems to shine again.
Curtis convinces him to go to the American South together for a real gambling trip. An entertaining film with two top actors that you should definitely see.
Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)
The romantic comedy Honeymoon in Vegas has a Golden Globes nomination to its name in the ‘comedy & musical’ category. Jack (Nicolas Cage) and Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) decide to get married in Las Vegas. Once arrived in the gambling paradise, Jack does everything he can to spell out the marriage. He gets caught up in a poker game where he loses tens of thousands of dollars to professional gambler Tommy Korman (James Caan). Tommy is not the worst and is willing to cancel the debt. On one condition: that he can ”borrow” the attractive Betsy for a weekend.
Las Vegas (2003-2008)
We conclude the list with one of our favorite casino series that was shown on the television years ago: Las Vegas. Las Vegas offers a good mix of action, love and humor. Seeing the over 10 year (!) old intro is a real trip down memory lane for us.
The charismatic Ed Deline (James Caan) runs the fictional Montecito casino. He heads a good-looking security team that keeps a close eye on gamblers day and night. That’s a good thing, because threatening situations occur regularly. From cheating gamblers to persistent bounty hunters.
Josh Duhamel, Vanessa Marcil and Molly Sims, among others, are part of the dream team. In one episode the team has to deal with topless old ladies in the casino swimming pool, the other time the beautiful daughter of the casino boss is kidnapped and buried alive. No day is the same at Montecito. A total of five seasons of Las Vegas have been released.
