Everyone loves casino movies. There’s a certain thrill that you can’t deny as you watch someone play for high stakes on the big screen, and poker is the most exciting casino game of them all. It only stands to reason that movies about the popular card game give us the biggest bang for our entertainment buck, and they’ve also had a significant influence on our society as a whole. So, which timeless poker classics make us tick? These three are the best in history.
Then and Now, Rounders Plays All the Right Cards
You’ve heard of Rounders where a young Matt Damon takes to the screen as Mike McDermott, an extremely talented but oh-so done with the game ex-gambler. In the film, he hopes to save his friend Worm, an equally young but way seedier Edward Norton, from all the debts Norton has incurred while in prison.
The storyline in the movie isn’t anything new. It presents the classic struggle of a man who wants to quit gambling but can’t, a woman who wants her man to quit gambling, but he won’t, and a friend who only wants everything for himself. However, the film did seem to focus much more on the poker variant of choice here (Texas Hold ‘em) than any other movies have. While many casino films tend to oversimplify the game and gloss over the technicalities, Rounders brought technical aspects to light and life.
The film helped cement the institution of Hold ‘em poker into our society as it is today and gave rise to a whole new generation of poker players with a skill set to rival even Matt Damon’s. If you’re anxious to get in on the action, then you can learn how to play Texas Hold‘em poker yourself for both brick-and-mortar casino bouts and online play. The game is relatively simple, and it provides endless entertainment for those who want to get in on the action.
The Cincinnati Kid Remains a Timeless Classic
Remember The Cincinnati Kid? If you’re a poker fan, then chances are you’d be hard-pressed to forget this movie. In fact, one archived New York Times review from 1965 described it as being a movie made in heaven for those who played stud poker. While we don’t disagree, it’s also likely that other poker players, and even those who don’t play the game at all, will find joy in this film.
It’s Steve McQueen (the kid) at his best, dressed in all the hottest fashion and roaming around in search of ladies, poker and drama. He finds all three down in New Orleans where Edward G Robinson (the man), a well-known and cool-as-a-cucumber card hotshot who isn’t about to let McQueen get away with his win, tests his skills.
Although well-reviewed, the movie wasn’t an instant classic, most likely because of the way it ended. However, it gained popularity and even legendary status for the things we were at first hesitant to accept — realism, grittiness and raw human emotion. The kid showed an interesting juxtaposition between the high potential of the poker table and the dark underbelly of the gambling world, which was never previously displayed for American audiences.
It brought emotional and physical aspects of the game to life in a way we hadn’t previously encountered, shining a light on an unknown universe. The Cincinnati Kid succeeded in paving the way for future movies, including Rounders, by infusing the game with a type of dark magic that we still find evident today as we examine the relationship between the casino and horror genre — the setting of a casino might be plush, but it can still be home to malevolence, negativity and heartache.
These are all common themes to find in casino movies today, and The Cincinnati Kid is one of the reasons for this. Not only does the movie capture all aspects of the lifestyle, but it highlights the significant differences in playing styles between the antiquated casinos of the ‘60s and the flashy tables of today — those who watch poker movies solely for their love of the game will find a real companion in this film.
The Cincinnati Kid tells an old story of the gambling world in a new way. It highlights stark, realistic aspects of the game rather than the glossy glitz and glamor that other movies do.
Old but Gold: A Big Hand for the Little Lady
You may never have heard of A Big Hand for the Little Lady, but it deserves its place in the poker movie hall of fame. Released back in 1966, this film brought all the lighthearted feels and a comedic air that The Cincinnati Kid lacked.
The plot centers around a high-stakes poker game in Laredo, Texas, where a family passing through happens to be in the right place at the right time. The man of the house (Henry Fonda) decides to get in on the game despite the protests of the townspeople. When he collapses of a heart attack in the middle of a hand after losing his family’s savings, his wife (Joanna Woodward) must take his place at the table. Hilarity ensues when it turns out that Woodward doesn’t know how to play yet presses on in the face of adversity.
Several comedic scenes follow, and (spoiler alert!) she wins the game — the twist is that the entire family, including their young son, were expert card sharks and gamblers all along. They took the high rollers of Laredo on a run for their money. It’s a fun, airy film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The acting is spot-on, and the storyline comes with the perfect plot twist for a rainy day.
Although the movie presents a smattering of sexist undertones that probably wouldn’t fly these days, it’s still a charming prelude of poker movies to come. A Big Hand for the Little Lady set the stage for many strong female leads to take her place at the center of the action. That’s as it should be — female poker players earn millions of dollars today at the tables — but they still seem underrepresented as expert poker players in films.
The use of a woman lead is part of what makes this movie so impressive despite the fact (or perhaps because of the fact) that everyone talks down to her throughout the film. The portrayal of this “little lady” as a secret poker expert is an element that came way before its time. A Big Hand for the Little Lady is not only exciting and innovative, but it’s also empowering — that’s why it made the list.
No matter which way you cut the deck, poker movies are some of the most thrilling around. If you haven’t gotten around to viewing these gems yet, we suggest you do so immediately. You’ll learn a thing or two about the history of the game, and who knows, you may want to hit the tables yourself.
