Poker is one of those games that players like to think about even when they're away from the poker table. Fortunately, there are plenty of poker cheat sheets to study, and even more 'how-to' poker books to lose yourself in. There's also vast swathes of poker themed movies to enjoy. And with that in mind, here at CasinoGuide, we've come up with our recommendation for 7 best poker movies to watch in 2022.
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Best Movies about Poker and Gambling
1. Molly's Game
This 2017 movie is based on the memoir of Molly Bloom. It tells the true story of how 26-year-old Molly (played by Jessica Chastain) was targeted by the FBI for running a high-stake underground poker game. And not just any poker game, but one for the biggest celebrities, sports personalities and Hollywood elites around. A satisfying drama with poker at its heart, Molly's Game is well worth watching.
2. Casino Royale (2006)
Daniel Craig made his debut as James Bond in the 2006 version of Casino Royale. Based on the 1953 book of the same name by Ian Fleming, this big-screen version replaced the novel's famous Baccarat game with Texas Hold'em poker, which arguably made the plot even more exciting. Bond needs to beat private banker Le Chiffre (played by Mads Mikkelsen) in a high stakes poker game with much more than money at stake.
3. The Cincinnati Kid
High stakes poker is at the heart of this 1965 classic, which is set in 1930's New Orleans. Steve McQueen stars as a young poker player known as the Cincinnati Kid, who has beat the rest and now takes on the best - one Lancey Howard, played by Edward G. Robinson. The climactic game of poker is just as much a battle between an old champion and a headstrong newcomer as is it about the cards and poker chips on the table.
4. Lucky You
Starring Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall, Lucky You (2007) is another poker movie with plenty of drama. Here the story concerns Huck Cheever (Bana) who is a hotshot at poker but has troubles with his emotional life and relationships, particularly his relationship with his father (Duvall). This is an interesting character study that has plenty to teach viewers about winning, losing, and what matters most.
5. Ocean's Eleven (2001)
One of the classic casino movies is Ocean's Eleven. Though it isn't specifically about the game of poker, it does concern a group of friends who plan to rob a casino of $160 million, so the gambling theme is certainly present. This is an ensemble movie starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts, to name just a few of the big names involved, and it was so successful that it spawned two sequels. Also check out the original 1960 movie starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., on which this was based.
6. Cold Deck
Cold Deck is a 2015 small-budget Canadian thriller starring Paul Sorvino and Stafano Gallo. It focuses on two broke friends who set out to make big bucks by playing in a secret game of high stakes poker. But this is no ordinary poker game - this is a high-stakes poker heist. The movie portrays the gritty world of underground poker with plenty of bad guys "king pins" and flawed characters, and makes for interesting viewing for any poker and casino fans who enjoy a good action-packed crime thriller too.
7. Rounders
The movie Rounders is a cult hit and one of the best poker movies of all time. Released in 1998, this drama focuses on two friends - Mike McDermott (played by Matt Damon) and Lester 'Worm' Murphy (Edward Norton) - who need to win a high stakes poker game to pay off debts to a Russian mobster known as KGB. What gives this movie its edge is that McDermott has previously promised his girlfriend (played by Gretchen Mol) that he won't play poker.
More Poker Tips and Resources
We hope this gives you a taste of some of the best poker themed movies as recommended by the CasinoGuide Canada team. If the movies highlighted here inspire you to learn how to play poker or find the best poker sites Canada has to offer, be sure to visit our dedicated poker page where you can find some great advice about poker rules, tips and strategies, plus the best places to play.
