The cinematic world of gambling is often depicted in extremes, from the dazzling casinos of Las Vegas to the disheveled apartment of an unlucky player who’s lost it all—and in many cases, both.
There are the high highs of winning a big pot and the low lows of loan shark threats. As a result, these types of movies are often full of suspense, action, and oftentimes, despair. However, some directors are able to find the playful side of this lifestyle, producing light-hearted comedies that make you smile and want to sit at the poker table during your next trip to Vegas.
PokerListings compiled a list of 15 of the best poker movies ever made. To qualify, poker had to be a significant part of the plot, and the film had to have at least a 7.0/10 on IMDb with at least 5,000 votes. This list includes everything from silent films and dark comedies to neo-noirs and Westerns. Some of these flicks are so highly regarded they’ve been added to the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
Take a look below and check how many of these movies you’ve seen.
