The allure of gaming is unmistakable. That’s why films about gambling and casinos have been around since the very beginning of cinematography.
At first, people enjoyed horse races and making bets on them, and then it grew to an affection for poker and blackjack that could be found at brick-and-mortar gaming venues. And today, gambling encompasses a diversity of forms and casino games you can play at leading online platforms, including PayID casino no deposit bonus.
What’s interesting is that all these eras, gambling areas, and experiences have been successfully captured in different movies. Films, where a tiny bit of luck can fully change one’s life overnight: turning it upside down or bringing completely new chances and adventures.
But who are the masterminds directing some of the best gambling movies of all time? How do their “creations” stand out, and what do they bring to the audience? We have uncovered all these questions in the article, so let’s begin.
#1 Guy Ritchie
When we talk about the best movies with gambling motives, Guy Ritchie, a famous English director, is definitely among the top picks. He has many well-known and critically acclaimed features under his belt. For example, just take a look at The Covenant (2022) and his overly popular Sherlock Holmes (2009), which ranked in millions at the box office.
However, if we look from the perspective of gambling fans, there are two movies in Ritchie’s track record that can be considered his best. These cover his sophomore film, Snatch (2000) and, of course, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which was released in 1998.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a crime comedy, the plot of which revolves around three friends who, in order to pay off their gambling debts, rob a gang. At first glance, it has a quite simple storyline, without a lot of twists and relatively shallow characters. However, the great performance of the actors made it to a prominent fruition.
What’s interesting is that his film comes with an ensemble cast and features the on-screen debuts of two actors, Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham.
#2 Martin Scorsese
No one makes epic gangster movies the way it does Martin Scorsese. He is an American director whose films regularly appear on the top of the leading “best gambling movies” charts. And this has already been for more than two decades.
If we look closely, we can see that only Molly’s Game from 2017 and 1998’s Rounders have come close to overturning Scorsese’s Casino (1995) from the top place of “best ever” ratings.
The movie Casino is about an ex-gangster, Sam “Ace” Rothstein, who manages a big casino in Las Vegas, and his friend, a mafia underboss Nicky Santoro. The plot moves smoothly till the moment the ambitious woman Ginger joins the play.
The film covers everything you can expect to get from crime and action genres. The rush, the thrill, the gambling, and the guns — all are there. The director showcases both the bad and good sides of Vegas, with intoxicating glamor and glitz combined with cruel dealing and brutality.
#3 Steven Soderbergh
The next name in our top three belongs to Steven Andrew Soderbergh — an American movie director, screenwriter, producer, editor, and cinematographer. His Ocean’s Eleven from 2001, along with The Hangover, Casino, and a select couple of others, is one of the most globally known gambling films ever made.
Ocean’s Eleven perfectly combines the themes of robbery and casino. Here, all actions take place in a casino in Las Vegas.
On Rotten Tomatoes, this movie holds an approval rating of 83%. In addition, it managed to garner $450.7 million on a budget of $85 million.
This is the highest gross differential from any casino-themed film ever released. Such commercial appeal was partially a result of a star-studded cast with the lead of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Matt Damon. As for the supporting crew, here you can see no less popular names, such as Don Cheadle, Julia Roberts, Bernie Mac, Elliot Gould, and Casey Affleck.
Some Final Words
Gambling is one of those “firm” sectors that is always present in our lives. And as long as people like to spend their leisure time spinning slot reels, playing blackjack with friends, or simply placing bets on the biggest football events, movies highlighting the essence of gambling will continue to be produced.
Some of them will be forgotten and pass with the turning day, while others will take their place among the top ones and stay there for a longer period of time.
