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The broader viewer appeal and outreach of Hollywood in recent years has influenced the quality of poker movies. Unlike before, directors may now portray Vegas poker movies gloriously without worrying about budgets.
However, this upgrade may frustrate certain viewers, as a good poker movie is more than tuxedos, wine, and trickery — as it appears these days.
Luckily, few famous poker movies out there remain impressive, some even outstanding. This blog provides a critical list of the finest poker movie scenes ever released.
What Are the Top 5 Depictions of Poker in Movies?
1. High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story — 2003
High Roller may have been glorified prerogative behaviour, but it’s merely an excellent (and accurate) representation of Stu Ungar’s remarkable life.
Stu Ungar was an era-defining kid in the poker industry, although few new-school players would know about him. He was a player whom many ranked among the greatest poker players ever with five WSOP bracelets to show despite finishing his career at 45.
The Stu Ungar movie accounts for four distinct parts of Ungar’s life:
- Early years — when he still plays gin rummy;
- Transitive phase — when he switches to Texas Hold’em;
- Glory years — when he dominates the game for several years;
- Curtain falls — his unfortunate demise that leads to the poker movie.
There are a plethora of card plays in High Roller; therefore, gameplay fanatics can have their fun. However, there are more reasons to watch this poker movie. The Stu Ungar story makes you view life from the perspective of the five-time WSOP champion, helping to understand the demons he had and how they cut short his life and career.
2. All In: The Poker Movie — 2009
First off, unlike other films in this list, All In is a comprehensive documentary of poker as we know. You may sit out this one if that bores you.
However, it’s noteworthy that All In is an award winner, which may tell you more about poker than your years of reading have. The movie highlights important events in poker history, including the epic Moneymaker’s win in Main Event 2003 and the infamous Black Poker Friday.
There are numerous familiar faces in the movie if that comforts you. They include:
- Antonio Esfandiari;
- Phil Hellmuth;
- Daniel Negreanu;
- Chris Ferguson;
- Annie Duke;
- Chris Moneymaker.
All in provides detailed lessons on how poker gained its status as one of the most common hobbies in the USA and, for many, their ticket to the American Dream. This poker movie offers quality to both the poker fan with enthusiasm for history and the dedicated gambler who wants an insight into how the game became so sophisticated.
3. Molly’s Game — 2017
Molly’s Game is the most recent of all mentions in our list, making it our sole pick out of modern-day Hollywood poker movies. Trust that there’s an excellent reason for that!
The non-fictional film follows the life of Molly Bloom, the glamorous “Poker Queen” who used to organize high-stakes poker competitions for the most prominent players, celebrities, and businessmen. Molly’s Game represents three fundamental phases of Molly’s life:
- Her young age — when she is aspiring to become a professional, award-winning skier;
- Her reign at the top — her years as the go-to for high-profile poker games;
- Her downfall — facing the consequences for her illegal poker setups.
In most cases, poker play is correct, and even the game purists shouldn’t have significant complaints. Also, some scenes may appear hyperbolic due to the value of stakes and the extravagance of the setting. However, you may overlook these concerns considering the level of profiles involved in the games.
Don’t miss it: Molly’s Game is one must-watch for a genuine poker fan!
4. The Cincinnati Kid — 1965
TCK may be one of the oldest poker titles around (the oldest in this shortlist, actually), but that takes nothing away from the movie’s excellence! What do you say to the iconic duo of Edward Robinson and Steve McQueen on screen?
The Cincinnati Kid narrates the story of the young McQueen who has the objective of proving that he is the finest poker player around. This goal puts him on a journey, where he eventually goes against the more experienced Robinson, who everyone believes to be the best in the arena. Everyone agrees the storyline is mouthwatering!
However, you may have a problem with the movie if you’re devoted to the rules. There’s no staunch application of fundamental poker rules; as such, players do whatever they want as long as they both agree it’s acceptable. Still, TCK makes a brilliant poker film due to these reasons:
- It has a thrilling storyline, which you’ll enjoy;
- It played the Five Card Stud variation, which isn’t common these days. You can learn classic tips and skills;
- Its ending was memorable.
5. The Rounders — 1998
It may be hard to believe, but we have nothing against poker’s most recent cinematic orchestrations. The thing is, good art never goes out of style!
The Rounders is the one title that’ll sit among the top three in at least 7 out of 10 Vegas poker movies. You could start from the star-studded cast: Matt Damon, Gretchen Mol, Edward Norton, and John Malkovich. What’s better?
This was the first poker film to refer seriously to Texas Hold’em. At this time, the variant was relatively unknown, and very few heard of, much more played the revolutionary game.
The plot is relatively straightforward: a young Mike McDermott working towards becoming a professional poker player to test his luck at Vegas. However, several things happened along the line, and you should see them yourself. We may categorize the phases in The Rounders into four:
- Genesis — a young, skilful McDermott targeting professionalism and Vegas;
- Setback — Mike’s relapse upon losing all his cash in underground high-stakes games;
- Back to the Tables — Mike’s return to the game due to happenstances surrounding his friend, Norton.
What Happens Next? We believe you should find out for yourself. The Rollers extend past the confines of poker. It’s a soulful movie that emphasizes friendship, loyalty, and self-belief. Here, you’ll find the best poker movies scene in history.
Wrapping Up the Best Portrayals of Poker in Movies
Few feelings rival the giddiness of being in the hot seat at Vegas or Macau yourself, but the thrill that comes with hoping your favourite actor wins their stakes may come close.
Pass your time learning new skills and entertaining yourself thoroughly with the abovementioned poker movies. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate other films too.
After all, poker is highly entertaining and, perhaps, impossible to fully understand with a handful of movies.