A list of the top 5 casino-themed films of all time

Casino-themed films became popular in Hollywood in the 1930s and are still hugely popular with audiences and filmmakers today. For the average gambler , online casinos today are the norm, so films about land-based casinos provide an escape to a world of chic, action and glamour.

The charms of casinos will forever remain a topic of interest for filmmakers. We now have a plethora of films centred around the theme of gambling and land-based casinos. Films about gambling casinos often keep us in suspense until the last moment and give us plenty of gambling action.

Directors often portray the world of gambling as a completely different dimension of reality that has more class, elegance and rules, while still being part of our real world. Casino films have been depicted in many cinematic genres from classics to action films and comedies. Below we will give you a list of five iconic gambling films.

Casino (1995)

Casino is a classic gambling film depicting the violent world of Las Vegas in the 1970s and was directed by Martin Scorsese. It stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone in the lead roles. The plot of the film tells the story of a group of Las Vegas gangsters trying to manoeuvre their way into the city's casinos.

The film's main character is Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a professional gambler of Jewish-American origin, who is tasked with running a casino for the mob. Very quickly, he is drawn into the typical intrigues of the mafia world - corruption, fraud, violence - which leads to his downfall.

The film also stars Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak, James Woods and Alan King in supporting roles. Casino earned five Oscar nominations and is still considered one of Scorsese's best works today.

Ocean's Eleven: A Risky Game (2001)

Ocean's Eleven: A Risky Game is a 2001 American comedy about a casino heist. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film features an all-star cast, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. Already such a line-up of actors must have guaranteed the film's success.

The plot revolves around professional thieves who want to rob three Las Vegas casinos at the same time. This is not an easy task, so the thieves diligently plan every step. The chemistry of the actors on screen and the witty dialogue add to the charisma of the film.

Unpredictable twists and turns and a great cast keep the audience engaged throughout the film, culminating in the casino heist. The film's success spawned two sequels and a spin-off, which is testament to the enduring popularity of Ocean's Eleven.

Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale is the twenty-first instalment of the James Bond series, released on screens in 2006. Starring Daniel Craig as Agent 007, Agent Bond has another mission to complete. This time he must bankrupt Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a known terrorist financier, while playing poker in Montenegro. This is no easy task. Bond has to go through many trials, full of betrayal, conspiracies and danger.

Casino Royale is an indispensable part of the James Bond film series. This film also turned Daniel Craig into the real Bond and reinvented the character for modern audiences. The film grossed more than US$599 million worldwide, becoming the eighth highest grossing Bond film in history.

21 (2008)

21 is one of the best films about the game of blackjack, directed by Robert Luketica. It is based on the true story of MIT's Blackjack Team in the 1990s and an adaptation of Ben Mezrich's book Bringing Down the House.

It is a gambling drama that tells the story of an MIT student, Ben Campbell, who has financial problems. Ben, played by Jim Sturgess, falls into the world of card counting and becomes a member of Professor Micky Rosa's (Kevin Spacey) team. Led by the professor, a group of students use blackjack strategies to win money in Las Vegas casinos. Unfortunately, as time goes on, Ben can't handle the pressure and is caught up in a long-running chase between the professor and gaming security guard Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne).

Hangover Vegas (2009)

The Hangover Vegas is a must-see movie for any fan of casinos and comedies. It is the story of friends who spend their pal Doug's bachelor party in Las Vegas. After a whole night of partying, the friends wake up in the morning with no memory of anything. So they try to recreate the events of last night before returning home.

During their journey, they meet outrageous people, get into compromising situations and search for the groom and the money. The film's cast is a real jackpot - Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Barthy and Ken Jeong. Together they make a hilarious team, and the audience has a great time watching them play.

Finally

Movies with a gambling theme always guarantee viewers a great time, lots of excitement and unpredictable twists. We've given you five classic films above, but casino themes are covered extensively by many directors - from classics to contemporary films.

The casino films we've selected feature great acting, the best poker and blackjack games, and how the gambling world of Las Vegas works. We are sure that any of these titles will definitely appeal to you if you like gambling and are looking for great entertainment.