Movies are one of the most important aspects of popular culture that have a strong influence on the general public. Oftentimes, they make certain pop culture phenomena more or less popular.
Movies about casinos and the lifestyle associated with them are an example of this influence. Before casino movies became popular, gambling was thought to be the pastime of the rich. However, nowadays, there are more and more people who enter the gambling world after watching a casino movie, with little prior knowledge. Our advice to them is to start slowly by playing in no wagering casinos and learn something more about the theme on Casinopedia.
So, if you are a movie buff and you are looking for new casino movies to watch in your spare time, check out our list of the ones we always gladly come back to.
#1 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Let’s start this list with one of the absolute classics of casino cinematography and cinematography in general. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is based on the popular novel that depicts the turbulent life of Hunter S. Thompson – a controversial writer and journalist.
The main role is entrusted to Johnny Depp who does an amazing job at portraying the unique personality of his character. Accompanied by his crazed Samoan lawyer, he sets out to Las Vegas to cover a sporting event for a magazine.
#2 Casino (1996)
This is yet another classic among casino movies, directed by the brilliant Martin Scorsese. This is perhaps the movie that has done the biggest work in the sense that it brought the elusive and posh Las Vegas lifestyle closer to the general public.
Robert De Niro plays the anti-hero in this one-of-a-kind movie that shows us the two-facedness of Las Vegas – the glitz and glamour, together with its cruel and brutal dealings.
#3 Casino Royale (2006)
No matter if you are a fan of the James Bond movie franchise, this is the title you need to watch if you’re looking for an engaging casino-related theme. It is a remake of the much older 1967 version with the same name, so it does a great job at targeting the younger populations.
Daniel Craig stars as the legendary secret agent – James Bond, this time on a mission to stop one of the financiers of dangerous terrorist groups from winning a high-stakes Texas Hold’em tournament in Montenegro.
#4 Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Who doesn’t like a good heist movie, especially when the main target is one of the biggest casinos in the country? One of the many things that make this movie an absolute classic is the outstanding cast, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts.
The plan is set out by George Clooney’s character, Danny Ocean, to pull off the biggest and the most thrilling heist America has ever seen. To succeed, he has gathered a group of talented professionals who do not hesitate to take big risks.
#5 The Gambler (2014)
The Gambler is like Breaking Bad of the casino movie world. Mark Wahlberg stars in this 2014 title as a literature professor who is also a gambling addict in his private life. As the story unfolds, he ends up owing a lot of money after losing at a Blackjack game to some dangerous people who are not happy about it.
Will he manage to find the money and get out of this dire situation? He might just make it with the help of his loyal student portrayed by Brie Larson.
#6 Hard Eight (1996)
Hard Eight is another one of those movies that you know is going to become a classic the moment you take a look at the cast. A movie starring Philip Baker Hall, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. Reilly, and Samuel L. Jackson cannot possibly be bad.
The story follows a pro gambler who takes a rookie under his wings and teaches him the ropes. Everything goes as planned until he meets a beautiful woman portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow.
#7 Croupier (1998)
The famous Clive Owen plays Jack Manfred who is an aspiring writer. Struggling to make ends meet, he is forced to take a job as a croupier at a big casino. He manages to find the inspiration for his new novel in the casino, but he also gets stuck in the complex new world he knows little about.
This movie depicts a gloomier side of the gambling world, showing us what happens to people who are not fit to untangle themselves from it.
