There’s nothing like catching a movie to take you away from daily life and transport you to other worlds. One of the best things about them is the sheer variety they offer in terms of themes and settings. Throughout the history of film, gambling and casinos crop up regularly. This is no surprise when you consider the core place that both these things occupy in pop culture globally.
Although lots of movies have incorporated gambling scenes, there are some that stand out more than others in cinematic terms. This is due to how well shot and directed they are, plus how much of an impact they have on viewers.
Here are a few of cinema’s best gambling scenes:
Indecent Proposal
This smash-hit movie was released in 1993 and made major headlines due to its controversial storyline at the time. Beautifully shot and directed by Adrian Lyne, Robert Redford, Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson were also in fine form.
It contains some of the most well-shot and cinematic gambling scenes in movie history. Perhaps the best of these is at the start of the film, where Harrelson’s character scoops a huge $25,000 win at the craps table.
The joy both main characters show in this scene only serves to make the events which unfold even more dramatic. This scene also shows the entertaining gameplay craps contains and why it’s such a popular casino game. For more information on how craps is played, check out askgamblers.com
Casino Royale
The James Bond franchise of movies is no stranger to glamorous casino settings and scenes which involve some of our favorite games. 2006’s Casino Royale though is the pick of the bunch when it comes to providing a truly dazzling cinema experience.
The standout scene in question involves Daniel Craig’s Bond traveling to Montenegro for a high stakes poker game against the villain Le Chiffre. Things don’t start well for 007, as he loses several hands, and his initial $10m buy-in to his menacing opponent. After securing more cash to keep playing and surviving an attempt to poison him mid-game, Bond triumphs in a tense final hand to take the pot.
There’s so much to love about this scene — from the gorgeous Casino Royale setting to the sinister performance from Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre and Craig’s tour de force as Bond.
Rounders
1998’s Rounders is something of a cult hit and is based around high stakes poker. It stars Matt Damon and Ed Norton, who both light up the screen as you’d expect. The central story has both their characters trying to pay off their debts by playing a series of high-octane poker games.
Although this film has some very cool gambling scenes, the final showdown stands out the most. It has a great deal of energy and keeps viewers fixated on it until the end. In it, Damon’s character goes head-to-head in a No Limit Hold ‘Em game against Russian gangster Teddy KGB. Damon’s character is able to win this game by figuring out his opponent’s tell. This is not only a great looking scene which is expertly directed by John Dahl, but it is also packed full of tension.
The Sting
While newer films like You Burn Me continue to make their mark, classic hits still attract viewers. 1973’s The Sting is a great example as Paul Newman and Robert Redford are in top form. Alongside the exceptional acting, its highly stylized look makes this film unique.
One of its most iconic moments is an adrenaline-charged poker game which takes place aboard a train. The unusual setting adds to the impact the scene has and the way it’s shot gives it a very cinematic look.
Newman’s character plays the part of a drunken bookmaker to scam the poker game’s host, crime boss Doyle Lonnegan, out of $15,000. Newman’s portrayal of an obnoxious oaf in this scene is cinema gold and bears numerous viewings.
Rain Man
When it comes to memorable gambling scenes in cinema history, Rain Man has to be in the conversation. This film was a massive hit when released in the 1980s and had Tom Cruise in peak form. Dustin Hoffman also puts in a stunning performance that acts as a perfect counterbalance to the undeniable energy of Cruise.
The main gambling scene we all know and love takes place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It starts with a blaring soundtrack accompanying both main characters as they are shown coming into the casino on an escalator. This alone is an iconic shot and one that has gone down in film history.
After this, the casino is shown in all its glamour as the characters walk through it. They finally arrive at the blackjack table before Cruise utters the immortal line: “Rain Main, let’s play some cards”. From the glitzy casino setting to the superb use of tracking shots and the way sound is used to enhance the atmosphere, the entire scene is a cinematic feast.
Run Lola Run
Run Lola Run is a cult German experimental film released in 1998 and ably directed by Tom Twyker. It starred Franka Potente as the main character of Lola and has her dashing all over Berlin to raise 100,000 Deutsche marks in only 20 minutes to save the life of her boyfriend.
Towards the end of the film, she enters a casino in a bid to win the money, which leads to one of the most famous gambling scenes in movie history. Playing with a 100-mark chip, Lola bets on number 20 and wins. She continues betting on 20 until she has all the money she needs to save her boyfriend. Perhaps the most cinematically impressive moment of this scene is the shrill scream Lola emits when she wins and how this breaks the tension which has built up until this point.
Must see gambling scenes in cinema
The above scenes are some of the most amazing and cinematic ever committed to film. Whether it’s expert direction, clever use of shots, stunning acting or gorgeous settings, all the scenes we’ve listed are excellent.
