Best award-winning gambling and casino films

Although we are still a few months away from the beginning of the awards season, the movie industry is already abuzz with talk of the year’s hottest films and what looks tipped to make a clean sweep. One of the genres and settings that has consistently performed well over the years is the casino movie, with film fanatics seemingly unable to get enough – but what are some of the best award-winning gambling and casino films?

Uncut Gems (2019)

One of the breakout hits of 2019 was Uncut Gems. Directed by the visionary Safdie brothers, this independent picture delivers an incredibly well-written script and an unforgettable performance from Adam Sandler, who plays a prolific gambler. With what can only be described as a claustrophobic aesthetic, this movie went on to clean up at both the independent and mainstream awards ceremonies, proving to be a sleeper hit for 2019.

Casino (1995)

In this 1995 classic, Martin Scorsese takes viewers on an emotionally fraught journey though the cruel, brutal underworld of the casino industry. This epic, behind-the-scenes look at the casino industry boasts a star-studded cast, including some recurrent characters in the Scorsese universe. Although it boasts standout performances from Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, it is ultimately Sharon Stone who steals the show – her performance earned her both an Oscar nomination for leading actress and a Golden Globe award.

Casino is an epic, and at times brutal, story of Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein, a Las Vegas casino operator with mafia ties who lives a seemingly normal life with his family. This is turned upside down when Pesci’s character arrives in town. This frenetic, fast-paced casino epic is just about as good as they come and is packed with murder, power, money, greed and violence.

The Hustler (1961)

Directed by Robert Rossen and featuring a star-studded cast with some of Hollywood’s true classic actors – including Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason and Piper Laurie – The Hustler is a classic, if not genre-defining, casino movie.

Filmed in 1961, The Hustler tells the story of a plucky, up-and-coming pool player who looks to take on a well-established champion in a high-stakes match. Newman plays ‘Fast Eddie’ Felson, a small-time pool hustler who appears willing to do anything to break into the high-rolling world of high-stakes pool. The Hustler is ultimately a story concerned with loyalty, integrity and ambition. The Hustler earned a total of nine Academy Award nominations, of which it won two for ‘Best Art Direction’ and ‘Best Cinematography’, and was also nominated for four Gold Globe awards.

With all that said, it is clear that the casino has continued to provide a popular setting for movies over the years. From epics such as Scorsese’s Casino to newer, more experimental films such as Uncut Gems, it seems like fans continue to find gamblers compelling characters. If all this talk of casinos and gambling has got you itching to play, why not head over to OnlineCasinoListings.com and recreate some of your favourite movie scenes?