It’s hardly a Hollywood secret, but there are more and more films centred around one of the most universally loved casino games available. Blackjack has been a popular game in the gambling scene for centuries now, but it’s only in the modern era that the worldwide appreciation has been translated on to the big screen.
Whether the entire film is centred on blackjack or merely contains snippets of the game, Hollywood directors are turning to casino-related movies more and more frequently.
The attraction and lure is as strong as ever, and before you read through our list of the best blackjack movies, you can check out Betfair’s blackjack online lobby right here.
Stacy’s Knights
Director Jim Wilson deserves more plaudits for the success of Stacy’s Knights, which perfectly captures the highs and lows of playing blackjack. Kevin Costner also stars in the 1983 flick, playing Will, who teaches Stacy (Andra Millian), how to play blackjack and more notably, how to card count.
Stacy starts to reap the benefits of her new-found skills in the casinos, but her winning streak is halted somewhat when the casino employs cheat dealers and have Will bumped off. Stacy is clearly at a loss with what to do next, so she builds her own team of counters in a ploy for revenge and ends up with the last laugh.
Rain Man
The winner of four Oscars, Rain Man is perhaps one of the most popular blackjack and card counting films that’s ever been released.
Starring Tom Cruise (Charlie) and the brilliant Dustin Hoffman (Raymond), the two siblings set off on a road trip to Las Vegas to win big at the casinos, after Charlie discovers his half-brother’s undiscovered ability to count cards.
Raymond’s true talents are simply amazing and owing to his autism, make it near-damn impossible for him to lose. Charlie was originally miffed after being spurned in their father’s will, so takes Raymond with him on an unexpected journey that demonstrates some of the best blackjack scenes ever witnessed in film.
The Last Casino
If you haven’t actually seen The Last Casino, the chances are you’ll be more than familiar with the plot. Charles Martin Smith plays Doug Barnes, a maths professor who recruits three bright students and teaches them to count blackjack cards and in turn, records a tidy profit. Worked it out yet? If not, then you should have!
The film is based on the true events of The MIT Blackjack Team, who hit fame after successfully card counting their way through various casinos led by Bill Kaplan. Kaplan himself delayed his own entry into Harvard University so he could devise a mathematics model that would ensure his success at blackjack.
