Poker Movies – Recommended Films for Poker Fans

We are all cinephiles to a certain degree. Encountering a person who doesn’t watch TV and movies is as rare of an occurrence as witnessing a blue moon. They are fun, exciting, make us dream more, escape from reality, envision better futures, feel sad, happy, joyful, depressed, optimistic, angry, and an awful lot of other emotions. Films and TV have become an absolute necessity, and we are constantly craving more and more. More valid today than ever before, thanks to the rapid globalisation, and expansion of streaming companies such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney +.

The beauty of the art comes in the freedom of telling whatever stories the creators want. From tackling deep and personal stories inspired by real events to spectacular full-blown CGI extravaganzas, there are motion pictures to suit every mood you’re in. This can be seen even at many of the best horse racing films. No field is less represented than the other, and even betting fans can find loads of pretty entertaining and nail-biting films, the central idea of which revolves around gambling. In particular, the poker scene has been enjoying a lot of attention from Hollywood, and in the next paragraphs, we will present you with the must-watch poker movies you won’t regret spending two hours on.

The Best Poker Movies – The Definitive List

Watching a movie and building an opinion around it is an entirely personal decision based on many factors. Some movies might be viewed as dull duds by one group of people, while other could consider it a masterpiece. The beauty lies in the conversation that might spark up when opinions collide. Anyway, with this in mind, we decided to ditch the idea of having a “Top 10” list, but rather just mention them all without any particular order. They all have their strengths and deserve your attention one way or the other. Without further ado and any kind of spoilers, check out the greatest poker movies of all time:

Molly’s Game – The True Story of Molly Bloom

The 1st recommendation in our list of the best poker movies is a must-watch not just for the appreciators of great films, but for those who are particularly fond of witty and razor-sharp dialogue and its delivery. Aaron Sorkin is a script god, and in his directorial debut, his brilliance really shines through the brilliant performance of the entire cast. The movie follows the events around Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier that suffers a career-ending injury. As her life unfolds, she ends up running the most exclusive underground poker club for years until being caught by the FBI. It’s a fascinating tale of events that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat all the way throughout until the end credits roll. For the record, Jessica Chastain is a fierce force in this movie. It’s a pure joy to experience the film for her performance alone.

Maverick – Who Knew That Poker Could Be so Much Fun?

Maverick is a true classic for any person who enjoys poker, at least a little bit. Carried on the shoulders of Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, this feature is based on the TV series of the 1950s of the same name. The title character relies heavily on his wits and charm to con people, and throughout the film, he is faced with dozens of comedic mishaps that make his adventures even more hilarious. As soon as Jodie’s character enters the screen, a charming and deceitful thief and poker player, things get even crazier. It’s exciting to see them bouncing lines off of each other as the story progresses and even more so as they try to figure out a way from one complicated poker situation to another.

The Cincinnati Kid – A High-Stakes Poker Classic

The story here is quite simple. An up-and-coming poker player with a great reputation behind his back sets his eyes on defeating the greatest and most menacing player known around. A pretty simplistic premise, with stellar execution. Steve McQueen has the absolute best poker face, which helps him greatly throughout the various and suspenseful games. McQueen is front and center here, but the supporting cast is equally impressive, especially Ann-Margret: the sexy cheater and femme fatale, that is married but desperately craves to be in The Kid’s arms. If you are looking for nail-biting poker tension in a classic wrap, that is the movie for you.

Casino Royale – A Flush Royale à la 007

Casino Royale is the first outing of Daniel Craig as Ian Fleming’s most famous British spy and boy oh boy, does he make a 007 entrance to the franchise. It’s a gritty, thrilling, and action-packed adventure that is not only the best Craig-led entry but among the best Bond films, overall. As we follow along on his journey from one exotic destination to another, we end up in Montenegro at the Casino Royale. There, Bond faces his foe (Mads Mikkelsen) on the poker table, where the bets are stratospheric, the bluffing is master-class, and each round could literally cost your life. Pour yourself a martini and buckle up, because this ride is worth every minute.

