Without a doubt, some of the very best movies in recent memory have come courtesy of the setting that just keeps on giving; the casino!
From spy flicks to heist movies, the casino has provided near-endless riches when it comes to entertaining the masses on screen. For those who would like to try their hand at casino gaming in real life, sites like www.newcasinosites.me.uk list new casino sites recently launched in the UK!
Whether you enjoy a classic mob flick or something a little less bloody, our list of classic casino movies is sure to feature one of your favorite movies set in or around the gambling biz!
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at our rundown of classic casino movies beginning with a bonafide classic…
Casino
From the mind of Martin Scorsese, undoubtedly one of the very best to ever do it, this 1995 flick takes aim at the golden era of Las Vegas gambling to stunning effect.
In the lead is Robert DeNiro, who plays Ace, a quick-witted mob associate who is sent to Las Vegas to take care of the crime syndicate’s casino interests. Things take a turn for the worse when his volatile old pal Nicky arrives in town. Played by the mercurial Joe Pesci, this character has to go down as one of the scariest in casino movie history! Throw in a stellar turn from Sharon Stone as the alluring yet damaged ginger and you have what is quite simply the finest casino movie ever made.
Ocean’s Eleven
Although a remake, the 2001 version of this classic story has to go down as the finest heist movie of its generation. With an all-star ensemble cast featuring George Clooney and Brad Pitt at the helm, this super-stylish movie is packed with more action, thrills and humor than most films could ever wish for.
An iconic movie that swings for the bleachers, Ocean’s Eleven is the perfect breakdown of all the reasons that Las Vegas is loved and loathed for by so many millions. Though the original from 1960 featured the legendary Rat Pack of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and of course Frank Sinatra, it has to be said that this modern version is better in so many ways!
Casino Royale
The first outing as James Bond for Daniel Craig is also widely considered as the finest. Featuring one of the tensest casino scenes in movie history at the seductive yet dangerous Casino Royale in Montenegro, this movie made Craig a global megastar.
All of the usual Bond fun is here in spades, including gadgets, supercars and devilishly stylish attire. Where Casino Royale stands out is in the tightness of its script and the addition of Mads Mikkelsen as the terrifyingly aloof villain Le Chiffre.
Without a doubt, Casino Royale is one of the finest Bond films ever made and easily one of the best casino movies of all time. With so much action, tension and glamor in one movie, all other installments since this have felt somewhat stale by comparison!
Overall, these classic casino movies may only be a small collection of films featuring casinos as a central theme, yet we believe them to be the top three of all time! Whilst there are surely other great casino movies around, this trio takes the glitz, glamour and thrills of the casino to new levels and immortalize the whole thing on the big screen.