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Poker is a thrilling game with many interesting aspects, and it’s been an inspiration to screenwriters and producers for many years, as dozens of movies revolving around the game have been filmed over the last century.
Not all poker movies out there are masterpieces, but some truly stand out from the others and offer a unique glimpse into the world of gambling from different viewpoints.
If you are a poker player or an avid fan of the game, there are some films you need to watch at least once, with many poker enthusiasts watching some of them many times over the years.
This is a list of the top 10 poker movies that you should absolutely see, starting from some less commonly known ones and leading up to a few poker movies that are a must-see for every poker player out there.
We will start this list with a Spanish drama from 2001 that many poker fans out there have not seen but probably should, called Luna’s Game.
Juego de Luna, as the film is originally titled, was directed by Monica Laguna and stars Ana Torrent in the role of Luna, a young girl whose entire childhood and early life has been marked by gambling.
Raised in the world of cards, poker, and gambling, Luna is raised to become a poker player after her mother passes away and her father squanders his net worth gambling.
As Luna gets older, she becomes a great poker player and gets a chance to get some revenge for her father and her destroyed childhood, squaring off against the very man who brought all the misery upon her family.
The film is a good watch for both poker players and fans and anyone else who enjoys a good life drama in a movie market saturated with flashy superhero movies and expensive productions.
Starring the likes of Ryan Reynolds and James Earl Jones, Finder’s Fee is another 2001 drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.
This one is not about professional poker players but does revolve around a friendly game of poker, where a small group of friends plays for the lowest stakes imaginable.
Tepper and his friends play for lottery tickets, but when Tepper finds a wallet with a winning lottery ticket worth $6 million and the owner shows up at the door, things take a turn.
Should he keep the ticket, collect the money to set himself and his girlfriend up for life, or do the right thing and return the ticket to its rightful owner?
Who is the mystery man who lost the wallet with the winning ticket, and what else is going on behind the scenes?
The only way to find out is to load up Finder’s Fee and enjoy the movie in full, as we promise it won’t leave you disappointed and will make for a great couple of hours of entertainment.
Alex Stillman is a young poker player looking to make it big. Tommy Vinson is an old-school gambler who’s been through it all and sees all the angles. The two make a perfect pair!
Released in 2008, Deal is a poker movie that real poker fans will appreciate quite a bit, as it features countless references to real-world poker scenarios.
Throughout the film, the likes of Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak, and Mike Sexton make their appearances as the players play a fictive but realistic WPT event and clash on the big stage.
Deal would not be as fun as it is without some drama and controversy, which is where the character of Michelle, played by Shannon Elizabeth, comes in.
When Tommy tries to teach Alex how to perform at the tables, but also how to choose his love partners, their relationship is strained, leading to an eventual showdown on the green felt.
When Tommy makes his return to the poker tables, will he teach the kid another lesson, or will Alex come out on top and win it all? Only one way to find out!
Filmed a few years into the “Poker Boom,” Lucky You is a film that depicts what the poker dream represented for many players of the era.
Focused on Huck Cheever, a young and ambitious poker player, Lucky You takes us on a journey to the fabulous Las Vegas, where Huck is looking to take a leap and make it big in the world of poker.
Cheever, played by Eric Bana, has the skills to make it at the poker table, but his rash and impulsive nature causes him trouble both at the felt and in his personal life.
Standing between Huck and his dreams are hundreds of poker players, not the least of which is his father, L. C. Cheever, a formidable poker player who plays the part of the villain in the film.
For many young players out there, Huck Cheever is a character they will easily find a connection with, while the appearances of the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Sam Farha, Phil Hellmuth, and numerous other poker personalities make the film an exciting watch for any poker fan.
While Lucky You is far from a Hollywood classic, if you love the game of poker and enjoy a good light-hearted flick, this one will be worth a watch.
Another poker movie featuring Ryan Reynolds, Mississippi Grind, was released in 2015 and does not lack in either drama or comical situations that will make the time you spend watching it very enjoyable.
The film is centered around Curtis, a young and successful poker player who meets Gerry, an older gambler who’s down on his luck but has a plan to turn it all around.
