Sports betting in cinema is often the basis of crime thrillers, action films and detective stories. All these films have one thing in common. They have a fascinating plot and perfectly show the inside of the bookmaker business. Telecomasia.net have selected for you the best Hollywood movies about sports betting.
Snatch, 2000
This classic crime comedy by Guy Ritchie is rated 8.3 out of 10 by IMDb. The film really turned out to be very decent, and you probably already saw it. But it’s worth watching over and over again!
The focus is on an underground bookmaker’s office, which several heroes dream of robbing as they try to make a fortune. Here you’ll see an underground betting house, a twisting plot and great acting by Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Vinnie Jones and Benicio del Toro.
Mean Machine, 2001
It features the same fine cast of actors as Snatch. It’s a quality crime drama with comedic elements. The acclaimed Vinnie Jones played almost himself here. He plays a British footballer with a very badass temper who is sent to prison for his possible involvement in match-fixing.
The head of the correctional facility is eager to win the prison league, and therefore quickly finds use for the talents of Danny Meehan (Jones’ hero). He is forced to become the coach of the local team. However, the hero decides to go against the system, for which he gathers his own team of prisoners and decides to take them to a match against the guards. Let’s say right away as Meehan will then have to make a very difficult choice.
Two for the Money, 2005
This is a gripping film about gamblers, starring the brilliant Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey.
The talented soccer player Brandon is left without a livelihood, as he is injured and leaves the sport. This state of affairs forces him to turn to a professional bettor Walter, who specializes in making sports predictions. Together they develop a plan with which to get rich quickly, but if they fail, they face certain death. Walter and Brandon are playing a very risky game with dangerous people. This film will definitely make you watch with interest what is happening on the screen and will help you better understand how bettors work.
Lucky Number Slevin, 2006
This is a crime drama with a twisted plot that ties in with horse racing betting. The main roles are played by Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley.
Slevin is going through an extremely unfortunate period. His home is sealed, he lost his job, and his beloved left. The young man is the son of a bettor who was killed for foul play. Slevin himself is mistakenly involved in a dangerous story from which he needs to get out.
Stretch, 2014
Joe Carnahan has made a very interesting film, the plot of which centers on the story of Kevin, a driver who gets into debt because of bad bets. He has just one night to pay back the bookmaker, and a strange order from an eccentric billionaire. Kevin has to get out of an inconceivable amount of trouble and setups. Love is not absent in this thrilling movie either.
The main roles are played by Patrick Wilson, Ed Helms, Chris Pine and Jessica Alba.
Little Miss Marker, 1980
This film differs from all others with its unusual plot and kindness. Here you will not see chases, shootings and ingenious schemes. The lost bettor leaves his 6-year-old daughter as a pledge to the bookmaker, and he commits suicide. How will the fate of the gloomy bookie and the cute girl change after that? You will get the answer by watching this light film.
The Sting, 1973
Without this iconic film, which won seven Oscars, our list would not be complete. Fans of pictures about risky scams and sports betting should definitely not miss George Roy Hill’s creation, which starred iconic Hollywood actors of the 1970s, Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw.
In the story, two comrades who specialize in fraudulent betting on horse racing and gambling interfere with the boss of the Chicago mafia. After that, one of them will die, and the other, together with an accomplice, comes up with the most cunning scam in the world to take revenge on the offender. The audience, besides the tense plot, will have an unexpected ending.
