The 9 Best Poker Movies of All Time – The ONLY List You Need!

Winter is on the way! So are the rules that make it hard to get evidence. In fact, they haven’t really left, but that’s a different story. The one and only way to still have fun and make money simultaneously is to stay home and play poker. But what’s the best thing to do when we’re not grinding? Of course, watching the best poker movies.

Today, we’ll tell you about the poker movies we like best. Some of them you’ve probably seen before, while others might be new to you. There isn’t any particular order to the list, including poker comedies, movies about gambling, documentaries, real-life poker stories, and many more.

Let’s dive right in!

1. Maverick (1994) – A Classic Gambling Movie

The correct response to this inquiry is somewhere in the middle. It’s safe to assume that you’ve heard of Maverick, as it’s a film that most poker fans have seen. Simultaneously, it is a film that has nothing to do with gambling. This apparent contradiction arises from the fact that nearly everyone will enjoy the film.

Gibson’s character Bret Maverick is short $3,000 and needs to enter a winner-take-all poker tournament soon. Gambling is the only way Maverick knows how to make money, so he teams up with Annabelle Bransford to do it (Foster).

You don’t need to be a poker fan to enjoy this one. It’s a great action satire with some funny gambling scenes thrown in.

2. Finder’s Fee (2001) – Strange Poker Movie

The plot centers on a group of people who travel to the Golden Nugget to compete in a $10,000,000 poker tournament.

Tepper (Erika Palladino), a youthful man who finds a wallet containing a winning lottery ticket, is the protagonist of this poker film. Tepper arranged for the item’s return with the owner for later that night.

This poker film stands out from the pack because of its realistic story. No need to worry about playing against professional poker players or “sharks” in high-stakes games. Instead, you and your poker buddies are tasked with tracking down a lost wallet and competing for pots.

One night is all it takes for the events to unfold. I thought the movie took an original and refreshing approach to the genre of gambling films, and its current IMDB score of 6.4 is far below its actual merit.

3. Luna’s Game (2001) – An Innovative Poker Film that Came Out Before Its Time

In Luna’s Game, we learn what it was like to be a professional poker player before the game ever gained mainstream popularity. It also discusses whether a person’s upbringing or genetics are more influential in their development as a poker player (an interesting case would be the life of Rob Yong, right?).

The loan shark who killed Luna’s poker player father was also responsible for the death of Luna’s mother. She had a bad first poker experience but couldn’t stay away because the game was in her blood. Would she face the same fate as her dad?

Maybe one of the most realistic portrayals of a poker player can be found in Luna’s Game. Poker, despite the risks, is an essential part of many people’s lives because it makes them feel complete. This is the premise of the movie Luna’s Game, and it’s one of the primary motivations we believe it’s so good.

4. High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003) – A Poker Film Based on True Events

The movie High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story is based on the life of a real professional poker player by the same name. Ungar is one of only two players in history to win the World Series of Poker main event three times. He is widely considered the greatest Texas Hold Em player of all time because of this.

Although Ungar had already won five WSOP bracelets by the time of his death at age 45, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Unfortunately, Ungar struggled with crippling drug addiction for the majority of his life, and he died at the young age of 45 as a direct result of his addiction. Michael Imperioli, known for his role in The Sopranos, portrays him in the film.

This film shows how many of us can escape our inner demons by immersing ourselves in our work.

5. Shade (2003) – A Cheating-Theme Poker Movie

One more poker movie to add to the list, this one with a slightly different spin: it’s all about the variant of the game known as 5 Card Stud. Although it was once extremely popular, especially in underground games, its popularity has since waned.

Filmed in 2003, “Shade” is a crime drama about poker that follows 3 scam artists who use a “card mechanic” named Vernon to win money off of card games (played by Stuart Townsend). They devised a complex strategy to beat the poker superstar known as “The Dean” (played by Sylvester Stallone).

When it comes to teaching the general public about 5 Card Stud and all the ways to exploit your opponent’s weaknesses, Shade really shines. This format is a welcome change from the standard Texas Holdem game.

