There are a number of casino movies out there, many of them set in Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Though gambling acts as something of a backdrop in some, there are other movies where a specific game is at the center of the story. These blackjack movies do the game justice in more ways than one.
21 (2008)
The inspiration for brilliant young math students everywhere. We’ve all seen the GIF of Zach Galifianakis in deep thought, equations whipping around his head. That comes from this movie, based on the famed MIT Blackjack Team. A loaded cast led by Kevin Spacey shows the team’s journey from winning hundreds of thousands at Vegas casinos to its untimely downfall.
With a strong romantic subplot, this one of the best blackjack-based movies ever. It has just enough of the in-game action to make it a blackjack movie while tying in other storylines to keep casual viewers enticed.
Croupier (1998)
While most gambling-based movies are about the player, this one is unique since it is about a blackjack dealer. Jack Manfred is a writer who takes a croupier job just to make ends meet. He breaks casino policy, getting involved with a fellow employee despite having a girlfriend. The scene where Jack deals to his boss is one that lives on as one of the best in any blackjack movie.
Clive Owen thrives in the role and delivers one of his best performances. When talking about some of the most tense casino scenes, Croupier is up there. This is a must for fans of blackjack and casino games, in general.
Rain Man (1988)
Even for those who have never seen the movie, Dustin Hoffman’s performance as Raymond Babbitt lives on as legend. An autistic savant with an affinity to count cards, Raymond helps deeply indebted brother Charlie take the Vegas blackjack tables by storm. This movie is littered with famous quotes, including one about Judge Wapner.
Though blackjack is the central focus of the movie, it can be a bit too easy to overlook that aspect. Hoffman’s performance won him an Oscar and the movie is still quotable to this day. It has also led to thousands of players learning to count cards as a way to beat the house.
The Last Casino (2004)
The famed MIT Blackjack Team has been the subject of a few movies. Led by their professor, The Last Casino follows Professor Barnes as he puts together a team of students to pull off an epic live casino takedown. The math geniuses battle with trying to win big while battling the pressures brought on by Barnes, who fights his own demons in a compulsive gambling addiction.
It’s a made for TV movie, but it certainly does not feel like one. Unlike most of the other casino movies you’ll come across, this one is based in Canada as the three students and their teacher attempt to hit the major casinos across Ontario and Quebec.
The Gambler (2014)
The cast is stacked – Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Jessica Lange, Brie Larsen, and more – and the story is nothing short of gripping. The story centers on a literature professor who gets in deep with an underground casino operator. Owing a local loan shark as well, Professor Bennett has a week to pay it off or it will cost him his life.
Though the movie comes down to a roulette spin, most of the movie is spent at the table, where the skilled Bennett plays some exceptional blackjack strategy. If there is one major criticism, it is the fact that this is a remake. The movie is a bit disputed among critics – some have it as being right on the edge of a ‘great movie’ – but if you are a fan of the game, this is a must-see.
Honorable Mention
A list of five is far too short when it comes to blackjack and other casino movies. Having said that, these movies are definitely worth checking out even if they have been omitted from some “best of” lists.
Uncut Gems (2019)
This movie doesn’t quite make the list because it’s not quite a blackjack movie. There are scenes with blackjack in it because most of the action happens in a casino. Adam Sandler stars in what has been argued to be his best role yet, showing that he’s capable of being just as serious as he is funny.
Jinxed (1982)
Unique in that it focuses on a blackjack dealer rather than a player, this classic has a bit of everything. Starring Bette Midler, a professional gambler and his girlfriend try to best a jinxed dealer in an effort to get the best of him at his own game.
The Cooler (2003)
William H. Macy delivers a classic performance as a guy with luck so bad that he can’t help but spread it to others. The good guy eventually finds himself, falling in love and getting back at his employer in the process. You might not learn a whole lot about blackjack strategy but you will feel a lot better about your luck.
Rounders (1998)
This is cheating a bit because the focus of the movie is on Texas Hold’Em but it’s blackjack adjacent. In any event, it is a classic movie no matter how you shake it, so it lands in the honorable mention. After going bust, Mike McD attempts to go straight but his buddy Worm has other plans. It includes high-stakes poker and even an appearance at the World Series of Poker (SOP).