Gerry convinces Curtis to take a trip down the American South and hit up every gambling venue they can along the way, playing cards, betting on horse races, and living the life of true gamblers.
As the movie goes on, the viewer can’t help but root for the two despite all their flaws as they look to solve Gerry’s debt problems and turn a new leaf in their lives.
Can they do it, or will the Mississippi Grind be just another unsuccessful episode in their lives? Watch the full movie and find out for yourself.
Stu Ungar, who went by the nickname “The Kid,” will forever remain one of the greatest legends of the game of poker.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story tells the tale of Ungar’s early life and influences, his career playing gin rummy and poker, and his ultimate downfall due to drug abuse.
Portrayed by Michael Imperioli, Stu Ungar is represented much the way his peers described him, as a great poker player with a brash personality and an addictive nature.
If you want to find out how one of the greatest poker legends of all time came into his status, but also how his story ultimately ended prematurely, High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story is an absolute must-watch.
The cautionary tales about gambling and addiction we have all heard so many times did not come from thin air, and The Gambler is a cautionary tale in itself.
The film follows Jim Bennett, an English teacher who gets in over his head with gambling debts, causing him to sink deeper and deeper into despair and make moves that risk everything, including his life.
As he looks for ways to get out of debt, Jim falls into trouble with Loan sharks, visits illegal gambling dens, and destroys every personal relationship in his life.
To make matters worse, he falls for a student and gets into a forbidden relationship, making his life that much more complicated.
Can this poker player and gambler turn things around and lead a straight life again, or will the addiction catch up with him and end it all? That’s exactly what you’ll find out when you sit down and watch The Gambler.
The only documentary movie that we decided to add to this list of top poker movies, All In: The Poker Movie, is the ultimate documentary about the “Poker Boom” and everything that followed it.
Find out how poker became so big all of a sudden from the mouths of the likes of Antonio Esfandiari, Mori Eskandani, Chris Ferguson, and other poker legends in this epic documentary.
What’s even more, the original 2009 version was re-released in 2012 with additional footage relating to Black Friday, the event that brought the online poker world to its knees overnight.
If there is one exceptional film that tells the story of modern poker, it is All In: The Poker Movie, which is why this is the one any true poker fan should add to their list of favorites.
While there are quite a few decent poker movies out there, the difference between them and Molly’s Game is the fact this movie takes a look at a real story documented in the memoire of Molly Bloom.
A former Olympic skier, Bloom sustained a career-ending injury, which eventually led her down a different path and into the world of high-stakes gambling.
Unlike most heroes of poker movies, Bloom was not a poker player but rather a host of private poker games that included some of the biggest celebrities in the world.
Molly’s Game tells the story of how the game first started, as well as the more tragic ending that eventually saw Bloom imprisoned for illegal gambling.
While Molly’s Game is a bit of a cautionary tale in itself, it’s also a film that many poker players will enjoy for the similarities they will find between it and the kinds of games they either played in or heard about.
The film takes a deep look into the world of underground poker games in places like LA and New York and demonstrates quite vividly the ups and downs of the high-stakes poker world.
Over two decades have passed since Rounders was released in 1998, but no other poker movie has managed to reach the kind of popularity in the poker community that it enjoys.
Following the story of Mike McDermott, a professional New York grinder who puts it all on the line in a private poker game, Rounders is one of the most realistic representations of the gambling world of the era.
Mike, who is played by Matt Damon, is joined on his journey by “Worm,” another poker player with slightly different ambitions and habits.
Worm is released from prison and talks Mike back into playing poker, as the two get into a number of problems with the worst kind of guys out there.
As Worm splits town and leaves his gambling debts on his friend, Mike is forced to play the same game that busted his bankroll again and find a way to win this time around.
With an amazing acting cast and a great story, Rounders is easily the best poker movie out there, despite a few of the actual poker scenes being a bit exaggerated for dramatic effect.
Now that you've learned what poker movies you must see, it's time to assess your overall poker prowess. Take the Pokercode Poker Skill Quiz 2024 to evaluate your knowledge and receive free access to coaching videos and additional resources.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this quiz will help you identify areas for improvement and take your game to the next level.
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