Top 15 Casino Movies on Netflix Streaming Right Now

Sure, you can type ‘casino’ into the Netflix search bar but often you’ll get recommendations with no connection to gambling or Las Vegas! That’s why we’ve compiled our handpicked best casino movies on Netflix and other streaming platforms for you to enjoy.

Yes, you’ll find some of the most well-known casino movies (like Casino, obviously) on this page but we also think we’ve also found some hidden gems, movies with famous casino scenes, and movies with gambling as a strong motif. Let’s kick things off with one of the best movies about casino action on Netflix.

• Pure Casino Movies
• Great Casino Movie Scenes
• Gambling Movies
• Conclusion
• FAQ

Pure Casino Movies

In this first section we’ll concentrate on the Netflix movies which have casinos at their heart. They are either set predominately in a brick-and-mortar casino or the plot is focused heavily on events in a casino setting.

Croupier – 1998

Croupier is a 1998 British neo-noir casino movie directed by Mike Hodges and starring Clive Owen. The story follows Jack Manfred, a struggling writer who takes a job as a croupier at a casino to support himself. As he becomes more involved in the seedy gambling world, he begins to lose himself and ultimately must make a difficult decision about his future.

The movie explores themes of morality, addiction, and the blurred lines between reality and fiction. Croupier received positive reviews for its performances, particularly that of Clive Owen, and for its stylish and atmospheric direction.

21 – 2008

21 is a 2008 American heist drama film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and the now disgraced Kevin Spacey. This casino movie on Netflix is based on the true story of a group of MIT students who used card-counting techniques to win millions of dollars from various casinos.

As the group becomes more successful and confident in their abilities, they begin to attract the attention of casino security and must navigate the dangerous and high-stakes world of professional gambling. The film explores themes of greed, ambition, and the blurred lines between what is legal and what is not.

Casino – 1995

Casino is a 1995 crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. The movie tells the story of Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a Jewish American top gambling handicapper who is sent to Las Vegas to run the Tangiers Casino on behalf of the Chicago Outfit, which secretly controls the Teamsters Union. The film features an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone.

The movie details the rise and fall of the characters, as well as their relationships and interactions with each other. It also highlights the gritty, violent, and corrupt nature of the land-based gambling industry. The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies in the casino genre.

The Cooler – 2003

Another movie predominately set in a casino. Starring William H Macy and Maria Bellow, The Cooler is essentially a romance with a little bit of crime thrown in. The main casino scenes use craps as the game of choice.

Macy plays a professional bringer of bad luck, a long-time loser who corrupts everything good. He falls in love with a waitress played by Bello, and that’s when things go wrong. As the casino owner, Alec Baldwin is at his nastiest best. A riveting story, beautifully shot, and executed.

Ocean’s Eleven – 2001

Any list of casino movies would be incomplete without a classic heist story. Ocean’s Eleven fits the bill nicely. George Clooney plays the sardonic, charismatic burglar Danny Ocean, who pulls off the most complex, complicated casino robbery in history less than 24 hours after being released from prison.

The well-written plot is further complicated by Clooney’s love interest who he will lose if everything does not go to plan. An excellent casino movie and a rattling good yarn with surprising twists and turn. Spawned two successful follow-up movies suggesting the original is certainly worth a watch.

Great Casino Movie Scenes and Montages

When reading a list of the best casino movie titles, it’s important to realize that some of the greatest casino action comes in only part of a full-length movie. It can be difficult to base a whole yarn inside a casino so below we have picked out some movies where important scenes take place in and around a casino.

Casino Royale – 2006

Casino Royale is a 2006 British spy film directed by Martin Campbell and starring Daniel Craig as James Bond. It is the first film in the Daniel Craig era of the movie franchise, and the 21st film in the franchise overall. The film tells the story of Bond’s first mission as a 00 agent, in which he must stop a terrorist financier, Le Chiffre, from winning a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro.

Along the way, Bond forms a romantic relationship with Vesper Lynd, a treasury agent. The film features high-stakes gambling, thrilling action sequences, and a focus on Bond’s character development. Casino Royale was critically acclaimed and a box office success, with critics praising Craig’s performance as the iconic spy.

Rain Man – 1988

Winner of four Academy Awards and one of the most popular movies of the 1980s Rain Man may not be instantly recognizable as a casino movie. However, the blockbuster starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman contains one of the most memorable casino blackjack montages of all time.

The audience ends up routing for both the autistic savant Raymond and his conniving brother Charlie as the pair attempt to count cards playing blackjack at a major Las Vegas casino. Beautifully shot, the montage features some retro slots action – a far cry from the modern-day experience at the best online casinos in the US.

The Hangover – 2009

Set in Las Vegas, The Hangover is a comedic romp as opposed to the usual crime capers synonymous with casinos. The fun starts on the morning after a stag party with the groom missing and the wedding scheduled in two days looking unlikely to take place.

