The increasing popularity of the gambling industry in the 21st century has introduced the world of media to the elegant and jovial casino aesthetic. The Hollywood movie industry for example has greatly mastered the art of introducing gambling scenes into modern movies and TV shows. Movie storylines are simply enriched when the exotic world of the casino is introduced. Such memorable casino scenes serve a plethora of purposes from moments of tension and drama to simple comedic relief and sometimes even a touch of chaos.
The following list by no means includes every great casino scene but it definitely has some of our favourites. From the smooth and suave collection of famous actors in Ocean’s Eleven to the exquisitely hilarious Hangover gambling, these are some of the most iconic casino movie scenes ever. If you would prefer some additional immersion into the casino world while you browse this list check out Casinos Online for bonus entertainment.
Ocean’s Eleven Casino Heist
We begin our list with one of our favourite casino heist movies. The marvellous ensemble of actors lead by George Clooney’s Danny Ocean plan to rob not one but three casinos simultaneously. The hectic dynamic between the team and each casino’s special obstacles and adversarial individuals provides us with lots of nail-biting scenes. All three casinos are at the surface presented as luxurious places of entertainment while below the surface they are seemingly impregnable vaults for Danny’s team to tackle.
The shifting scenes between the casino’s jovial foreground and the cold steel background full of grey doors and vaults provide excellent drama. From Clooney’s experience and leadership to Matt Damon’s daredevil charisma, the movie truly leaves the audience on the edge of their seats.
Rain Man’s Card Savant
For this one, we travel back in time to the late eighties for a truly memorable movie experience. Though Rain Man is not entirely based around gambling, its short but sweet casino scene is nothing short of iconic. The Babbitt brotherly duo portrayed by Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise set out on an adventure that, among other places, leads them to the Caesars Palace casino. This is where one of the most unforgettable casino movie scenes are born.
Dustin Hoffman’s character Raymond, with his almost supernatural intelligence, displays his cunning mind in a game of blackjack. Through a masterful case of counting cards, the brothers win a sizeable sum of money from the establishment. Even though the casino bosses catch them in their act and ask them to leave, the Babbitt brothers still leave the palace with an impressive amount.
Casino Royale’s High Stakes Poker
This story, taken from the 007 collection, takes a subtler approach. Where Ocean’s Eleven and Rain Man take their respective stories to the extreme, the casino movie scene in Casino Royale is a quiet and elegant one. The plot takes place in the titular casino in Montenegro where Daniel Craig’s James Bond is attempting to defeat a terrorist group in a high-stakes game of poker.
The incredible tension between Mads Mikkelsen and Daniel Craig in the infamous poker match just epitomizes the aesthetic of a great casino movie scene. The notion of a simple game of cards serving as a pendulum for someone’s life is exquisite dramatic tension. James Bond’s life is even endangered throughout the game. It is here we have a showcase of his secret agent mettle and guile. He returns from the brink of death only to expertly defeat Mikkelsen’s villain character Le Chiffre thus ending the high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale.
The Hangover’s Jolly Casino Cooperation
We are finishing off our list with some Hollywood comedy and a love-letter reference to our previous entry Rain Man. Though the premise is similar, Zach Galifianakis’ character Alan and his friends are in dramatic trouble and they need quick money playing blackjack, the execution and presentation are quite a bit more comedic. Galifianakis enters the scene akin to the intellectual savant Babbitt and displays adept skill at counting cards.
Though, unlike Rain Man, as soon as the casino owners notice the gang’s ploy, they scramble and scatter in a most orchestrated humorous way. This casino movie scene lacks the elegance and storyline tension of previous entries, but it more than makes up for it in comedic relief and timing. The chaotic plan of making up lost money, the uncharacteristically smooth execution, the classic Hangover gang takeover of a small blackjack stand. All of this makes a perfectly silly, yet entertaining, wrap-up to our most memorable casino movie scenes.
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