The casino has acted as a popular setting for Hollywood blockbusters for
many years. Not only do gambling houses evoke feelings of excitement and
risk in viewers, but the games also act as an excellent backdrop for
conversation. That’s why the casino table trope has been used so many
times in
James Bond
movies. With the rise of the online gambling industry, it could be argued
that casino films need to adapt. 2023 could be the year that begins the
shift towards a new wave of gambling offerings on the big screen.
Time for a Modern Twist on Blackjack Offerings
Of all the casino games used in film, blackjack has been the most
prevalent. It’s the most popular card game in the world thanks to its
simplicity, which helps to translate it easily on the screen. It doesn’t
take long for filmmakers to explain the rules and for viewers to follow
the action. The way people play
blackjack
has changed in recent years, though, with most of the action now taking
place online. This has brought about a wide range of new options,
including Super Stakes Blackjack, Multihand Blackjack, and even themed
games like Quantum Blackjack Plus.
Filmmakers who want to create blackjack movies now need to consider the
way the game has changed and look at strategies to incorporate these new
themes. That’s because modern audiences have grown up with these titles,
and more players in the future will start learning about blackjack in this
way. Indeed, some of the old methods of playing blackjack are impossible
in the contemporary era.
For example, one thing that has often been a recurring theme in blackjack
movies is the concept of card counting. This is when skilled players keep
track of the cards and make predictions about whether a high or low-value
card will come next. That means that they can choose the best times to
double, hit, and stand. Some of the movies that have used this theme well
include Barry Levinson’s Rain Man in 1988 and Robert Luketic’s 21 in
2008.
A trailer for 21.
Nowadays, however, the idea of card counting is almost obsolete. Players
are unable to employ the same methods that card sharks of the past used
for numerous reasons. Casinos have developed ways to mitigate against the
strategy, such as using multiple decks of cards and shuffling them more
frequently. There are also more cameras around to keep track of players
who could be working together. Card counting, therefore, could be a no go
for filmmakers now. Instead, they could look to make films about the
modern game. For instance, a player who is skilled at Multihand Blackjack
and quickfire games could be fun to watch on the screen.
How Could Poker Movies Be Adapted for the 2020s?
Some of the best poker movies of all time were released before the poker
boom in the 2000s and even helped to inspire the game’s rise to worldwide
notoriety on the internet. These films still stand up to scrutiny today,
but if they were released now, they would have to be adapted to take
modern poker-playing methods into account.
Rounders is the most famous film in poker circles, and the 1998 offering
from John Dahl was released just before poker started to get big after the
turn of the millennium. It featured The
Bourne
Identity star Matt Damon and Edward Norton of Fight Club as a pair of
highly skilled card sharks, with the former a particularly gifted player
able to read his opponents. To the inexperienced player, the film was
great to watch. However, expert poker players who watch it back find it
hard to believe some of the suboptimal plays that occur in the
movie.
Casino Royale was another popular poker movie that dropped in 2006 at the
height of the poker boom. Martin Campbell managed to portray the tension
of a high-stakes poker game supremely. However, there were some
unrealistic moments, such as the final hand in which every player at the
table had flopped a monster.
A trailer for Casino Royale.
Filmmakers who want to make poker movies nowadays need to be careful
because many viewers know more about the game than ever. They will easily
spot when unrealistic things happen, or when players make incorrect moves.
There’s also a much greater focus on the mathematical side of the game
rather than the psychological now, which is why Rounders would have to be
significantly adjusted if it were to be remade.
An effective poker film in 2023 could be one that details the rise of an
online player and shows how they adapted to the live scene, perhaps
culminating in a run at the World Series of Poker Main Event. That would
be realistic as plenty of amateur players have won that tournament. For
instance, Scott Blumstein’s
success
in 2017 is well documented.
Gambling Could Be Combined with Other Futuristic Themes
It’s safe to say that with the rise of the online gambling scene, many
methods of portraying casinos on screen are outdated. Today’s viewers
would find it easier to relate to someone live streaming a table game than
a player sitting face-to-face with a dealer in a land-based casino.
Therefore, any new casino-themed movies in 2023 and beyond should take
this into account.
Filmmakers could also consider what the gambling industry could look like
in another ten years’ time, as this would help to improve the longevity of
their offerings. For example, it’s expected that virtual reality could
play a massive part in the sector once it enters the mainstream. A movie
that combines card games like blackjack and poker with a metaverse-style
Ready Player One setting could be a major hit.
It feels as though the film industry is on the cusp of a new wave of
gambling movies. 2023 may not be the exact year that the shift occurs, but
there should be a gradual move away from the pre-internet ideas about how
to show gambling on screen.