Best Casino Scenes in Film
The glitz and glamour of the casino makes it the perfect setting for a film full of scandal, surprise and suspense, so it’s no wonder that many have chosen the glittering lights of the casino floor and the steely silence of the poker table as the setting for their movie. We’re suckers for the seediness and the sexiness of casino games in film; so in no particular order, here are our picks for the best casino scenes:
1. 21
Inspired by a true story, 21 tells the tale of a bunch of maths students who use card-counting to swindle the biggest casinos in Las Vegas out of thousands of dollars. Our favourite scene is definitely the winning montage as the students ride the high of their success and the money begins to pile up – everyone loves a montage, after all.
2. Casino Royale
Casino Royale may not be the best James Bond film, but it does feature one of the best casino scenes around. The final hand of the pivotal poker tournament is just dripping with that classic Bond charm and cheesiness that we all know and love, as each player slowly reveals his cards.
3. Ocean’s 11
Starring what feels like half of the Hollywood elite, this comedy follows eleven professional criminals attempting a heist to steal $150million belonging to three major Las Vegas casinos. The poker scene at the start is chock full of corking one-liners (“I’m not sure what four nines does, but the ace I think is pretty high”) – an absolute classic.
4. Rain Man
A powerful movie in its own right and perhaps the best film on this list, the casino scene in Rain Man is a wonderful insight into the mind of Raymond. When his brother Charlie learns that Raymond is capable of counting cards like a pro, the two suit up and head to Vegas where they win tens of thousands of dollars. However, Raymond’s reaction ricochets between being overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the casino, and emotionless at what should be an exciting winning streak – a pivotal scene and a truly great movie.
5. The Hangover
Although The Hangover takes place in Las Vegas, the lads don’t spend a whole lot of time gambling. However, there is one blackjack scene, a perfect homage to Rain Man, which is a must-see. Pure comedy gold - from the descent on the escalators wearing grey suits to Bradley Cooper’s character getting overexcited and yelling out ‘He can’t lose!’ as his comrade counts cards.
