Poker games are indeed a global phenomenon. People across the world are wildly drawn to the Game. So, it is unsurprising to witness poker films gaining popularity over time. Are you one who can’t move on or get enough of this unimaginable and mind-tricking Game?
If you’re a huge fan of poker games, here’s the good news for you. We’ve picked excellent poker films that are fun and entertaining to watch. So, here are the 18 Best Poker Movies that ever appeared on television.
1. Molly’s Game (2017)
English2h 20m IMDb
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Stars: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner
Molly’s Game is the newest and latest addition to the list of best poker movies you could ever find online. While this movie is a newbie, it earned a lot of attention because of its compelling life lessons. This 2017 poker movie follows the story of Molly Bloom, an aspiring Olympic-class skier.
Throughout the movie, you’ll find Molly hitting on a massive sum of money through organizing and running the world’s most exclusive poker game. Molly’s Game is not just a simple movie revolving around poker, but the money behind that elusive Game.
2. Rounders (1998)
English 2h 1m IMDb
Director: John Dahl
Stars: Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Gretchen Mol
The list of best poker movies would never be complete without including The Rounders. This classic film is a hit for poker masters, players, and fans. Hitting the box office in 1998 and starring Matt Damon, The Rounders follow the story of Mike, a young, reformed gambler.
7. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
English 1h 42m IMDb
Director: Norman Jewison, Sam Peckinpah(fired after one week shooting)
Stars: Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret, Edward G. Robinson
The Cincinnati Kid is not your ordinary poker movie. Finding its setting during the Great Depression, this film follows Eric Stoner, also known as “The Kid.” He embarks on his path of being the most excellent poker player.
This 1965 classic poker movie is quite exceptional. It’s a masterpiece that accurately portrays the humble beginning of a person who is only starting in her career and struggles to beat the best player ever. This poker movie will show a man establishing his poker reputation the way he knew best.
8. All In: The Poker Movie (2009)
English 1h 40m IMDb
Director: Douglas Tirola
Stars: Karen Abbott, Peter Alson, Nick Brancato
One of the best documentaries ever released, All In The Poker Movie, takes a backtrack behind reasons that makes poker a popular and sought-after game in America.
Douglas Tirola, a filmmaker, crafted this film to capture the history, the ups and downs, and the rise and fall of poker games. What’s more exciting is that it tells why poker became famous.
Are you curious about the mystery behind poker games? Uncover the secret by watching this documentary.
9. High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003)
English 2h IMDb
Director: A.W. Vidmer
Stars: Al Bernstein, Andrew N.S. Glazer, Michael Imperioli
Based on a true story, High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story tells the tale of the poker legend, Stuey Ungar. Starring Michael Imperioli, this movie showcases the impressive card reading skills of Stu Ungar, making him one of the most aggressive poker players. But his career as a poker player soon ended when he became involved in drug addiction.
While this film may have a tragic ending, this movie deserves a spot on our list of best poker movies. It’s one of the movies which accurately portrays the life of Stuey’s short career in poker.
10. The Grand (2007)
English 1h 44m IMDb
Director: Zak Penn
Stars: Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Dennis Farina
The Grand is one of the rare poker movies having a fun vibe. For sure, this movie will make you laugh endlessly. But this film does not lose its focus on showing that poker belongs to one of the best games worldwide.
Jack Farro (Woody Harrelson) is a recovering drug abuser and a failed casino manager. What makes his fate even worst is that he got married seventy-four times.
Jack must join a poker competition to win the $10 million prize to get his breakthrough. He got nowhere to do but to defeat the globe’s most excellent poker players. Hilarious and amusing, The Grand is a big, dramatic poker hit.
11. Lucky You (2007)
English 2h 4m IMDb
Director: Curtis Hanson
Stars: Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Robert Duvall
Here’s another movie dedicated to poker lovers. A fictional story, Lucky You, is about downfalls, estranged relationships, debts, and how poker fixes these issues. In Las Vegas, a hot-shot, brilliant poker player named Huck Cheever has personal problems.
Ready to do anything, he must come up with $10,000 to enter the poker tournament. However, Huck must soon face his estranged father as his rival at the final table.
While the movie seems to have slow pacing and is entirely predictable, Lucky, you explore the sad truth hidden behind every poker game. Directed by Curtis Hanson, Lucky You leave its audience with a profound question: Would poker change Huck’s life?
12. Deal (2008)
English 1h 25m IMDb
Director: Gil Cates Jr.
Stars: Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison, Maria Mason
Deal is a 2008 American poker drama following the life of a former poker player, Tommy Vinson, and a law student, Alex Stillman. You’ll see Alex losing the final table in a poker game at the movie’s start.
