Movies have given us some cool casino moments we simply can’t forget about. And since poker is such an entertaining and competitive pastime, we completely understand why it would inspire many a film. What is it about poker, though? It boils down to being a social activity. Anyone can play, no matter your skill level. And since movies are often social activities, too, they do go hand in hand. We’ve looked at the top 10 best poker scenes found on film.
Casino
The 1995 classic starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci was directed by none other than Martin Scorsese. Based on a true story, this blockbuster was nominated for a slew of awards, one of which Sharon Stone won – The Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama. A scene that stands out is when De Niro’s character, Sam “Ace” Rothstein, confronts a cowboy at the poker table. Ace respectfully asks the poker player to remove his feet from the table. Now, the cowboy is in the thick of his poker game and declines. Well, let’s just say Ace respects his casino and has the cowboy thrown out! Epic scene!
Molly’s Game
Another film based on a true story. This high-stake story follows Molly Bloom, played by Jessica Chastain. Molly was an Olympic-class skier before a fateful accident ruined her chances. But she didn’t let this get her down. With her career now steered toward law school, Molly takes a year off and moves to Los Angeles, where she meets a real estate developer. She later becomes his office manager, and he introduces her to the world of poker. Molly soon sets up a private yet exclusive poker club for A-list celebs and business moguls. One scene that stands out is when a player starts the night with $50 000, and by midnight, he has tripled it. Arguably the best player of the night, he was set to win. Until it all came tumbling down due to a bluff. It’s an intense scene!
Casino Royale
Everyone knows the James Bond franchise (and are arguing over who the next Bond will be), and over the years, it has given pop culture some great content. And man, does Casino Royale deliver. One scene is quite important to the storyline. This is when Bond (Daniel Craig) is playing poker against the villain Le Chiffre played by the iconic Mads Mikkelsen. In this instance, Bond walks away with $10 million after beating everyone. But this money was later confiscated due to some international laws.
Ocean’s 11
The Ocean’s 11 franchise is so popular it spawned a spin-off in 2018, Ocean’s 8 with Sandra Bullock at the helm. We are hoping there is a sequel on the cards! But back to poker. With a star-studded cast, Ocean’s 11 hit hard with its gambling references and creative scenes. One such scene is when Rusty (Brad Pitt) explains the rules of poker to a group of people. He explains the ins and outs and offers some valuable tips. This was back in 2001; we wonder if anyone is using those tricks.
Rounders
Released back in 1998, the film follows a gambler whose friend needs help to win a poker tournament to repay his debts. Starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, we are shown a final poker showdown for the books. We see Matt’s character play his heart out against a poker-loving crime boss. He wins and ultimately secures enough money for his friend to pay off his debts.
Titanic
We bet you didn’t see this one coming. However, there is a classic poker scene just as the film begins. Leonardo Di Caprio’s character Jack tells two men in a bar that he can beat their poker hand to ultimately win tickets to board the Titanic. While the scene is only a few minutes, the intensity at that moment, having the audience wonder what comes next, is magical.
The Sting
The film stars Paul Newman, who plays a con artist. This motion picture is filled with haphazard instances, skill, and entertainment. The train poker scene encapsulates all of this. Paul’s character, Johnny Hooker, goes head-to-head with his opponent. Both break the rules, and this is what makes this scene exciting – in real life, rule-breaking is taken very seriously, so it’s discouraged. By the end of the scene, Johnny outwits his opponent – who thought he had a bad hand throughout the game.
Maverick
What do you get when two determined poker players join forces to enter a poker competition? You get Richard Donner’s Maverick. Starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster as Bret Maverick and Annabelle Bransford, respectively, the two are on a mission to enter a poker tournament. While they make it to the event, Bret faces an uphill challenge when reading the other players. In the end, the winning scene shows Bret’s eyes, and at once everyone thinks he’s lost. But this is not the case; he wins the tournament and walks away victorious.
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
Credited with igniting the poker boom of the 2000s, this feature film is filled with cool gambling scenes. So, it’s quite difficult to pick just one. What really made this film cool is that the characters, who happen to be gangsters, made it their mission to play poker like pros. In one scene, we see two key characters go back and forth, raising their bets each time. It inspired many people to try their hand at the iconic pastime.
The Grand
Starring the iconic Woody Harrelson as Jack Faro, the grandson of a casino and poker legend. Throughout the movie, Jack sets out to reclaim his former glory. He inherited a casino and subsequently lost it all. But all’s not lost. Jack enters a poker tournament with stiff competition in hopes of redeeming himself.
Casino Royale (2006) 
