Gambling has been a large part of the movies since the earliest days of the Silver Screen. The images of stars and glamour filled settings risking huge amounts of cash have long been a cinematic standard that has withstood the test of time.
With that in mind, let us look at the 5 best gambling/poker films in recent years based on their content and cinematic appeal.
Casino Royale
Daniel Craig made his debut as 007 in this dramatic action film set around a casino. Bond has to take on a master gambler with millions on the line. The hook is that his opponent is a deadly terrorist and only by beating him at cards can Bond hope to end his source of financial backing.
The tension mounts with each hand and the dramatic turns make you wonder if the hero will be able to save the day.
Runner Runner
One of the more recent film but with a winning mix of Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake and the growing world of online gaming, this is a compelling look at those who do not know when to count their blessings.
Affleck as the online gaming Kingpin and Timberlake as the greedy upstart who wants it all form and unlikely partnership and soon learn that the stakes are much higher than what is on the table. “This is a film that combines star power with dramatic tension to create a look into the world of the brave new frontier of online Poker.
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Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
Guy Ritchie made his debut with this captivating caper film about two gamblers who need to come up with a large sum of cash in a week to settle their debts. Insert plenty of madcap action, suspense, gaming, and some twists and you can see how this all added up to a winning hand.
The Sting
Paul Newman and Robert Shaw and seven Academy Awards would be a huge haul for anyone but this gripping tale of Depression Era grifting is a timeless classic for the ages.
The great acting and gaming as well as gripping characters makes this one of the best films one can ever watch.
The Hustler
Paul Newman created the iconic character of Fast Eddie Felson who as a pool hustler to end all hustles, worked his way up to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats. Newman did such a masterful job with the character that he would reprise it years later in “The Color of Money” and take home a much deserved Oscar for his work.
There are countless other films as well but for the sake of brevity we looked at out top 5 favorites. We would welcome your suggestions and comments for your favorite films as well.
