Best Casinos Movies Ever Made
Movies are one of the most popular forms of entertainment, bringing joy to billions of people. Studios, producers, directors, and actors are always looking for inspiration for the next blockbuster hit or the next critical success. Whether you love high octane action, a sweeping romance, a scary horror, or a subtle drama, movies are part of our culture.
It has probably not escaped your attention that casinos have often played a major role in Hollywood. Movies like to use casinos as settings for scenes and entire movies. There are many reasons why a betting casino is a great setting for a movie, such as the sophistication associated with casinos, the drama, and the fun of games.
As online casinos become more mainstream and more people become away for casino games, movies are more likely to use land-based casinos as a setting. But what about the films that have come before, what is the best casino movie of all-time.
Honestly, there have been too many classics to pick one single movie, so let’s look at some of the best casino-influenced movies ever made:
Casino
What better movie to start with than Martin Scorsese’s “Casino”, a movie that charts an era in Las Vegas when the city was transforming into the gambling Mecca it is today. This was before the big casino resorts when Vegas was run by gangsters. Scorsese, aided by a stellar cast including Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone, delivers a violent tale that is as historically accurate as it is exciting. A masterpiece that shows Vegas at its most dangerous but also boundless, Casino is a classic movie that is amongst Scorsese’s best.
Casino Royale
No movie character is more associated with casinos than James Bond. England’s suave super spy has had many scenes in a casino, usually getting the better of the villain in a game of blackjack, poker, or baccarat. However, while many Bond films have casino scenes, it is “Casino Royale” that is the quintessential 007 casino experience. In fact, the whole movie is focused on gambling as Bond enters an ultra-exclusive game of Texas Hold’em Poker to thwart a nefarious plot. You get the picture; Bond needs to stop a bad guy by doing bad things… by playing poker. Trust us, Casino Royale is one of the best James Bond movies of al-time, capturing a sense of drama in gambling as well as throwing in tons of action, suspense, and romance.
The Hangover
While “The Hangover” is not about gambling, much of it takes place in Las Vegas resorts and casinos. One of the most beloved and successful comedies of all-time, The Hangover is loud and rude, but it is also a hilarious high-octane ride through one crazy Vegas bachelor parties. You’ve heard the saying “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” well The Hangover takes this idea and escalates it to absurd proportions. Still, at its heart it is also a love letter to the underground quirkiness of Las Vegas.
Ocean’s 11
If The Hangover is a look at the funny and unique underbelly of Las Vegas, Ocean’s 11 is a picture book snapshot of the city at its opulent best. It is also one of the most famous casino movies of all-time, packed with an amazing cast (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts) and an excellent heist story, the camera in Ocean’s 11 drools over the beauty of Vegas. It is also a suave tale that oozes sophistication, class, and amazing chemistry. Fun and charming, is Ocean’s 11 the best casino movie ever? Fans love it, which is why two sequels were made which are also well respected.
Conclusion
Believe us, we are only scratching the surface of amazing movies that are either focused on casinos or feature a prominent scene in a casino. Such is the influence gambling and casinos have on Hollywood that there are dozens of movies we could list. Still, the movies above are total classics that are beloved by moviegoers. Which is your favorite casino-centric movie? Let us know in the comments below.
Garon Cockrell is the Founder and Editor of Pop Culture Beast and host of The Pop Culture Beast Show. He founded the site over seven years ago to have a place on the internet to write about the things he loved. Since then, Garon has become a best-selling author (Demonic and Other Tales), an award winning screenwriter (Best Screenplay 2013 Motor City Nightmares Film Festival), and a cast member on the top rated podcast, Never Not Funny.