All Poker Moves
Poker has been captured on film numerous times, and with good reason: more than a slot machine or some other form of gambling, it’s fun to watch and embodies the risky, winner takes all mindset quite well. The best of these movies keep audiences at the edge of their seats, letting them know just exactly what’s at stake for their characters. Gambling is already full of drama, with people feeling desperate and irrationally praying for hope. Sure, we can watch people be careful and tip toe slowly around danger, but where’s the fun in that? Poker as a game embodies all that’s intoxicating about gambling, as well as its sophistication. The following are some of our most favorite poker movies of all time.
- Move-In - To initiate a bet consisting of all of your chips. Certain bets, particularly large wagers or bold bluffs, are sometimes referred to as “moves.” This is because when you make these types of bets, you are often trying to win the pot outright at that point, without getting any further action.
- All-in moves after the flop, turn, or river are likely to look different to these pre-flop shoves. Players who have the nuts will often choose to go all if they are acting after one or two large bets.
- After earning 00 status and a licence to kill, Secret Agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, Montenegro.
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California Split
One of Robert Altman’s most underrated gems, this film from 1974 featuring the one and only Elliot Gould – fondly known these days as Monica’s dad on Friends – as Charlie, who has a pretty bad addiction. The movie is mostly a lot of guys hanging out, playing poker at length, and Altman allows us to take a time to get to know these weird characters and the dangerous wackos that populate this strange underworld. A wonderful comedy drama that ends on a particularly bittersweet note, Charlie’s character is one for the ages, and with which any lover of poker will identify with – even if they don’t share his addiction. The poker scenes are really great in this film, and the audience is right there with the characters when they win big, go on a bacchanalian binge, and then prepare themselves for some serious setbacks.
The Cincinnati Kid
A delightful film from 1965, it was a bit ignored upon release but has since cultivated a devoted cult following. As opposed to The Hustler, another iconic film from that era that focuses on pool, this one zones in on poker. Steve McQueen stars as the smooth “the Kid,” a player who seems to have everyone eating out of the palm of his hand, until he learns a pretty tough lesson. The experts at Beasts of Poker are huge fans, and will tell you that the poker scenes are bonafide works of art in this film. The Cincinnati Kid has never lost its relevance, and remains a marvel. Besides, it features McQueen at his absolute pinnacle, and sets the stage for the remainder of his equally iconic roles in the 1970s.
Rounders
It feels as though this is one Matt Damon vehicle that got lost in the shuffle in the aftermath of Good Will Hunting – Rounders premiered in 1998 – it still has a sizable cult following, especially amongst poker aficionados. A law student, Damon, is caught in a high stakes world of poker, and finds that be bit off far more than he could chew when he crosses paths with a gangster. This film is renowned for its depiction of gambling addiction, and the taught writing behind the indelible poker scenes. Also, there are tons of cameos from some of your favorite actors, including John Malkovich, Edward Norton, and John Turtorro gleefully chewing the scenery.
Molly’s Game
Based on the memoir of former poker champion Molly Bloom, this is one of the best films on the game to ever be produced, released in 2017. The film chart’s Molly’s journey, who decides to switch careers in the aftermath of an accident, becoming seduced by the world of underground poker. It’s one of the few films ever made to feature a female protagonist making her way through the poker world, and it’s also one of the more accomplished films. The audience is drawn into Molly’s orbit as she becomes more and more embedded in the risky – and lucrative – underground ecosystem of high stakes games. Even those who resent Aaron Sorking being, well Aaron Sorking, find a great deal to enjoy in this expertly crafted movie.
Lucky You
Eric Bana plays a poker player who seeks to balance his love affair with a complicated relationship with his dad, also a famed poker player, played by Robert Duvall. This light film from 2007 is a lot of fun, and the fairly simple story takes on a complicated dimension under some careful direction.
Every poker lover knows all the books and diligently follows the made for TV specials and airings of the World Series devoted to the game. If you want to be a real aficionado, then you should definitely give these films a watch, and relish the creative ways in which they capture this most fascinating of gambling games.
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What is better than watching a gripping, well-produced movie?
What else but watching a gripping, well-produced poker movie!
With all of the movies available online, you may have trouble finding great movies about poker.
That is why we would love to give you a helping hand!
Get it?
Because the movies are about poker and in poker we deal with hands…Okay, we promise you that the movies are better than our lame puns.
