Top Eight Casino Movies in the Last Decade

Image by Peter Lomas from Pixabay

Gambling at casinos has always been a popular pastime, so it’s no surprise it’s a popular subject in the entertainment industry. Hundreds of movies with a casino theme have been released over the years, some doing better than others. In the last decade alone, dozens of great titles graced our screens. Though you might not see the casinos listed on casinoreviewers.com online Australia mentioned in these movies, you’ll experience the thrilling atmosphere of casino games and high stakes. Below, we consider eight movies released in the last decade that are a must-watch for all casino lovers.

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No one can dispute the brilliance of classic films like California Split and The Gambler, released in 1974. However, that doesn’t mean recent titles aren’t offering the same brilliance.

The Gambler (2014)

Based on the original 1974 movie, the 2014 rendition of “The Gambler” features Mark Wahlberg as Jim Bennet, a college writing lecturer. Jim Bennet is also a high roller, a gambler playing with high stakes at casinos. In this reimagining, Bennet loses a large amount of money and has to repay it within a week. So starts the film following his journey into the seedier parts of town, looking to win money to repay his debt.

Mississippi Grind (2015)

With Ryan Renolds as Curtis and Ben Mendelsohn as Gerry, this movie follows the two gamblers as they meet by chance and go on a gambling journey together. Though not as heavy as some other films on this list, it still features poignant drama about appreciating the moment, receiving second chances, and gambling addiction. This film depicts a realistic rendition of non-stop gambling and taking chances as the two try to win big at New Orleans poker tables.

The House (2017)

This film delves into the underground scene of casinos, featuring Will Ferrel and Amy Poehler as a married couple. The Johansen couple starts an illegal casino in a friend’s house to pay for their daughter’s college tuition after her scholarship was revoked. This American comedy has many nail-biting situations and scenes that’ll have you sit back and laugh as you watch the events on screen.

Molly’s Game (2017)

This film delivers a cinematographic rendition of the true story of Molly Bloom. Played by Jessica Chastain, it follows the story of former champion skier Molly Bloom. Molly starts circulating the underground poker rooms after an injury forces her to retire from skiing, boasting a cocky and cunning attitude. It showcases how she becomes the queen of illegal underground matches, gambling with high stakes and meeting other, more unfortunate, gamblers along the way.  

Win It All (2017)

While we all know the dangers of gambling without controlling your impulses, this film showcases it with a comedic twist. Jake Johnson plays a small-time recovered gambler, Eddie Garret, who hides a bag of cash for an acquaintance. However, it’s not long before he starts dipping into the cash, using it to fuel his gambling impulses. The film shows Eddie’s bad decisions while keeping it comedic enough to ensure you enjoy the movie.

Animal World (2018)

We take a break from the typical westernised casino films to bring you Animal World, a Chinese fantasy-action film. Starring Michael Douglas and Li Yifeng, this film depicts a card tournament held on a large boat. Yet what really sets this movie apart is the shape-shifting monsters, bringing in an element of fantasy not generally seen in gambling movies. It features incredible visuals and provides a unique and exciting watch to the usual grinding of gambling movies.

Uncut Gems (2019)

Uncut Gems showcases the darker part of gambling, with Adam Sandler wonderfully depicting a jeweller and gambling addict, Howard Ratner. Howard has a massive gambling debt, and the movie follows him as he tries to recover a rare jewel that’ll resolve all his debts. However, with each new and crazy gambling scheme Howard tries, he falls deeper into trouble. Like an addition, you’re nailed to the screen, hoping the following plan will pan out as Howard risks it all.

The Card Counter (2021)

The Card Counter shows yet another side of gambling: keeping control of the high stakes of the casino games. With Oscar Isaac playing the professional card counter William Tell, you’ll follow his nomadic journey. From casino to casino, William’s policy is to bet small and win small to ensure he doesn’t attract unwanted attention. The movie shows a brilliant balance between William running from the pain and guilt of his past and trying to control his life like he controls the cards using his card counting.

The World of Movies

Movies are one of the largest entertainment industries, with various topics and plots covered. With gambling movies, you generally know what to expect, whether it’s a crime thriller or an American comedy. However, at times you’ll be surprised at the genius storytelling a movie can show, as with the eight movies mentioned above. While there have been many great casino films through the ages, the above eight are titles released in the last decade. You should give them a chance if you haven’t already.