Top 10 Poker Action Films

Description: A young poker player, known as The Cincinnati Kid, challenges the legendary Lancey Howard in a high-stakes game of five-card stud. The film is a study in tension and poker strategy.

Fact: Steve McQueen, who plays the Kid, was a poker enthusiast in real life. The film was one of the first to show poker in a realistic light.

Description: This comedy-western film stars Mel Gibson as Bret Maverick, a poker player who must win a high-stakes tournament to join a legendary poker game. It's filled with action, humor, and card-playing prowess.

Fact: The film was inspired by the 1950s TV series of the same name. Real poker players were used as extras in the tournament scenes.

Description: A classic in the poker genre, "Rounders" follows a law student who returns to the underground poker scene to pay off a gambling debt. The film is packed with memorable poker games and intense action.

Fact: The film features real-life poker pros like Johnny Chan, who plays himself. Matt Damon learned poker for his role, which helped him in real-life poker games.

Description: In this film, a casino "cooler" who brings bad luck to gamblers falls in love, which changes his luck. The story revolves around poker games and the casino's underworld.

Fact: William H. Macy, who plays the cooler, was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance. The film was shot in Las Vegas to capture the authentic casino atmosphere.

Description: A group of professional card sharps pull off a heist during a high-stakes poker game. The film blends poker strategy with action and intrigue, making for a thrilling watch.

Fact: The film features real-life poker players like Chris Penn and Jamie Foxx, who learned poker for their roles.

Description: While primarily a James Bond film, "Casino Royale" includes a pivotal poker game that sets the stage for the rest of the movie's action. Bond's poker skills are as crucial as his spycraft.

Fact: The poker game was designed by a professional poker player to ensure authenticity. Daniel Craig, who plays Bond, had to learn poker for the role.

Description: This film follows a former military interrogator who now makes a living as a professional poker player. His journey takes a dark turn when he's drawn into a high-stakes revenge plot. It's a gripping tale of redemption, poker, and action.

Fact: The film was directed by Paul Schrader, known for his work on "Taxi Driver." The poker scenes were meticulously crafted to be authentic.

Description: Mark Wahlberg stars as a literature professor with a gambling addiction who gets entangled in a dangerous world of high-stakes poker and crime. It's a modern take on the classic story.

Fact: The film is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, with Wahlberg's character being a more contemporary version of the original.

Description: Based on the true story of Molly Bloom, this film dives into the world of high-stakes poker games, where action and drama are in no short supply. It's a thrilling ride through the underground poker scene.

Fact: Aaron Sorkin, known for his fast-paced dialogue, wrote and directed this film. Jessica Chastain underwent extensive poker training for her role.

Description: Guy Ritchie's debut film features a group of friends who get involved in a high-stakes poker game that goes terribly wrong, leading to a series of comedic and action-packed events.

Fact: The film was made on a shoestring budget but became a cult classic. The poker scenes were filmed in real-time to capture the tension.