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Gambling movies have long been a popular genre that have captured the imagination of audiences around the world. Often, they feature underdogs trying to win big, or master card players showing off their skills, of course, the classic Mel Gibson gambling movie was Maverick. So, let us take a closer look at this one and some of the others that have proven to be huge hits.
Maverick
In this 1994 classic, Gibson plays the titular role of Bret Maverick – a poker player in the old west who wants to prove himself as the best card player of the age by entering a $25,000 tournament. However, in this comedy film, he has to do all sorts to get the money together. Gibson’s co-stars include Jodie Foster and James Garner. While the film was a critical and commercial success, it perhaps does not get the recognition of some of his other work. Without a doubt, it is certainly worth a look if you have not seen it yet!
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Based on the 1960 film that starred the Rat Pack, this original in the rebooted series is still the best, which is largely down to the incredible all-star cast of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts. While it boasts some clever twists and turns, it is still easy enough to follow the plot – and it is certainly not too convoluted. The sequels were also commercial success stories, but they just could not match the magic of the first.
Rounders
Another gambling film featuring Matt Damon, Rounders is a movie of choice for professional poker players. The film had some great timing and hit around the same point when poker became more and more popular around the world. Again, a hugely talented cast helped to make this film even better featuring the likes of John Malkovich and Edward Norton.
Casino
Martin Scorsese’s films about mobsters have often featured some elements of gambling, but the focus was really put on in 1995’s Casino. Once again, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci were brought on board – this time, they were joined by Sharon Stone. This movie charts the evolution of Las Vegas from a city mainly for crime and mobsters to one that was appealing to the general public. It is so good that it makes you want to look into getting a free spin casino no deposit bonus yourself!
21
This is the true story of a team of MIT students who spent a decade counting cards and beating the house at their own game. It is a movie that plays on many people’s fantasy of being able to walk away with a vast sum of money from the casino unscathed!
These are just some of the gambling movies that are worth a watch. Perhaps they will inspire you to try some of the casino games yourself! They are all largely fun and fast-paced films that are easy to watch. Of course, for true Gibson fans, you cannot miss out on Maverick!
