With the advances in internet connection standards, traditional video rental outlets have been experiencing a sharp decline in fortunes due to the competition from online streaming services. These feature massive libraries of new and classic movies of all different genres, with one of the more overlooked types available being casino themed ones. This article will highlight some of the great casino movies you can view on the streaming service Netflix.
Rounders
This 1998 film starring Matt Damon was overlooked by audiences at the time, but has since developed a cult reputation. The gambler played by Damon loses his cash to Teddy ‘KGB’ – a Russian mobster played by John Malkovich. He then decided to quit the cards, only to be lured back to help a friend pay off a debt.
This ensures casino and gaming are at the forefront throughout – particularly the final high stakes poker game against Teddy ‘KGB’ complete with weird ‘tell’ – and has led to it becoming a favourite with real-life gamblers.
Casino
Made in 1995, this Martin Scorsese epic tells the story of how the mobs controlled the casinos of Las Vegas and eventually lost their grip on them due to their own excesses. The movie is primarily focused on the Stardust Casino in the late 1970s and features Robert De Niro as ‘Lefty’ Rosenthal and Joe Pesci as Nicky Santoro and combines scenes of blackjack and poker in the glamour of the casino with moments of shocking violence.
While this is definitely not for the faint of heart, it is essential for fans of online casinos such as gambling insider, great cinema and Martin Scorsese.
The Gambler
This is a remake of a film from the New Hollywood era of the 1970s and stars Mark Wahlberg as a university professor who hides an addiction to gambling behind his respectable professional persona. The movie, which was released in 2014, follows his descent further and further into addiction, as he is forced to borrow from loan sharks and even his own mother aand shows his work life beginning to suffer under the strain.
Definitely not one of the more light hearted casino themed movies out there; it is still a really compelling slice of drama.
Hopefully it will not be too long before we see more of the sort of great casino themed movies that could knock these ones off the list.