If you have some spare time this week, grab some beers, lay down and watch a great film. So brace yourselves, my fellow poker players who have good taste with movies. Here they are!
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1. The Sting
This is a must watch not only for poker players but just everyone in general. This is about two grifters (con artists) who cons $11,000 (around $189,000 today) from a victim.
The victim turns out to be a footman for a crime boss (this is the Great Depression of the 1930’s after all) and what ensued is a great story about revenge and intrigue. There is a high stakes poker game here which you should not miss.
All Poker Moves Online
2. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
For those in the mood for a much more stylized film, this is the right one for you.
Four friends lost quite a bit of money in a game (which turns out to be highly-rigged).
They then try to acquire the money to pay their debt, legally or illegally. The gambling part is just the icing on the blood-stained, highly stylish cake that this film turns out to be.
3. Casino
With A-list actors like Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone as cast, and with director Martin Scorcese at the helm, you can bet that the movie is going to be great!
This is a great story of what happens if the gambling sector is run by the old ones (crime groups and mafia) to the new ones (capitalists and big corporations). Seen through the eyes of the characters, this action-packed tale will definitely be a great movie to watch!
4 Cool Hand Luke
One of the classics, this 1967 film is about Luke, a war veteran, who one night decided to cut electric meters off their poles and then was sent to prison.
This has the air of the cool guy rebellion and is a good pick me up story from the 1960s.
The poker game he played in the prison is an example of a great bluff, which earned Luke a win and the moniker “Cool Hand Luke”. A good watch, if you ask me.
5. The Hustler
Another classic that does deserve the rave reviews, The Hustler is a story about “Fast Eddie”, a small-time hustler who feels he is a big fish in a small pond. He wants to be an even bigger fish in an even bigger pond.
It shows the effects of winning, losing and learning all poker players cycle about. This story is much more compelling than what my summary is, so please watch this great, great film.
6. Rain Man
Everybody should have watched this at least once in their life.
For those who want a more touching and heartfelt movie, this one is for you.
Their journey is a great story to watch, and the card counting done here is really good (and of course anybody can do this, not only Savants like Raymond.
Card Counting is not illegal, but casinos do ban counters though so play it safe).
7. Casino Royale
Another action-packed film, this is Agent 007’s first mission and it is perfect for those who want to have the adrenaline kick.
The poker game is genuinely exciting and of course, the action scenes are great.
All Poker Moves Chess
A good movie to start your day; it gets you pumped up to just win everything.
8. Freeze Out
Freeze Out is an interesting movie, not only because of the comedy but also because of this movie was financed by the director’s own poker winnings!
Plus, it is the all too familiar friendly poker game that escalated so hard, where friendships are questioned (kinda like a normal monopoly night). A great movie to watch with your poker friends. No trailers though, but your own friendly poker games should be a good sneak peek.
9. Bob le Flambeur
For those who like the taste of French films, Bob le Flambeur is an excellent film how old habits die hard; Bob is an ex-convict who is now broke and is now planning to rob a casino.
I will not spoil you on how it turns out, but it is a great film all in all. Not only does he have an excellent poker face, the equal parts tragic and comic ending is something to be seen.
10. The Game
A Drama, Mystery and Thriller, The Game is a thrilling story about an investment banker who has his life drained out of his job and relationships.
The direction and writing are second to none for the middle part.
Plus, there are a lot of games here where you might learn a thing or two, and not just about poker or gambling.
11. Ocean’s Eleven
With a cast that has stars that put the evening sky to shame, Ocean’s Eleven is a well-loved film about a bank heist. There are so many A-list stars on the cast which makes this film, even more, fun to watch.
This is an underwhelming review of an overwhelming film, so please do yourself the favor of watching this, or rewatching this, a great masterpiece. There is a great poker game sequence too and the ending is just a treat to the eyes.
12. The Hangover
Not exactly Poker-related, but is just a great laugh trip. With the setting in Vegas, we follow three friends (we can call them idiots as well) as they try to find their friend before he gets married.
I find the Blackjack scene really funny as well as a great jab towards card counting.
13. McCabe & Mrs. Miller
The Timeless McCabe & Mrs. Miller is a must watch for everyone. It is about a gambler and a prostitute who made a business. They rejected an offer to be bought and the capitalists sent bounty hunters to take care of them.
