Over the years there have been some truly exceptional movies based in and around the casino business. As one of the most glamorous pursuits of all, casinos provide all of the thrills and spills that any good blockbuster needs.
From spy thrillers to heist movies, the best casino action movies are as varied as they are exciting. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best casino action movies around, including everybody’s favourites as well as one or two surprises. Whilst you are enjoying our casino movie run-downs, you can try your hand at winning and check out this list of the best casinos that payout in the USA.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at our list of the best casino action movies.
Casino Royale (2006)
Considered by many to be the best James Bond movie of the modern era, Casino Royale was Daniel Craig’s first outing as 007. This remake of a 60’s movie of the same name truly raises the stakes in terms of drama with what has become one of the most celebrated casino scenes in movie history. A wonderful performance by Mads Mikkelsen as the infamous Le Chiffre, banker to the world’s most powerful terrorists, makes the action that extra bit more intense. Throw in an epic car chase and all of the usual Bond gadgetry and you have quite simply one of the best casino action movies ever made.
Casino (1996)
This effort from legendary director Martin Scorsese sees the usual mob crime caper moved into the world of casinos in 1950’s Las Vegas. As with so many Scorsese pictures, the lead role is taken on by Robert DeNiro, who plays Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein with exceptional aplomb. This movie is all about the two sides of the casino business, at once impossibly glamorous and hideously corrupt. A vicious turn from Joe Pesci as troublemaking psychopath Nicky Santoro helps Casino to go down as one of the greatest casino action flicks of all time.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
This turn-of-the-century remake of the classic Rat Pack heist movie sees an ensemble cast headed up by George Clooney and Brad Pitt tackle three of the toughest casinos in Vegas. With $150 million at stake and a wonderfully complex web of subplots in play, Ocean’s Eleven is certainly one of the best casino heist films ever. What’s more, the slick direction from Steven Soderbergh as well as a tight script and some memorable cameos see Ocean’s Eleven climb into our list of the best casino action movies.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
The manic exploits of Hunter S. Thompson are no secret. In fact, the legendary writer pioneered a style of journalism he termed as ‘Gonzo’, in which the experiences of the writer are put front and centre in the action. This film, based on Thompson’s book of the same name, sees a tandem of Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro bumbling their way through Vegas and its casinos in a drug-induced, hallucinogenic haze. Conventional? Certainly not. Entertaining? Absolutely!
