A bit of information on casino movies compared to real casinos
The entertainment industry, mainly the movie industry, has experienced massive growth, and currently, there are movies for almost anything imaginable and unimaginable. And with all the glamour and glitz that poker has gained in the mainstream media, poker cannot be an exception. Currently, movies about poker are all over, and they have gained a lot of popularity among gambling fanatics. For instance, Rounder is a widely known movie among players from all over the world, but there are tons of other incredible masterpieces that you could have probably missed over the years. Today, you can find a lot of videos featuring different games from Texas hold to 7 Card Stud, among many more. A lot of these cove interesting poker tips, something you will not have access to at real casinos. Also, poker movies are a lot more fun to watch, specifically for game fans. This article seeks to highlight some of the all-time best poker movies you should consider watching. Like with any other list of this type, the list is somehow personal. That said, you may or may not agree with all the choices highlighted in this article, but with no exaggerations, these are among the best films ever made that put intensive emphasis on poker in all of its different variations.
Some of the best poker movies to watch
Shade (2003): The typical nature of poker films is that they are purely funny; this movie from Damien Neimanns is not an exception. Shade is an incredible heist–themed drama that revolves around a group of hustlers who set up a high-stakes poker game. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned, and all of a sudden, the hustlers have the mob enforcers breathing down their necks, aiming to retrieve their money. Without focusing much on the movie’s plot, Shade is a quality flick in all its aspects, from the actor’s performance, over cinematography, to the poker scene, which has been done incredibly well. That said, Shade is a fantastic poker movie that is worth hours of your time
Deal (2008): Another incredible poker movie you should watch is Deal. This poker-themed movie is among the most controversial ones in this group. Although Deal is not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, the poker-themed film is a decent poker flick worth watching if you enjoy the game. Burt Reynold (Tommy) and Bret Harrison (Alex) star this movie, and its plot revolve around Tommy, an ex-gambler, who is giving young Alex tricks to take on the poker world and win a huge amount of money in the process. Of course, Tommy does not do this for free. Tommy expects Alex to give him 50% of the overall winnings in return for these intensive lessons and putting him in the tournaments. The poker movie has a very simple plot and does not hat too many “wow” moments. However, there are several poker scenes as well as appearances from the likes of Mike Sexton, Antonio Esfandiari, and Phil Laak.
The Grand (2007): It is an incredible poker-themed comedy directed by Zak Penn. This poker-themed movie gathered a lovely cast of actors: Woody Harrelson, Jason Alexander, Ray Romano, and Dennis Farina, among others. One of the exciting things about this movie is that the script was left open-ended since actors were given a few basic directions about their characters, and they played real poker on the set. The winner was not predetermined. The Grand features a lot of pokers, although it is not as much about poker hands as such; instead, this poker movie is more about how a single game can change an individual’s entire live
Maverick (1994): Another movie that makes it to the list of the best poker movies of all time is the Maverick. Maverick is a comedic film that centres on winning a stud poker game. In this top poker movie, Mel Gibson plays Bret Maverick, a scammer and highly skilled gambler who team up with a greedy gambler named Annabelle Bransford (Jodie Foster). When the two gamblers (Maverick and Bransford) reach the final four, there is a heated battle to gain 5000 prize money.
Mississippi Grind (2015): Another top movie about poker you should watch is Mississippi Grind. While this amazing movie about poker features several gambling games, the quality of meticulous poker gameplay details makes Mississippi Grind an outstanding film on the game of cards. Ryan Fleck and Ann Boden directed this poker-themed movie, and it follows the embattled life of a troublesome gambler struggling to keep up with life in this hometown. On his first visit, Gerry met flamboyant poker player Ryan Reynold (Curtis), and the pair set out on a trip around South America
Other top poker movies you should watch include Croupier, Molly’s Game, California split, The Stu Ungar Story, 5 Card Stud, Lucky you, and The Cincinnati Kid, among others
What can you learn from a poker movie
There are a lot of things you can learn while watching poker-themed movies. Among the important things you can learn from these movies are the interesting poker tips and strategies you can apply while playing casino games for real money, thus enhancing your winning chances.
Conclusion
As you can see from the above discussion, there are a lot of incredible poker-themed movies you can watch. As illustrated in this article, some of the best poker-themed films you need to watch include Shade, Deal, the Grand, Maverick, and Mississippi Grind, among others. What remains is for you to set a time for watching the poker movie that suits your taste. However, as a poker fanatic, I would recommend you watch all of them as they are all masterpieces, and they will give you a memorable experience. Some of the important things you will learn by watching poker-themed movies have also been highlighted in this article.
