As one of the most popular card games around, blackjack has transcended both land-based and online casino settings, with the latter the way that most play the game nowadays. Blackjack is so popular that it is often featured in movies and some big movies at that. Some movies see gambling and blackjack as the central element of the storyline, while others include it as part of a different theme. But as with all films featuring gambling, they’re a rollercoaster ride from start to finish, often with big highs and the lowest lows, success and despair, all rolled into one gripping story.
The Hangover
The Hangover sees Doug Billings and his trio of best men head to none other than Las Vegas for a bachelor party ahead of his upcoming nuptials. But, after the party, Doug’s nowhere to be seen, and the best men have no recollection of the night’s events. The blackjack scene involved one of the best men, Alan, card counting at the blackjack table. It’s funny to see his brain working as he attempts to count cards to success.
Rain Man
Rain Man is one of the most famous gambling films. Tom Cruise plays the role of Charlie Babbitt, who finds out his father’s other son, Raymond, played by Dustin Hoffman, has been left the father’s entire estate. Upon discovering Raymond has savant syndrome, Charlie takes his brother on an adventure, utilising his ability to count cards when playing blackjack. He does so in the hope of raising the funds to pay off his debts.
21
21 is another gambling-themed movie where the story is built around playing live blackjack and counting cards to win. Only this time, rather than one person, it’s a group of six MIT students who have teamed up and learned the skills required to take the Las Vegas casinos for millions upon millions of dollars.
Casino
It won’t come as too much of a surprise to learn that Casino is a movie based on the goings on at a casino. Tangiers Casino, to be precise. Sam Rothstein, also known as Ace, has been tasked with running the casino by the mob, and things unfold from there. The iconic blackjack scene in Casino sees Nicky, a mobster and Ace’s friend, at the table, and he’s not a happy bunny, to say the least.
Licence to Kill
When people think of Bond and casinos, they will more than likely go immediately to Casino Royale. However, License to Kill is a great 007 movie where blackjack is on show. In License to Kill, Bond is actually challenged to a game, and as always, he comes out on top. The scene doesn’t just show 007 winning; it shows how he wins. It’d be interesting to see Bond playing online blackjack games such as Lightning Blackjack, just to see if he can master that, too.
Rounders
One of the reasons why people love gambling movies so much is because of the rollercoaster of emotions they naturally provide. The highs and lows have viewers on the edge of their seats, and in Rounders, which brings the world of underground gambling to life, even more so. Two friends have a debt to repay, and gambling to win the money required is the solution in their minds.
The Cooler
The Cooler is a gambling-themed movie where multiple elements are at play. A cooler is somebody who, when at a table such as blackjack, will cause other players to go on losing runs by their presence alone. In The Cooler movie, an employee of a Las Vegas casino falls for a waitress, which in turn angers his boss. All the while, he continues to try to ruin the luck of gamblers who have been victorious at the casino.
Jinxed
We’re heading back to Las Vegas for the last film on this list. Jinxed tells the story of a professional gambler called Harold Benson, who’s on a long winning streak because he knows he can always win against Willie Brodax, a blackjack dealer. Brodax is deemed as being jinxed, and he makes an effort to somehow break the curse, which involves attempting to win something of Bensons.
Conclusion
One thing you can be sure of where gambling movies featuring blackjack are concerned is that they’re never dull! They’re often the perfect alternative to playing blackjack games such as Quantum Blackjack Plus because you can sit back and enjoy the action from the outside, looking in rather than being involved yourself. They also often do a great job of reinforcing just how popular blackjack is and why so many love the game.
