Top 100 Gambling Movies List

#40 Gambling Movie

Diggstown (1992) R

Gabriel Caine has just been released from prison when he sets up a bet with a business man. The bet is that Gabe can find a boxer that will knock out 10 Diggstown men, in a boxing ring, within 24 hours. "Honey" Roy Palmer is that man - although at 48, many say he is too old.

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writers:

Leonard Wise, Steven McKay

Stars:

James Woods, Louis Gossett Jr., Bruce Dern

#39 Gambling Movie

Havana (1990) R

The professional gambler Jack visits Havana to organize a big Poker game. On the ship he meets Roberta and falls in love with her. Shortly after they arrive in Cuba, Roberta and her Cuban husband, the revolutionary Arturo, are arrested and tortured. Arturo is reported "shot while trying to escape," but Jack manages to get Roberta free again.

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Judith Rascoe

Stars:

Robert Redford, Lena Olin, Alan Arkin

#38 Gambling Movie

Atlantic City (1980) R

In a corrupt city, a small-time gangster and the estranged wife of a pot dealer find themselves thrown together in an escapade of love, money, drugs, and danger.

Director:

Louis Malle

Writers:

John Guare

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, Kate Reid

#37 Gambling Movie

Two for the Money (2005) R

After suffering a career-ending injury, a former college football star aligns himself with one of the most renowned touts in the sports-gambling business.

Director:

D.J. Caruso

Writers:

Dan Gilroy

Stars:

Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Rene Russo

#36 Gambling Movie

Hard Times (1945)

Duke falls for Flaxen in the Barbary Coast in turn-of-the-century San Francisco. He loses money to crooked gambler Tito, goes home and learns to gamble, and returns. After he makes a fortune he opens his own place with Flaxen as the entertainer. The 1906 quake destroys his place.

Director:

Joseph Kane

Writers:

Borden Chase, Prescott Chaplin

Stars:

John Wayne, Ann Dvorak, Joseph Schildkraut

#35 Gambling Movie

The Grand (2007) R

An improvisational comedy using a handful of actors playing characters competing in an actual poker tournament.

Director:

Zak Penn

Writers:

Zak Penn, Matt Bierman

Stars:

Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Dennis Farina

#34 Gambling Movie

Kaleidoscope (1966)

Barney Lincoln is a rambling gambling man who scores sensational wins at poker and chemin de fer because he has succeeded in marking the original plates for the backs of all the playing cards manufactured in a plant in Geneva and used in all the gambling joints in Europe.

Director:

Jack Smight

Writers:

Robert Carrington, Jane-Howard Hammerstein

Stars:

Warren Beatty, Susannah York, Clive Revill

#33 Gambling Movie

Dead Heat (2002) R

A heart problem forces the cop Pally to retire, and his wife Charlotte is separating him. Charlotte makes Pally's half-brother Ray visit, and he suggest buying a race horse will cheer him up. He does, but then a mob boss steals the horse.

Director:

Mark Malone

Writers:

Mark Malone

Stars:

Kiefer Sutherland, Anthony LaPaglia, Radha Mitchell

#32 Gambling Movie

Rain man (1988) R

Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers:

Barry Morrow, Ronald Bass

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino

#31 Gambling Movie

Smart Money (1996)

A street wise bookie wants to work on Wall Street.

Director:

Alex Hennech

Writers:

Alex Hennech

Stars:

Santio East, Bobby Kaman, Sam Dobbins

#30 Gambling Movie

The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

An up-and-coming poker player tries to prove himself in a high-stakes match against a long-time master of the game.

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Richard Jessup, Ring Lardner Jr.

Stars:

Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret, Edward G. Robinson

#29 Gambling Movie

Deal (2008) PG-13

As an ex-gambler teaches a hot-shot college kid some things about playing cards, he finds himself pulled into the world series of poker, where his protégé is his toughest competition.

Director:

Gil Cates Jr.

Writers:

Gil Cates Jr., Marc Weinstock

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison, Shannon Elizabeth

#28 Gambling Movie

A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Comedy western in which a traveler bets more money than he can afford in a poker game, and unusual events follow.

Director:

Fielder Cook

Writers:

Sidney Carroll

Stars:

Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards

#27 Gambling Movie

Vegas Vacation (1997) PG

In the fourth outing for the vacation franchise, the Griswolds have to survive Vegas fever when they go to Las Vegas for a fun family vacation.

Director:

Stephen Kessler

Writers:

Elisa Bell, Bob Ducsay

Stars:

Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid

#26 Gambling Movie

The Cooler (2003) R

In an old school Las Vegas casino, its top gambling jinx breaks his curse when he falls in love, much to his boss' consternation.

Director:

Wayne Kramer

Writers:

Frank Hannah, Wayne Kramer

Stars:

William H. Macy, Maria Bello, Alec Baldwin

#25 Gambling Movie

California Split (1974) R

A down on his luck gambler links up with free spirit Elliot Gould at first to have some fun on, but then gets into debt when Gould takes an unscheduled trip to Tijuana. As a final act of desperation, he pawns most of his possessions and goes to Reno for the poker game of a lifetime. A film set mainly in casinos and races, as the two win and lose (but mainly win), get robbed, and get blind drunk.

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers:

Joseph Walsh

Stars:

George Segal, Elliott Gould, Ann Prentiss

#24 Gambling Movie

Rat Race (2001) PG-13

A Las Vegas casino magnate, determined to find a new avenue for wagering, sets up a race for money.

Director:

Jerry Zucker

Writers:

Andy Breckman

Stars:

Breckin Meyer, Amy Smart, Whoopi Goldberg

#23 Gambling Movie

5 Card Stud (1968) PG

The players in an ongoing poker game are being mysteriously killed off, one by one.

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Marguerite Roberts, Ray Gaulden

Stars:

Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum, Inger Stevens

#22 Gambling Movie

Shade(2003) R

Shade is set in the world of poker hustlers working the clubs and martini bars of Los Angeles. The tale unfolds as a group of hustlers encounter "The Dean" and pull off a successful sting that results in their pursuit by a vengeful gangster.

Director:

Damian Nieman

Writers:

Damian Nieman

Stars:

Joe Nicolo, Carl Mazzocone Sr., George Tovar

#21 Gambling Movie

All In (2006) R

Six medical students with unique talents pool their resources to win the World Series of Poker.

Director:

Nick Vallelonga

Writers:

Loren Comitor, Brenton Goulding

Stars:

Dominique Swain, Michael Madsen, Louis Gossett Jr.

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