Casinos have always been a classic element in movies, and this list will take you through some of its most iconic scenes. From James Bond playing high stakes poker to Clive Owen delivering one-liners with ease – we’ve got it all here!
If you’re a fan of the genre, be sure to add these movies to your watch list. They promise to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Ocean’s Eleven
Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven is undoubtedly one of the most iconic casino scenes ever filmed. This superb crime thriller helped define a knowing, arrogant tone for its genre.
The movie begins with Danny Ocean (George Clooney) approaching his buddy Rusty with the idea of pulling off an epic heist. To complete this massive job, which requires them to rob three casinos simultaneously, they enlist the aid of eleven expert thieves for assistance.
The heist proceeds as planned until Terry Benedict (Bruce Willis) arrives with an unsavoury partner. This devious, conniving individual betrayed Ocean’s mentor Reuben Tishkoff in a deal that saw Bank’s new hotel cast its long shadow over Benedict’s pool.
Black Panther
Ryan Coogler’s record-breaking Marvel movie Black Panther features many thrilling action scenes, but one of the most captivating is undoubtedly the casino fight. Not only is this scene a sleek homage to James Bond movies (an inspiration for the film), but it also pays sly homage to its pan-African roots.
Director Coogler recently spoke to Vanity Fair about the iconic one-take scene that takes place on two levels of an illicit casino in South Korea, featuring choreography and camera work that elevates it beyond incredible. In his video interview with Vanity Fair, Coogler delves into the details behind this remarkable one-take, showcasing why it’s such a remarkable moment.
Technical mastery is no surprise given Coogler’s level of humanistic storytelling in his works. He prefers one-take action scenes to achieve a certain distance between characters and create intensity that would be undone by cuts.
Rain Man
Rain Man, released in 1988, proved popular with both critics and audiences alike. It earned four Academy Award nominations – Best Picture, Director and Actor for Dustin Hoffman.
It was inspired by real-life events and people, such as screenwriter Barry Morrow’s close friendship with intellectually disabled man Bill Sackter.
He had also collaborated with Kim Peek, who suffered from autism and the rare condition known as savant syndrome.
Peek was endowed with remarkable memory powers, enabling him to read books in an hour and remember everything he had read.
This made him the ideal inspiration for Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man. Not only would this give him a platform to showcase his abilities on-screen, but it would also enable him to raise awareness about autism and savant syndrome among the public.
The Hangover
The Hangover is an R-rated comedy that has become a global success at the box office. Directed by Todd Phillips, it stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis.
In 2009, this film became the highest-grosing R-rated comedy ever and set a new budget record at $35 million: making it both one of the first movies to make such an investment.
However, despite being a hit at the box office, it wasn’t well-received by critics. It received an average rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned a total worldwide revenue of $362 million.
The movie is based on a true story and includes an iconic casino scene – though unfortunately it is not set in Las Vegas.
