Do you head straight for the blackjack table when you walk into a casino? Are you known as the person to beat when your family breaks out Monopoly?
If you have a passion for strategizing and being playfully deceitful, you’ll probably get a crack out of watching movies about games. This will give you a completely new perspective on the games you love.
Watching movies that have a match-up type of mindset can actually show you a few new moves. As you follow the characters on their journeys to be the best in the game and hone their skills, you may end up becoming a better player yourself.
At the very least, you’ll enjoy a few laughs and discover an incredibly unique genre of movies! Here are 9 of the best game-based movies worth watching.
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1. Ocean’s 11
Danny Ocean and his gang have definitely made a name for themselves in the various Ocean’s movies. Whether you put on Ocean’s 11, 12, or 13, you’re in for a whole new kind of high-stakes thrills.
The boys are conmen who’s favorite game to play is one of deceit. They’re basically a mix of thieves and magicians. They create intricate plans and master their game until they get the big bucks they’re aiming for, but not without a few obstacles and a bit of quick thinking along the way.
These movies will keep you on your toes. If you’re lucky, you might actually hit big the next time you play in a casino!
2. 21
21 is kind of like Ocean’s, but it deep dives into one of the many tricks Danny and his boys pull. The plot is based on the game of blackjack and how people count cards. It takes viewers “behind the scenes” into a card master’s mind and shows them how lucky streaks aren’t actually luck at all.
3. Focus
Focus takes high-stakes to a whole other level. The movie is about a master conman, Will Smith and his new apprentice turned love interest. The pair’s story is one without a happy ending, though.
The movie takes you through countless casino games and romantic head games. It’s a story about paying attention to what really matters in life, cleverly tied into the theme of keeping focus while under the pressure of playing big hands.
4. Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul is based on a more average, relatable character. It has nothing to do with big stakes or betting men. Rather, it’s the story of how a small-town attorney got a huge gig.
This attorney happens to be pretty good at what he does, and he has a personal interest in bingo. There’s a well-known scene in this movie when the characters play bingo, which actually creates a big shift in the plot as a whole.
5. Searching for Bobby Fischer
In addition to movies about bingo and blackjack, there are a few great films centered on the classic game of chess. Searching for Bobby Fischer is one of the best chess-based films; it’s so great it actually has a sequel!
The first movie was made in England in the early 90s. It’s the story of a young boy at the age of 7 who has a special skill for seizing his opponents’ king piece in the game of chess.
The movie begins with him beating his father and takes little Bobby on a journey to become a champion chess player. He learns a few tricks from an unlikely friend while also taking classical lessons from a professional chess coach. But along the way, Bobby has to somehow find himself, too.
6. Knights of the South Bronx
Another chess-based movie worth watching is Knights of the South Bronx. Going off the boy legend story mentioned above, Knights of the South Bronx is basically what happens to Bobby Fischer once he’s grown and retired.
The story is about a man who starts teaching at a tough inner-city school. His pupils are young and uninterested in learning; that is, until they discover he’s a chess master. This gives the man a common denominator on which to build a strong relationship with his students.
7. Endgame
Endgame is another classic chess film with a lighthearted theme to it anyone can relate to. It’s a story of a young boy who’s on a quest to bring honor back to his school’s chess team.
As he prepares to enter the state championship, his coach is there every step of the way and some interesting friends offer their support, too. Watch this film if you’re looking for an easy-going, feel-good movie.
8. Resident Evil
Resident Evil is an action-packed movie full of adventure and discovery, with a plot line based off a video game series. The movie brings the game’s characters to life in a relatable fashion many gamers say is in true likeness to how they imagined they would be.
Just as there are various gaming versions of Resident Evil, there are a handful of different movies each based on a different version.
9. Tomb Raider
Although Resident Evil is a pretty good video game turned movie, it’s hard to find one that’s more popular than Tomb Raider. This game was huge when it first came onto the scene, and it was a highly anticipated movie when Angelina Jolie landed the part of Laura Croft.
Movies About Games, Heroes, and Legends – Oh My!
No matter what your game of choice is, there’s bound to be a movie made about it. Whether you’re all about classic board games or you prefer diving into the fantasy of video games, it’s worth stepping away from the game every once in a while and turning on some movies about games instead.
Interested to see what else is out there? Click here for a few tips on how to make sure the next movie you watch – gaming or not – is a good one!