The ten best gambling and poker movies are a must-see for everyone. These movies are exciting because gambling is one of the most exhilarating activities worldwide. For example, gamblers experience a rush when they win risky bets. More importantly, the things that people do to win a game or prevent cheaters from defrauding a gambling company are shocking. That is why they provide excellent material for moviemakers.

Here are the 10 best gambling and poker movies.

1. Casino

Casino is a 1995 film by Martin Scorsese. The film had a star-studded cast including Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone. Casino earned $116.1 million at the box office. Film critics rated it highly. For example, it received an average score of 73 out of 10 on Metacritic. The film is about a gambling handicapper called to oversee the daily operations at a casino in Las Vegas. Ace has one job. That job is to keep the mobsters in Las Vegas in line and to make sure that the money from the casino flows freely.

2. Ocean’s Eleven

Ocean’s Eleven is a 2001 film directed by Steven Soderbergh. This film was a remake of a 1960 movie that had the same name. It earned $450.7 million at the Box Office. It received a rating of 78%, 82%, and 90% from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Common Sense Media. Ocean’s Eleven had a star-studded cast including Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and George Clooney. It was a heist film. More specifically, an interesting group of accomplices was intent on robbing three casinos in Las Vegas. This robbery targeted three casinos at the same time.

3. Casino Royale

Casino Royale is a 2006 film directed by Martin Campbell. The inspiration for this film came from a 1953 novel that had a similar storyline. This film grossed $600 million at the Box office making it ones of the most successful films in 2006. Casino Royale is a spy film revolving around a high-stakes poker game. More specifically, James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) has a mission to bankrupt a terrorist financier. Only a high-stakes poker game would help him achieve this mission.

4. The Gambler

The Gambler is a 2014 film by Rupert Wyatt. The inspiration for it came from a 1974 film by James Toback. That film had the same name as this one. The Gambler earned $39.3 million at the Box Office. Many people liked it, but some felt that the film was disappointing. The gambler revolves around a man tasked with taking on gangland bosses. He does that through unrelenting determination at the gambling table. His objective is to free himself and his loved ones from these bosses.

5. 21

21 is a 2008 film directed by Robert Luketic. A book by Ben Mezrich inspired it. This book focused on the nonfictional story of a Blackjack Team from MIT. The film earned $157.9 million at the Box Office. It also got a rating of 6.8 out of 10 from IMDb. 21 focused on a talented group of college students as they tried to crack the code for 21, the legendary card game. Things did not go as planned. More specifically, the group had to deal with some shadowy figures in the industry.

6. Rounders

Rounders is a 1998 film by John Dahl. Matt Damon and Edward Norton are the starring actors in this film. It received mixed reviews at the Box Office, but most of the critics loved it. For example, it received a score of 65% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film follows the story of two poker players. Winning at high-stakes poker is necessary if they want to pay off their large debt. The name for the film refers to them travelling from city to city looking for high-stakes poker games.

7. Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 film directed by Terry Gilliam. The inspiration from this one came from a novel by Hunter S. Thompson. The novel had the same name as the film. It received a rating of 7.7 out of 10 from IMDb. The stars in the film are Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro. The two go on an assignment in Las Vegas. Their mission is to explore Las Vegas and they do that while they are under the effects of psychoactive substances.

8. The Cincinnati Kid

The Cincinnati Kid is a 1965 film directed by Norman Jewison. The inspiration for it came from a novel written Richard Jessup. The film had the same name as the novel. This film is a golden classic. Currently, it has a score of 7.3 out of 10 on IMDb and 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film follows the story of a young poker player. This poker player is intent on establishing his reputation as the best poker player ever. To do that, he has to challenge a player who is older and more experienced than he is.

9. The Sting

The Sting is a 1973 film about two professional grifters who are trying to con a mob boss. The characters in this film place heavy bets on horse races including $500,000 on a single bet.

10. The Hangover

The Hangover is a 2009 film by Todd Phillips. It follows the journey of four friends as they take a trip to Las Vegas for a bachelor’s party. During this trip, the friends engage in gambling activities including an $82,400 win while playing Blackjack.