Rounders – An Underrated Poker Gem

Dubbed by many as one of the greatest poker movies of all time, Rounders is two-hours of poker entertainment for every fan who has a particular proclivity for the gambling industry. Matt Damon plays the title role of a pro gambler who must come back to the world of high-stakes poker to help a friend and faces off against the Russian-American mob in the face of the menacing John Malkovich. It’s a captivating tale and a knowledgeable insight into the world of poker that somehow manages to cheerfully showcase that it is OK to be a compulsive gambler from start to finish. Do yourself a favour and give it a go as soon as you can.

Mississippi Grind – An Emotional Road Trip Poker Adventure

The typical and well-tested formula is in full swing here: a player with a gambling problem has amassed debt he needs to pay and is trying to figure out a way to do it. What you get here, that is different from the rest of the bunch is the road trip and buddy factor. The title character is slowly succumbing under the weight of his gambling addiction until he meets a young fellow, thanks to which, his luck takes a drastic turn. What follows is an adventure that leads them towards the ultimate goal: a high-stakes poker game down South in New Orleans. It’s a refreshing take with a surprising amount of depth and emotion to it that is certainly going to please the crowds and manages to elevate it from one of the good poker movies to one of the better ones.

Finder’s Fee – What to Do With a $6-Million Lottery Ticket?

Finder’s Fee revolves around a standard stand-up guy, who has a nice girlfriend that he loves and three best friends, who he plays poker with every week and bet on the weekly lottery drawings. Everything changes when he finds a wallet with a winning ticket for the $6 million draw, which he realizes after he has located the owner. What will he do? How will this affect his relationship with his girlfriend, friends, and poker nights? It’s a very entertaining feature film from the acclaimed “Survivor”-host Jeff Probst, who has infused it with plenty of plot twists and unpredictable turns of the story, to have you guessing until the credits roll.

Lucky You – Great Fun for Poker Die-Hards

Lucky You may sound like a romantic movie that will hit your heartstrings from the very beginning, however, you should think twice. The film is exclusively revolving around the poker scene in Las Vegas as we are following the charming and brilliant Huck Cheever – played by Eric Bana – as he ventures from one poker table to another. He may be fantastic with the cards in his hand but he has one fatal flaw: he lets his emotions get the better of him, which has dire consequences for him and his poker-playing abilities. Eric Bana and Robert Duvall are the true stars here that get the most screentime opportunities to shine. Drew Barrymore and Robert Downey Jr. are all great in their supporting roles, although a bit underused. Give it a chance and be your own judge.

The Grand – A Hilarious Mockumentary in the World of Poker

The Grand is a poker comedy of a different kind. It’s an improv mockumentary that takes real actors and has them play made-up characters that take part in the actual second-most prestigious poker tournament for the players that have no limits on their bets: the Grand Championship of Poker. Woody Harrelson’s character enters the competition to become the winner and help his grandfather with the prize money. He continually ups his game and bet sizes until he manages to reach the final table. With him is a stellar supporting cast of actors who have all their poker faces ready for an adventure where the bets are off, and the comedy is guaranteed.

High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story – The Poker Legend

The last addition to our list of the arguably top poker movies, where it plays one of the leading roles, belongs to this movie, inspired by the life of poker legend Stu Ungar. The film High Roller: the Stu Ungar Story showcases Stu’s life from the very beginning. How he was introduced to the world of poker, the ups and downs in his personal life, and his spectacular victories at the World Series of Poker tournaments. Furthermore, this feature serves as a great example of how you can be at the top in one moment, only to find yourself at the bottom in the next. His life is a real tragedy, and the entire cast has given its best to convey every emotion to the viewers.

FAQs Regarding the Best Poker Movies of All Time

Before we bid our regular farewell and close the doors on the best poker movies ever, we would like to include one more section. It contains answers to some of the most frequently asked questions when movie buffs feel like they want to watch poker movies, but are unable to decide which one. Check them out right below.

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