A look back at the lasting legacy of the Oceans Film Series

There is no doubting that when you enter a Casino there are usually high stakes involved, the thrill of potentially winning big or maybe even losing it all is something that has had punters entering their doors for centuries.

The Casino can be a daunting place, but it is one that offers an air of excitement to go alongside it. Excitement that these days can now be replicated at home thanks to online casino websites who offer a multitude of online slot games for you to test your nerve.

The drama of placing everything on black knowing that you are just a roulette spin away from either rags or riches is a feeling that is hard to re-create, however if one industry can it is that of the movies.

Hollywood has a steeped history with films involving risk and reward with the setting of the Casino playing host to many a blockbuster title. The first of those that springs to mind Is that of Ocean’s Eleven, although your favourite version of the film is one that could be up for debate.

Depending on your age or perhaps even your tastes, you could opt for either the original version that was made back in 1960. One that was famous for starring the “Rat Pack Crew” with such luminaries as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr being given top billing in this heist film.

Or you could of course plump for the more modern twist on proceedings. One that was directed by Steven Soderbergh back in 2001 and included an ensemble cast of Hollywood A-Listers, although four decades later it was George Clooney and not Frank Sinatra playing the role of Danny Ocean.

Ultimately though whatever your preference the premise of the film is ultimately the same, a group of merry men look to get rich quick by robbing Las Vegas’ richest Casino’s and in turn getting one over on its owner.

The version starring Frank Sinatra in 1960 was the catalyst for the reboot in 2001, which in turn then led to two sequels further down the line. The somewhat originally titled Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen would follow in 2004 and 2007 respectively.

While just to make matters a little more confusing the film was also the inspiration for an all-Female ensemble version which was released in June of this year. Again, Steven Soderbergh played a role in the films creation, although this time around he served as a producer.

Not only that though but the Female offering earlier this year was perhaps more efficient in terms of numbers, the case being proven by the fact that the film was titled with the single digit figure of Ocean’s Eight.

After the success of the all-Female reboot of Ghostbusters back in 2016, the hope if not the expectation was that Ocean’s Eight would follow suit. Although it earned as of July of this year a worldwide revenue of $263.2m against a production budget of $70m, it was met with only a lukewarm reaction to the people who mattered most.

That of course being the critics, aggregating website Rotten Tomatoes said that “"Ocean's 8 isn't quite as smooth as its predecessors, but still has enough cast chemistry and flair to enjoyably lift the price of a ticket from filmgoers up for an undemanding caper.”

A case of good but could do better, then again maybe the success of Ocean Eleven’s back in 2001 left the latest attempt at telling this kind of crime caper with too much work to do, especially if it was to emulate the success of 17 years prior.

The film which saw George Clooney, Brad Pitt et al club together in a bid to rid Andy Garcia of all the riches that he had procured across three Casinos eventually earned a staggering $450m gross figure at the worldwide box office.

Not only that though it was very warmly met by the critics, Newsweek went on to say: “Ocean's Eleven "bounces along with finger-snapping high spirits," and said that while Soderbergh has "made deeper films, ...this carefree caper movie is nothing to sneeze at”

And after such unbridled success it was pretty clear that the distributers, who in this case were that of Warner Bros. had something of a potential franchise on their hands. So much so that a sequel or sequels were soon to be in the works.

The first of those followed three years later in 2004, this time the focus lies with Andy Garcia’s character Terry Benedict. After losing an eye-watering sum of money in the conclusion of the first part of this trilogy, his mind is only set on one thing. That being revenge.

Benedict locates the Eleven and demands payback plus interest. Although with the gang falling short it means they have to once again plot an audacious scheme in a bid to get rich. However, the sequel failed to pick up where its predecessor left off, but even so it still grossed $363m worldwide.

All film trilogy’s of course need a beginning, a middle and an end and that is exactly the role that Ocean’s Thirteen played in 2007. Again, the dream team reassembled for another tilt at financial success.

Not only that though it must be said that it was a well-constructed end to this three-part heist, leaning more towards the first instalment rather than the second, it was much more keenly received by fans and critics alike.

Even if the critics did not take to this one, the people responsible for the creation of the film and Warner Bros would have at least been comforted by the fact that it grossed a very impressive $311.4m worldwide. This means that the “Ocean’s Trilogy” grossed over $1bn across the three films.

The likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon may have struggled on screen when it came to financial success, but being a part of this particular series of films means that ultimately they were laughing all the way to the bank in real life.