Poker becomes a versatile storytelling tool in movies. The unpredictability and excitement of the game make it perfect for creating tense scenes. Poker games can add an entertaining element in many different movie genres.
Maverick is a Western action-adventure, while Molly’s Game is a biographical drama. What they have in common is a poker theme. Both Rounders and Casino Royale have realistic poker scenes. Mississippi Grind is an independent movie that was popular at international film festivals.
Maverick (1994)
This movie is set in the American Old West, where Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson) needs money for a poker tournament. An additional three thousand dollars will allow him to enter a winner-take-all poker game held on the paddle steamer Lauren Belle. He faces various challenges and mishaps as he tries to collect the money.
A woman gambler, Annabelle Bransford (Jodie Foster), helps him while others try to prevent him from winning the tournament. One of these is Angel (Alfred Molina). He and a crooked dealer conspire. Maverick wins in the end, although Bransford steals half of his winnings.
The game of poker in this movie is five-card draw poker. This is a different type of poker than what players experience when playing video poker at an online casino. This type combines five-card draw poker with slot machines. They play the game solo against the machine rather than competing with other players.
Rounders (1998)
This movie is featured on most lists of the best poker movies. Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) does rounds of different high-stakes poker games to try to pay off his debt. Damon actually joined the 1998 World Series of Poker, which gives his role a great sense of realism.
It captures the energy and tension of the game and has inspired several players to try playing the game full-time. This is one way to reach your financial goals, but like Matt Damon, you need to be ‘all in.’ The movie was shot in such a way that audiences could understand what was happening on the set.
Casino Royale (2006)
Gambling is often seen in James Bond movies, but the poker scene in Casino Royale stands out. Daniel Craig plays the role of James Bond to perfection in this movie. In a crucial scene, he faces off against the evil Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen, in a game of Texas Hold’em. Le Chiffre needs to recover the money he lost in a scheme that James Bond foiled. If he loses, he will have to seek asylum from the British government and be forced to hand over secret information.
The crew researched real-life poker games and spent weeks perfecting how to shoot and edit each shot. This makes for a very convincing scene with great intensity. The movie ended up being one of the highest-grossing movies in 2006.
Mississippi Grind (2016)
This movie revolves around Gerry, a real estate agent who isn’t very good at poker. After meeting Curtis, a charismatic poker player, Gerry believes he is his lucky talisman.
This independent movie struck a chord with audiences with its screening at many international festivals. It doesn’t just focus on the high points like winning, but on the low points, too. It raises questions about determining one’s life’s purpose. Are certain events good luck, bad luck, or destiny?
Molly’s Game (2017)
This movie is based on a memoir written by Molly Bloom. She is known as “The Poker Princess” and runs underground poker games for influential personalities. These include actors, business tycoons, and athletes.
The FBI begins investigating her, and the movie seamlessly blends poker with political intrigue and allusions to real-world household names. It not only portrays accurate poker scenes but also deals with how a woman manages to succeed in the male-dominated poker world. Jessica Chastain gave a stellar performance as Molly Bloom.
