Casinos are all around us in our daily lives – even if we don’t notice them. There is probably a casino on your high street, the person next to you on the train might be playing a game on Virgin Games like jackpot king or you might be watching a show set in a casino.
Casinos are all around us which is why they are often used as a set for a film. There are so many films out there that are either based around a casino, or the people who frequent them.
We’ll be taking a look into why casino films are still so popular as well as which films are still popular to this day.
Why casino films are still so popular
Casino films have always been a hit. Casinos are glamorous places that have an air of anticipation and excitement.
This makes a casino the perfect setting for a film. Whether the film is funny or serious, exciting or slow and dramatic, a casino always works in a film due to the excitement and luxuriousness of the setting.
Popular casino films
- Casino Royale
We couldn’t have a list of casino films without mentioning Casino Royale. The James Bond character is well known for spending a lot of time in casinos. His suave character and natural poker face make him the perfect fit for a casino.
It was Daniel Craig’s first film as the 007 agent and not everyone had high hopes for him before he started out. But this film changed all of that. Craig proved that he was more than capable of playing the beloved British agent and charmed audiences all over the world.
It’s the most action packed film you could get in a casino with brawls breaking out all over. The plot follows Bond as he goes to play a game at a casino in Montenegro that is also being played by Le Chiffre – a private banker to terrorists. Bond must win in order to keep the money out of the wrong hands.
Bond films have always been popular and this one looks as if it will stand the test of time – unlike some of the older films.
- The Hangover
A film that is significantly more light-hearted but that also is set around a casino is The Hangover. This film was an absolute hit when it came out and is still hugely popular to this day.
It’s all about a bachelor party who go to Las Vegas for their friends last night of chaos before the wedding. It’s all going as you’d expect until they wake up and can’t find the groom. The group must retrace their steps in order to find their friend.
During this entire film, the group is running in and out of casinos that they had been playing in the previous night. There are all kinds of characters that they meet along the way – and some are more friendly than others.
This film will never get old as it’s full of silliness and fun – as well as a whole lot of chaos.
- Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Eleven is a classic casino film that has withstood the test of time. This is a heist film set in a Las Vegas casino so the stakes couldn’t be higher. It has the biggest cast of any casino film as it stars Matt Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
There are also some top stars in the supporting cast who are still big names today such as Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Casey Affleck, and Elliot Gould. This star studded cast means that the film was always going to be a hit.
This film was so popular that it started a franchise of Ocean’s films – including an all female heist with Sandra Bullock playing George Clooney’s sister.
- Molly’s Game
Molly’s Game is one of the best casino games out there mainly because it’s based on a true story. Molly is a real person and her story is fascinating. She started out as an Olympian but when that dream got trampled, she started working at the casinos.
She eventually starts her own poker game but this lands her in a bout of trouble from outside sources. This film is one of the most gripping casino films out there and definitely one that will keep hold of that title.
- Croupier
Croupier tells the story of a struggling writer who takes a job at a casino to make ends meet. His life at the casino ends up taking over as he gets more and more involved.
He makes friends with some of the patrons and then friends with some people he might not have wanted to get involved in. This neo-noir film has remained popular due to the fascinating plot and excellent characters.
Those are some of the best casino films out there – which one is your favourite?