To be fair, most of the action takes place outside any casino yet the movie still has a casino feel to it and most importantly is a decent goofy comedy. Zach Gal, Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, and Ken Jong all play leading roles with each one bringing something unique to this underrated casino movie.

The Gambler – 2014

The Gambler is a 2014 US crime drama movie directed by Rupert Wyatt. It is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, and it stars Mark Wahlberg as Jim Bennett, a literature professor and compulsive gambler. The movie follows Bennett as he becomes deeply indebted to a loan shark and must take drastic measures to repay his debt.

Along the way, he develops feelings for Amy, one of his students, and has disagreements with his mother Roberta as well as his affluent grandfather. Addiction, destructive behavior, and the price of ambition are among the issues that are examined in the movie. Brie Larson, Michael Kenneth Williams, and John Goodman are also featured in a stellar cast.

Run Lola Run – 1998

Our only foreign language casino movie on our list is the experimental Run Lola Run. This German film follows Lola, a young woman who has 20 minutes to find 100,000 Deutsche Marks to save her boyfriend’s life after he loses the money in a drug deal gone wrong.

The film is split into three sections, each of which demonstrates the various paths Lola takes to fulfill her mission. Lola must conquer the challenges on each path in order to accomplish her objective. It is renowned for its quick pacing and exploration of the butterfly effect and the idea of chance through repetition and variety.

It makes this list of movies about casino exploits a pivotal scene towards its denouement. Watch out for the blood-curdling scream from Lola as she lets go of all the tension and exhilaration that has been building up in her overworked brain.

Gambling Movies – It’s Not All About Casinos!

Movies about casino action are undoubtedly fun but can be a little limiting at times. Therefore, we’ve included in our Netflix casino movies some titles where gambling rather than a casino is the main focus. You’ll still be able to catch some casino action but the lilt here is on films specifically about gambling in all its many forms

Rounders – 1998

Rounders, an American drama film from 1998, is frequently hailed as the greatest poker movie ever. It centers on a young man named Mike McDermott, a skilled poker player. He decides to stop playing after losing all of his cash to Teddy KGB, a cruel Russian player on one of best online gambling websites.

However, when his close friend Worm is released from prison and gets into trouble with loan sharks, Mike must return to the high-stakes world of underground poker to help him out. Along the way, he must confront his own weaknesses and the cost of his ambition. The film stars Matt Damon, Edward Norton, and the wonderful John Malkovich.

The Card Counter – 2021

The Card Counter is a 2021 American casino movie directed by Paul Schrader and written by Schrader and his son, Benjamin Schrader. The film is about a former soldier named William Tell who becomes a card counter to get revenge on a casino owner who he believes ruined his life.

Tell joins a team of gamblers and together they take the casino for all it’s worth. As they get deeper in the gambling world, they must confront the consequences of their actions, including the risk of getting caught and the cost of their revenge. It’s a slow burner but the plot is fascinating and the gambling sequences as realistic as playing online casinos for real money.

Molly’s Game – 2017

A 2017 biographical crime drama film by Aaron Sorkin, Molly’s Game is based on the actual story of Molly Bloom, a former Olympian skier who ran the most exclusive high-stakes poker game in the world for ten years before being taken into custody by the FBI.

The movie focuses on Molly’s rise to power, the players who attended her games, and the FBI probe that led to her downfall. Jessica Chastain plays Molly Bloom in the movie, and Idris Elba plays her defense attorney. One of the most satisfying and underrated casino movies on Netflix.

Hard Eight – 1996

Hard Eight is the second neo-noir casino movie on our list. This American crime film was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film is about an aging gambler named Sydney, who takes a young man named John under his wing and teaches him the tricks of the trade.

As John becomes more successful and confident, he becomes involved with a waitress named Clementine, who is being threatened by a dangerous bookie. Sydney must then decide whether to help John or to protect himself and his own secrets.

The film stars Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L. Jackson, and it was Paul Thomas Anderson’s debut film as a director. As a director, he went on to direct such critically acclaimed movies as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and There Will Be Blood.

Uncut Gems – 2019

Uncut Gems is a 2019 crime thriller film directed by the Safdie Brothers and starring Adam Sandler. The film follows Howard Ratner, a New York City jewelry store owner and gambling addict, who is trying to get out of debt by acquiring and selling a rare opal from Ethiopia.

As he becomes more invested in the opal and his various schemes, Howard’s personal and professional life starts to spiral out of control, leading to a dangerous and desperate situation. The film explores themes of addiction, greed, and the consequences of high-stakes risk-taking.

Conclusion

With the streaming service’s ever-changing catalog, it’s a tough stretch to find the best casino movies on Netflix that will be available to all readers all the time. Still, we are happy with our list and hopefully, you’ll decide one of these great movies is worth a watch. Our top choice? Not a pure casino movie but certainly worth your time…it’s Netflix’s Uncut Gems.