Classic Poker Movies and Casino Movies Guide

The following is a brief synopsis of the most famous Poker Movies and Casino Movies ever made, that had themes regarding Poker, Casino, or gambling, or had substantial Poker-related or Casino-related scenes within the movie itself. Here they are, in chronological order:

• Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler (Comedy, 1922) - A silent film, this movie depicts a crazed person (Dr. Mabuse) who uses mind control to dictate opponents' card play.

• Born Yesterday (Comedy, 1950) - Stars Judy Holliday, Broderick Crawford, and William Holden. A tycoon heads to Washington with his mistress to pay off Congressmen. Great gin scene.

• The Cincinnati Kid (Drama, 1965) - Stars Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden, Rip Torn, and Tuesday Weld. This poker movie depicts a rising poker player that takes on a master of the game.

• A Big Hand for the Little Lady (Comedy, 1966) - Stars Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards, and Burgess Meredith. A naive couple arrives in California and the man of the family enters a poker game between the great players of the area. After suffering a heart-attack, the man is replaced at the table by his wife.

• Kaleidoscope (Comedy, 1966) - Stars Warren Beatty and Susannah York. A man doctors the plates that print cards used by all the major casinos of the world, and embarks on a card playing career.

• Casino Royale (Comedy, 1967) - Stars David Niven and Peter Sellers, in a spy spoof, where James Bond comes out of retirement to battle SMERSH, in a game of casino Baccarat.

• The Sting (Drama, 1973) - Stars Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Robert Shaw. In 1930 Chicago, 2 con men attempt to get revenge for a friend's death, by staging the "big con" on a mob boss. One of the all-time great gambling movies.

• California Split (Comedy, 1974) - Stars George Segal, Elliott Gould, and Ann Prentiss. A down-trodden gambler links up with a free spirit, and loses his savings. They go to Reno for the poker game of their life.

• Run (Action, 1991) - Stars Patrick Dempsey and Kelly Preston. After a law student accidentally kills a mob boss' son, he finds himself pursued by the mob. Great illegal card game scene.

• Honeymoon in Vegas (Comedy, 1992) - Stars James Caan, Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Bancroft, Peter Boyle, and Pat Morita. On her deathbed, a mother makes her son promise to never get married. After rebuking his mother's wishes and getting married, he goes to Las Vegas and loses a small fortune, and must clear his debt by giving his fiancee for the weekend, to the gambler to whom he lost the money.

• Maverick (Adventure, 1994) - Stars Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, and James Coburn. Needing to raise money for a Poker Tournament, a man faces various challenges and comedic mishaps.

• Casino (Drama, 1995) - Stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci. Money, greed, power, deception, and murder occur between best friend mobsters and a trophy wife over a gambling empire.

• Rounders (Crime Drama, 1998) - Stars Matt Damon, Edward Norton, and Paul Cicero. A man who is a reformed gambler, is forced to return to big stakes games to help a friend pay off loan sharks.

• Ocean's 11 (Comedy, 2001) - Stars George Clooney, Elliott Gould, and Brad Pitt. The most daring heist ever in Las Vegas, with 11 men, 3 casinos, and 150 million dollars at stake.

• 21 (Drama, 2008) - Stars Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess, and Jill Bosworth. This fact-based casino movie story is about 6 MIT students who train to become Blackjack card-counting experts, and subsequently use their skills to raid Vegas casinos for massive winnings.