Hollywood loves poker, so it should not be surprising that there are a lot of films out there about the game. Some are good, and some are awful, but today, we will be discussing the best movies about poker.

Although most players are familiar with films like Rounders, there are still other works of art that you might have missed over the years.

Videos of many games, including Texas Holdem, 7 Card Stud, and even 5 Card Draw, are widely available today. Many of these involve interesting poker moves and are entertaining to watch, especially for poker fans.

Like with any other article, this list is somewhat personal, and you may disagree with it, but there is no doubt that some of these films are well-loved by many poker fans from the older generation and even now.

Poker Films that You Must See

5. Maverick

The lighthearted movie Maverick, starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner, centers on poker but also features many humorous and interesting subplots. Regardless of how much you enjoy poker, you may want to watch this one.

Simply put, it’s a decent action comedy with humor revolving around gambling. Gibson’s Bret Maverick discovers he needs an extra $3,000 to participate in a forthcoming winner-takes-all poker event. Maverick teams up with Annabelle Bransford (Foster) to turn to the only source of income he is familiar with: gambling.

The pair encounter several humorous, adventurous, and even hazardous events due to Maverick’s attempts to obtain the money he needs within the following days. Yet, the film never loses its lighthearted and carefree tone.

Compared to the other films on this list, Maverick is the least poker-centric, but it has a perfect balance between poker, gambling, and everything else that is entertaining.

4. Lucky You

This movie received mixed reviews from the general public but is still loved by many poker fans.

Eric Bana’s character in Lucky You depicts the tale of Huck Cheever and L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall). Huck is a poker player who aspires for greatness but must contend with the shadow cast by his father, who is a two-time WSOP champion.

There is no love lost between the father and the son, as Huck has never forgiven L.C. for leaving his mother.

If this sounds dull (and it might seem to some people), the good news is that there is a lot of poker action mixed in. The movie delves in on poker more than it is about Huck finding love with Billie (Drew Barrymore) or mending family relationships.

Lucky You is worth viewing at least once because it also has some well-known names sitting at the tables, like Sammy Farha, Jen Harman, and Berry Greenstein.

3. The Cincinnati Kid

The Cincinnati Kid is among the top films in this category, despite being one of the older poker movies. It resembles Rounders from earlier times and features the legendary Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson.

The film’s plot centers on a young man, played by McQueen, who sets out to prove that he is the finest poker player in the world. The journey culminates in a battle with Lancey Howard (Robinson), considered the best in the world by all accounts.

The Cincinnati Kid is set in 1930s New Orleans and has excellent writing, especially on the characters and the game itself. Admittedly, it is hard to check the portrayal’s accuracy, but casual poker players will still be able to enjoy the film.

The rest of the movie, notably the conclusion, will leave you wanting to play poker as soon as you finish watching it.

2. Molly’s Game

Molly’s Game is one of the most recent actual poker movies to appear on television.

The 2017 film is based on the true account of Molly Bloom, the “Poker Queen,” who oversaw exclusive high-stakes tournaments that included some of the biggest names in Hollywood, business leaders, and professional players.

The film, which features Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, and Kevin Costner, depicts Bloom’s life from her early years as a would-be Olympic-class skier to her eventual downfall due to organizing an illegal poker game.

The film’s overall plot is nothing new, but the way the actors executed their lines are exemplary. The poker purist won’t find too much to complain about because the writers got most of the poker terminology right.

Molly’s Game is unquestionably on the list of must-watch movies for any true poker enthusiast.

1. Rounders

Are we even surprised that this is number one on the list?

Rounders, which debuted in 1998 and starred Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Malkovich, and Gretchen Mol, was the first poker film to make excellent references to Texas Holdem.

The film recounts a straightforward yet beautiful tale of youthful prodigy Mike McDermott (Damon), who fantasizes about turning pro and trying his luck in Las Vegas.

Mike, a skilled player, loses every hand in high-stakes games versus Teddy KGB because he doesn’t yet understand the idea of bankroll management. Following this failure, Mike vows to himself and his girlfriend (Mol) that he will permanently give up playing and leave the poker table.

However, Mike returns to the tables when his pal Worm (Norton) is released from prison and finds himself in a desperate situation where he has to make quick money. The two then go on an adventure packed with excitement and a lot of pokers.

The film is simply about the journey of the character and loving every part of it.

Conclusion

Many movies about poker are available to choose from, but these show all the aspects of poker the best.

If you haven’t checked one of these films yet, then make sure to spare some of your free time and do so. You will not regret it.

You can play free poker at GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room, to learn more and see if these movies got it right.

Sign up at GGPoker today!