Behind this, there’s Tommy, who made up his mind to teach Alex the fundamentals of poker. Soon enough, the mentor welcomes his student into the glamorous world of poker.
In the climax of this poker film, you’ll see Alex and Tommy being fierce rivals at the final table of the World Poker Championship Game.
If you’re looking for a film that shows the fundamentals behind a poker game, there’s nothing left for debate. Deal deserves a spot on your list.
13. All In (2006)
English 1h 38m IMDb
Director: Nick Vallelonga
Stars: Dominique Swain, Michael Madsen, Louis Gossett Jr.
While some might think that this poker film is such an underrated film, we believe All In deserves a space on our list. All In follows the story of six medical students with extraordinary talents.
Together, they must pool all their material resources to win the World Series of Poker. Would their team be the next ultimate poker machine? Are they ready to give everything they have?
Directed by Nick Vallelonga, All In first appeared in theaters in the United States on March 14, 2006.
14. Cold Deck (2015)
English 1h 20m IMDb
Director: Zack Bernbaum
Stars: Stéfano Gallo, Paul Sorvino, Robert Knepper
Here’s another poker film that will glue your eyes to the TV screen from start to finish. Featuring drama and crime directed by Zach Bernbaum, Cold Deck follows the story of a poker player whose life hits rock bottom.
To recover from his loss, the man enlists his buddy to pull off a high-stakes poker game to get away with his outstanding debts. With its overall running time of one hour and twenty minutes, Cold Deck is something that gives you enough thrills and chills.
15. The Poker Club (2008)
English 1h 25m IMDb
Director: Tim McCann
Stars: Johnny Messner, Michael Risley, Jana Kramer
With its rich cast characters and a mind-blowing storyline, The Poker Club is certainly worth your time. This poker drama and thriller follows the story of four buddies who discover and later accidentally murder a robber.
The intruder interrupts the friends during their weekly poker night. The Poker Club comes with an excellent script and a great storyline. Released on October 16, 2008, in the United States, this poker movie has a running time of one hour and twenty-five minutes.
16. Finder’s Fee (2001)
English 1h 40m IMDb
Director: Jeff Probst
Stars: Erik Palladino, Ryan Reynolds, Dash Mihok
Directed by Jeff Probst, Finder’s Fee is an indie movie having a unique storyline to other poker films. One day, Tepper (starring Erik Palladino) locates a wallet on the street with a winning lottery ticket amounting to six million dollars.
Suddenly, Tepper calls the wallet’s owner, Avery Philips (starring James Earl Jones). However, things started to crumble when his poker-playing friends arrived for their regular poker night? One fateful night, everything changed. Will the man get back his lottery prize?
Finder’s Fee is a movie with a plot story that occurs for just one night. On top of that, it’s not the usual poker movie that highlights debts, addiction, and estranged relationships.
17. Mississippi Grind (2015)
English 1h 48m IMDb
Director: Anna BodenRyan Fleck
Stars: Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds, Yvonne Landry
And now, we’ll see a top-tier actor in a big hit poker movie. It’s none other than Ryan Reynolds. Hitting the box office in 2015, Mississippi Grind is one of the latest and newest poker movies.
It follows the story of Gerry, who is going through financial hardship. Luckily, he crosses paths with Curtis, a young, charismatic poker player.
Gerry forms a tandem with Curtis in a mighty attempt to change his life and fortune. Together, they travel through the South to win the legendary high-risk poker game in New Orleans.
In 2015, Mississippi Friend secured a spot in the Top Ten Independent Films in the National Board of Review in the United States.
18. 5 Card Stud (1968)
English 1h 43m IMDb
Director: Henry Hathaway
Stars: Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum, Inger Stevens
In this last movie on our list, we’ll find a film that combines two extremes: murder mysteries and poker games. 5 Card Stud is a 1968 Western Film showcasing a case of suspicious murder in an ongoing poker game.
When you watch this movie, you’ll witness how an 1880 gambler (starring Dean Martin) and a preacher (starring Robert Mitchum) uncover killings connected to the poker game.
Directed by Henry Hathaway, this poker film will give you literal goosebumps. As the killings continue, the remaining survivor must catch the murderer while the poker game must go on. Overall, this movie earned a 6.4/10 IMDB Rating with a 51% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Moment of Truth
As you can see, our list of 18 Best Poker Movies offers you plenty of choices. And yes, we are sure you’ll find these films interesting and exciting. Are you ready to embark on the adventures and mysteries behind the elusive poker game? Start now by watching these classic poker films. Have an excellent day watching!