6. The Grand (2007) – Epic Poker Comedy Film

The Grand is directed by Zak Penn, and its cast features Ray Romano, Woody Harrelson, Chris Parnell, Jason Alexander, and Dennis Farina, among others.

The plot centers on a group of people who travel to the Golden Nugget to compete in a $10,000,000 poker tournament. Actors were to play actual poker on set, with no winner already decided by the script. Surprisingly, this is a welcome change given the standard Hollywood fare of over-the-top and sometimes completely implausible depictions of poker games.

Even though there aren’t many options, the fact that The Grand is one of the few poker comedies out there makes it stand out.

7. All In: The Poker Movie (2009) – A Top-Rated Poker Docudrama

From its inception to Moneymaker’s 2003 Main Event victory to the infamous Black Friday incident, All In recounts the entire history of poker.

All In is a story directed by Douglas Tirola that has won multiple awards, making it stand out from the other films on this list.

Famous poker players like Antonio Esfandiari, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, Phil Laak, and Moneymaker all make appearances in this documentary film. One of the most popular pastimes in the United States and around the world, and a means of achieving the American Dream for many people, is poker, and this book provides a fascinating and in-depth look at how this came to be.

Watching this film is essential if you are just starting out in the world of professional poker. It explains the game’s meteoric rise and fall and the myriad factors that contributed to poker’s meteoric rise to prominence. If there’s one movie you watch to become a poker pro, make it All In: The Poker Movie.

8. Poker King (2009) – A Heartwarming Poker Film Set in Asia

Hong Kong produced Poker King, which takes place in Macau. This isn’t like those poker movies where the feeling is portrayed as a negative trait. Here, throwing a temper tantrum, proving oneself, trusting, and feeling… “Lucky” all centers on the individual’s emotional state.

Jack Chang (Louis Koo) is an internet poker pro (like Ethan Yau) who inherits a casino empire after his father dies. Chang is a total man-child, and it’s getting out of hand.

To the point of absurdity, he is naive, has little regard for social norms, and has temper tantrums when things don’t go his way. Because his father doesn’t trust him, Cheuk decides to send him in the real world. Chang must show he’s an adult before claiming his inheritance.

He finds the woman who will be his ace in the hole in the wilds of Macao’s concrete jungle; she goes by the name Lucky. Despite her reputation as “the unluckiest woman ever,” Lucky’s fortunes improve after she meets Chang. They make a deal where she sits and cheers him on as he plays. After a while, he plays Cheuk in a heads-up final table match.

This movie perfectly depicts the arduous road that novice poker players must first travel. To make matters worse, they must also persuade their loved ones that a career in poker is preferable to a “safe” one. Poker can be both if you want it to be a hobby or a problem. This film demonstrates that following your passion and believing in yourself can lead to success.

9. Molly’s Game (2017) – Best Recent Poker Movie of the Century

Yes! On our list, you won’t find any Rounders. This in no way discredits the movie’s quality. This simply indicates that there are other, more deserving poker movies that have gone largely unnoticed up until now and that many poker fans will soon have the opportunity to watch them.

Molly’s Game is one of the most recent authentic poker movies to hit theaters. The 2017 film is based on the life of Molly Bloom, known as the “Poker Queen,” who hosted exclusive high-stakes poker games for A-list actors, CEOs, and professional gamblers.

Bloom’s life story is dramatized in a new film starring Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, and Kevin Costner. The film follows Bloom from her early days as a budding Olympic-caliber skier to her downfall as an illegal poker game organizer.

The protagonist, Molly Bloom, is based on a real-life Olympic hopeful who endured a roller coaster of emotions throughout her life. She learned she could run high-stakes poker games and make a fortune as time passed.

This isn’t a movie about what goes down at the gaming table but about the cash that can be won. We will make sure you are aware of any new, exciting films with us on Telegram News Channel, @fullhouseclubs.

And if you’d rather play than watch, we’ve got some great recommendations for poker clubs.