5 Gambling Movies That You Should See

Without a doubt, my two favorite hobbies are watching movies and gambling. Therefore, I’m especially thrilled whenever a film about the subject hits the local theater or video store. From The Hustler and The Sting, to Casino and Vegas Vacation, I try to see them all.

Of course, some of these films can be a bit obscure. Sure, we’ve probably all seen The Color of Money, but there are plenty of gambling movies out there which you might not be familiar with.

The following are a list of 5 gambling movies that you might want to watch. Maybe they use a casino as the backdrop for the story, or perhaps the plot revolves around a bet. Whatever the case, gambling is an important part of the story.

FIVE GAMBLING MOVIES THAT YOU SHOULD WATCH

1. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) - This gritty English film provides lots of laughs and plenty of action. The story revolves around a card shark who gets in debt to a local crime boss during a game of three card brag (a British card game similar to poker). He only has a limited time to pay off the debt, so he and his friends decide to rob the violent gang who happen to live next door. Directed by Guy Ritchie, this film is packed full of colorful characters and snappy dialogue. It also introduced actors Vinnie Jones, a former soccer star, and Jason Statham to an international audience.

2. Diggstown (1992) - As soon as he gets out of prison, conman Gabriel Caine (James Woods) heads to Diggstown and makes a wager with the seedy businessman who owns most of the town (Bruce Dern). In order to win the wager, Caine must find a fighter who can defeat ten Diggstown boxers in a 24-hour period. Caine selects 48-year-old pugilist “Honey” Roy Palmer (Louis Gossett Jr.) to act as his champion. What follows is a series of cons, counter-cons, and enough great boxing scenes to have you on the edge of your seat. Also starring Oliver Platt, Heather Graham and Randall “Tex” Cobb.

3. House of Games (1987) - This film about con men marked David Mamet’s directorial debut. In it, a respected psychologist (Lindsay Crouse) comes into contact with a charismatic grifter (Joe Mantegna), and slowly finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into his world of cons. The dialogue is top-notch, but what else would you expect from the man who wrote Glengarry GlenRoss? This is one film that will truly keep you guessing until the final frames. Also starring Ricky Jay and J.T. Walsh.

4. The Cooler (2003) - William H. Macy plays a man whose luck is so terrible that he makes a living by passing it on to others at a casino. But when he unexpectedly falls in love with a waitress (Maria Bello), his luck begins to turn. Needless to say, this does not sit well with his mafia-connected employer (Alec Baldwin). Great performances and steamy sex scenes highlight this surprisingly solid gem. Also starring Ron Livingston, Joey Fatone and Paul Sorvino.

5. Tin Cup (1996) - While the film is mainly about love and golf, it seems that someone makes a bet on something every scene, so I felt obliged to include it. Kevin Costner plays Roy “Tin Cup” McAvoy, a once-promising golf player who now runs a driving range in the sleepy Texas town of Salome. It’s there that he meets Dr. Molly Griswold (Rene Russo), a clinical psychologist who comes to him for golf lessons. When he learns that Molly is involved with an old college rival (Don Johnson), McAvoy’s competitive fires are rekindled. The film’s climax occurs at the U.S. Open, as Roy attempts to win the game and Molly’s heart. Loaded with charm and quirky characters, the film also stars Cheech Marin.

5 Gambling Movies That You Should See