Gambling is a popular pastime for many people. It drives a certain degree of adrenaline rush that most people enjoy. 

Apart from the real money reward potential, some individuals also get a kick from the uncertainty regarding making accurate predictions. 

These and many more underscore the emotions and activities that surround gambling-related activities, and sometimes, this rush is why it makes several appearances on TV. It helps build the tension, sets the mood, and makes for a good showing when the antagonist sweeps the cards or chips off the table while the protagonist stays icy cool. 

Many films capturing these emotions and struggles have been released since the early days of filmmaking, and more are still being made. Among the numerous options, these are the five most popular gambling films ever made. 

1. The Cincinnati Kid

Released Year: 1965

Director: Norman Jewison

Cast: Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Ann Margret 

Fifty years ago, internationally acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison directed what many hardcore movie fans would regard as one of the greatest gambling movies ever made in The Cincinnati Kid. The movie was based on the book The Cincinnati Kid by Richard Jessup. It was the story of an up-and-coming New Orleans Poker Player, Eric “the kid” Stoner, played by Stevie McQueen, who went against “the man,” legendary and ruthless Lancey Howard, played by Edward G. Robinson, at the Poker Table. 

Both their names give away one of the show’s major themes: “The coming of age” story. 

In the final scenes, where they played the last hands of the no-limit five-card stud poker, “the kid” soon learns some life lessons from “the man.” While lighting a cigar with a rather devilish look despite appearing to have the weaker hand, Lancey says: “It gets down to what it’s all about, doesn’t it? Making the right moves at the right time.”  The Kid asked, “Is that what’s all about?” while “The Man” responded with “Like Life, I guess.” 

The final hands they played in that scene are still heavily debated to this day. 

2. Casino

Released Year: 1995

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone

Gambling epics don’t come better than the 1995 Martin Scorsese-directed classic “Casino” movie. The movie shares clear similarities to other Scorsese-directed movies like Goodfellas and Mean Streets. It paints a vivid description of the glamorous 70s Vegas lifestyle that many online casino real money games try to replicate digitally. Beautiful women, fine gentlemen, bright lights, music performances, and most notably, the notorious Mafia-related activities heavily associated with gambling in Vegas.  

Robert DeNiro stars as a casino owner with strong links to the Mafia, while Joe Pesci plays the role of a psychotic enforcer who merely straightens people whom he considers need straightening out (if you know what I mean.) However, he sometimes takes it too far, and his erratic behavior soon begins to put both of them in the crosshairs of the security agencies. 

In addition to dealing with Joe Pesci’s wild outbursts, he also had to deal with his beautiful wife’s emotional breakdown as the movie climaxed, played by Sharon Stone.

Nerve-wracking!

3. The Hustler

Released Year: 1961

Director: Robert Rossen

Cast: Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie

Starring Paul Newman in the lead role as “Fast Eddie” Felson, this Robert Rossen-directed movie mirrors the real-life struggles of every random individual who came from nothing yet trying to hustle their way to greatness. 

Although billiards served as the arena for the movie’s concept, it was obvious the real struggle was beyond trick shots and pool games. Instead, it was something deeper. It was a battle of internal strength and wits and the daily arguments that go on inside our heads. 

While “Fast Eddie” Felson was a small timer who rose from a backroom pool table, he wanted to become one of the greats by going up against the great professional player Minnesota Fats, played by Jack Gleason. But that wasn’t the real contest on a deeper level. It was his internal struggle between his love for the game of pool, greatness, his love interest Sarah Pickard, played by Piper Laurie, and his self-destructive impulses. 

This movie will go down in history as one of the greatest classics ever made. It won two of its nine nominations at the 34th Academy Awards. 

4. Molly’s Game

Released Year: 2018

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Michael Cera

In this jaw-dropping bibliographical crime drama, Aaron Sorkin tells the true life story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who went from being denied an Olympic record by a twig in the snows to running one of the world’s biggest high-stakes poker games. Life gave Molly Bloom lemons, and in her quest to make Lemonades, well, let’s just say she might have squeezed the lemons too hard because her lemonade did get bitter at some point. 

Molly Bloom, played by Jessica Chastain, became an FBI target whom renowned lawyer Charlie Jaffey, played by Idris Elba, had to defend in court. This movie is one many poker gamblers would resonate with because of Molly’s wits, charm, and confidence in the face of uncertainty and impending danger. 

What turned out to be one of the world’s largest poker games started by seizing a moment when it presented itself, communicating with confidence and conviction with very minimal funds and an out-of-this-world finesse that would convince even the most skeptical individuals — a modern masterpiece.

5. Casino Royale 

Released Year: 2006

Director: Martin Campbell

Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelson

Casino Royale is one of the modern classics. 

James Bond dials up the charm factor as he goes head-to-head with Le Chiffre in his quest to defeat the private banker funding terrorists. He had just earned 00 status and was licensed to kill, and this was his first mission. Likewise, this was also Daniel Craig’s first movie as James Bond, and probably one of his best James Bond acts. 

This one mirrors the struggle and pressure to perform excellently on a first mission after earning a promotion.

The mid-blowing final poker scene paints a picture of a casino game many poker fans would want to experience. The mind-blowing face-off at Monte Carlo, where James Bond takes on his opponent in an all-or-nothing game. The idea of playing mind games as the lines between the mission and the Poker game slowly blur out builds tension so thick a knife could cut through it. Many people actually wonder if there are indeed real-life scenarios similar to that situation, and it is just unbelievable to think about.