The ending is so bittersweet, and McCabe is implied to be a great gambler and is respected by other poker players in the town. This must be required viewing for everyone.
14. Regalo di Natale
Regalo di Natale, or the Christmas Present, is a great Italian drama-comedy about how four friends gathering and playing poker actually reveals their true nature, both the good and the bad.
The poker game is the highlight and the plot device; it is really like a good hand being slowly unfolded. If you can understand Italian or have no problem with subtitles, then this is a movie you should watch.
15. Leaving Las Vegas
Nicolas Cage does a great job in this film as an alcoholic scriptwriter who met a prostitute and then hit it off and forms a relationship. It is a great drama about two dysfunctional people who finally found a great companion perfect for them.
Around more than an hour into the movie, they were playing at a Caribbean Stud Poker table, which is a poker variant where you play against the house.
16. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
An action and crime film, this 1976 movie shows a darker side to the poker world, when it was being ruled over by crime syndicates.
A man, due to losing a lot of money in a poker game, was forced to kill a small-time Chinese bookie.
Said Chinese Bookie turns out to be the boss of the Chinese Mafia. This is a great action-packed film.
17. Follow the Bitch
A good film for getting laughs, the bitch here means less of the “nasty girl” we are thinking but is actually about the “queen” in a game.
It is deeper than it sounds and it also shows how one man tries to keep this poker night tradition with his friends from being forgotten.
Watch this with a glass of water at hand, you do not want to be choking while laughing.
18. Atlantic City
A 1980 Crime Drama, Atlantic City is about a gangster and a pot dealer’s wife who tries to make this corrupt city to their own little piece of heaven.
The wife is taking classes on how to be a blackjack dealer, so you might want to follow her journey (and not what she ends up doing at the end).
A great watch if you are feeling more introspective.
19. God of Gamblers
If you want a wacky movie to watch and do not mind subtitles, then God of Gamblers might tickle your fancy.
All Poker Moves Games
This Hong Kong film is funny (I love slapstick humor) and the supernatural elements add more fun.
There is also this fun poker game which is a treat to see.
20. A Big Hand for the Little Lady
This is a 1966 Poker classic.
Not only is it funny, it has a great plot twist which I will not spoil.
Let us just say that the little lady is definitely not so little!
Just watch it, how she plays poker is half cute and half cool, and wholly awesome to watch!
21. Rounders
With Matt Damon as the lead actor, Rounders is a great movie, not just for poker fans, but for everyone!
The Texas Hold’em shown here is really great and just the poker games in general, you might just pause the game to take down notes (I did a couple of times).
All Poker Moves Game
22. House of Games
Boy oh boy, where do I start?
A psychiatrist is trying to help her patient out of a debt he owes. The creditor runs poker games for a living.
The creditor accepts with a condition, the psychiatrist must look at the other player’s’ body language and help him win.
Watch it. It is great.
23. The Gambler
We can be are our own biggest enemies to ourselves. A professor who has a gambling problem. Fed up, his family no longer helps him after a big loss.
The ending is just so good to be missed out.
24. The Cincinnati Kid
Prepare yourself for the timeless film about poker, risks, and pay-offs.
The final poker game is a classic. It might have been released at 1965 but there is a lot you can learn.
25. California Split
A 1974 Comedy and Drama film about how gambling veteran Charlie and poker newbie Bill have fun, winning some and losing some and finally do their split.
It talks about the so-called beginner’s luck, excitement, and apathy found in poker.
A great educating movie.
26. Croupier
For those who want a more technical take on poker which is at the same time an exciting film, look no further than Croupier.
There is also two distinct phases seen in the character, which you can argue is present to all of us, the Gambler and the Croupier.
An amazing treat to watch.
27. Maverick
To end on a lighter note, Maverick is a great and enjoyable take on the poker world.
Maverick is like your poker game with friends where you are not really betting anything and is just a lot of fun.
You will find hot-headed gamblers, wisecracking gamblers, and just funny players in this journey of Maverick to a five-card draw poker contest.
There are still a lot more films about gambling and poker, but I can say this list here is the cream of the crop.
In the meantime, enjoy these movies, these are all great (or at least better than our puns).
If you have any recommendations or any other comments or suggestions, or you want to tell us how wrong or how right we are, just leave a comment or send us DVD box sets, you do you.