Las Vegas, casinos and gambling are such natural settings and plot for any action or thriller flick — lights, glamour, money, loss, beautiful people, ugly tragedy and ultimate triumph make up some of our favorite flicks in Hollywood. The genre really started when Frank Sinatra and his entourage of talent, the Rat Pack, made the original “Ocean’s Eleven” in 1960. It was one of the first films to really glamorize Las Vegas and gave birth to some of the greats that show both the beautiful and ugly sides of Sin City.
“Casino” (1995)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods
The absolute gold standard for casino movies, “Casino” takes us back to nostalgic Las Vegas when the mafia ran the town and you were just as likely to get whacked as you were to win the jackpot. Scorsese delivers the witty-yet-profane dialogue we know him for, laced with violence that more than earns this movie’s R rating. Stars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci ignite the same on-screen chemistry they shared in “Goodfellas,” which all other casino films are judged against.
“Ocean’s Eleven” (2001)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia (and a whole lot more)
This casino heist comedy-thriller is a remake of the 1960 film staring Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. It features more A-list celebrities than the front row at the Academy Awards. George Clooney stars as Danny Ocean, a master thief looking to win back the affection of his former wife and knock off three of Vegas’ largest casinos in the process. “Ocean’s Eleven” is a little more family friendly compared to “Casino” and still holds up well after 14 years. Its two sequels, “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen” are decent follow-ups with the same star-studded cast, but they don’t quite match the magic.
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (1998)
Director: Terry Gillam
Stars: Johnny Depp, Benicio del Toro, Tobey Maguire
This movie is more about drugs and less about gambling, but “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is one of the most unique views of Sin City through the eyes of author Hunter S. Thompson. Describing this movie to someone who has never seen it is a lot like describing the Grand Canyon to someone who’s never been to Arizona — sure, it’s a giant hole in the ground but going there is an experience. “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” exposes the dark and dirty grime of old Las Vegas as a juxtaposition of the glitz and glamor we see in movies today. It’s refreshingly gritty and well written, and also one of Johnny Depp’s more masterful roles.
“Rounders” (1998)
Director: John Dahl
Stars: Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Grethen Mol, John Malkovich
In stand-up comedy, there are some comedians known as a “comic’s comic,” an act that all other comedians know and love. John Malkovich epitomizes this role in “Rounders,” which is the gambler’s gambling movie. Matt Damon (in yet another casino movie) stars as a college graduate fighting a battle between his love/addiction for poker and helping a friend repay a debt. The movie nails the fine details of Texas Hold ‘Em and shows some very realistic scenes of how a heads-up game can go down, according to OnlineCasinoBlueBook. And John Malkovich is excellent with his Eastern European accent and prodding jokes at Damon’s character.
