We have to admit, the thrill of gambling can be an expensive thing to seek. Traveling to gambling hotspots like Las Vegas can easily come with a huge price tag. You can always go for online casinos, but it’s understandable if you want a break from that.
So, what’s the next best thing to somehow experience all that without spending much? Well, watching a casino-themed movie is always a good idea.
If you’re stuck browsing through movie titles on your favorite streaming platforms, you might want to have a look at some of the most popular films that can give you the casino scene right through your screen.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Let’s start with a casino movie classic. Ocean’s Eleven was directed by Steven Soderbergh and is popular for its impressive cast. Hollywood’s biggest names are part of this film including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and the stunning Julia Roberts.
This movie revolves around a stylish heist planned by Clooney’s character, Danny Ocean. Danny was fresh out of prison and have plans to rob not one, not two, but three of Las Vegas’s most lavish casinos simultaneously.
The film has clever plot twists and snappy dialogues that make it produce a perfect blend of action, humor, and suspense. Other big names you can watch here are Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, and Andy Garcia.
21 (2008)
If you’re looking for something inspired by true events, 21 starring Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, and Kate Bosworth should be on your to-watch list.
This thrilling film follows Ben Campbell (Sturgess), a brilliant MIT student, who joins a secret group of students led by Professor Micky Rosa (Spacey). Their mission? To use their card-counting skills to win big at blackjack in Las Vegas.
The inspiration for the film is a book written by Ben Mezrich in 2003 called Bringing Down the House. It’s a true story about The MIT Blackjack Team in the 1980s. They’re known to be a team of talented students in Math who won a lot of blackjack games with their card counting skills.
Andar Bahar (1984)
If you’re someone who would play Andar Bahar King online or you simply want to be introduced to casino games popular in Indian Culture, Andar Baahar is a great film to watch.
It takes a spot on our list as a classic Indian casino-themed film. It is directed by Raj N. Sippy and starred by legendary Bollywood actors like Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor.
The story revolves around two childhood friends who end up on opposite sides of the law when one becomes a police officer and the other gets involved in illegal gambling activities. It’s full of action-packed sequences which makes it a memorable Bollywood film.
The Hangover (2009)
Need a comedy film fix? The Hangover is another great casino film worth watching. You’ll love this with its clever script and just the overall experience of the whole cast. Speaking of the cast, the film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis.
It’s erected by Todd Philips who is also known for his other impressive films like Joaquin Phoenix’ Joker and Bradly Cooper and Lady Gaga’s A Star is Born. His other comedies are War Dogs, Borat, and Due Date.
The Hangover follows the story of a group of friends who went on a Vegas trip for a bachelor party gone wrong. They woke up with no memory of the previous night and the groom missing, and chaos ensues as they attempt to figure out what happened.
The film is now a trilogy and the second part was released in 2011 while the third part came out in 2013 with the same characters.
Casino (1995)
Last but not least is another Hollywood classic. Released in 1995, Casino is a crime drama that also boasts an all-star cast featuring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci. It’s about the glitzy world of casinos in Las Vegas in the 1970s.
You’ll love this if you want the cliche impression of what it’s like to run a casino empire. Characters will have to go through high stakes and dangers as they witness a casino empire rise and fall.
The film has an impressive way of showing what power, greed, and betrayal can do.
Conclusion
Sometimes, it’s nice to take a break from taking the risk and just watch an interesting take on gambling. These are just some of the classics you’ll likely enjoy if you want to experience the thrill of casinos as you sit back, relax, and not worry about losing a dime.