The Greatest Blackjack and Card Counting Movies

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Casino movies – don’t we just love them? We’ve all imagined ourselves as one or more of the male or female characters in Casino Royale (1967, 2006), Casino (1995), The Sting (1973), Maverick (1994) and The Gambler (1974, 2014). But despite the fact that there is a tonne of casino-themed movies like the ones we’ve just mentioned, blackjack-themed movies that tell about the game are not so many. Surely, there are half a dozen movies named ‘blackjack’ that have nothing to do with the game itself. Then, there are those films that merely use blackjack as a bait to get people’s attention.

Luckily, there are still some – both documentaries and feature films – worth mentioning, so let’s get started. We’ll give you the very best titles, just a few in each genre, and then we’ll mention some interesting cases.

Blackjack Documentaries

Starting with documentaries, we’ll first explain why we need such movies. You see, in the fast-paced world that we live in, we’re often pressed for time. As much as we’d like to sit and read a book for a couple of hours, highlight the most important parts, and reread it whenever needed, we hardly ever do that. And why bother when we can simply watch an hour-long documentary loaded with information. You can sit back and let the film make its imprint on your mind. Should you happen to need a break or don’t have time to watch it in its entirety, just pause it and get back to it later. And though feature films are mighty entertaining, if you want to learn the rules of the game or how to count cards step by step, you’d better grab a documentary. No need to waste time searching now as we’ve selected the very best and put them here for you to enjoy.

The Player: Secrets of a Vegas Whale (2014)

This 45-minute Bloomberg documentary tells the story of Don Johnson – a high roller who won $15 million in one winning streak. He made a lot of money in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Because he is a whale, some of the biggest casinos wanted his business and were prepared to give anything to get it. Mistakenly thinking Don was a mediocre player, they offered him perks that decreased the house edge of blackjack even further. Disregarding all the distractions casinos use to put players’ attention to sleep, such as VIP rooms, celebrities, personal chefs, he managed to negotiate some pretty good deals. For instance, he insisted on special rules that worked to his advantage and made the house edge practically non-existent. Furthermore, he had special rules for the dealer and when the dealer made a mistake, which was bound to happen sooner or later, it meant free play for him. He explains how he managed to master the game, how he got to know everything he needed to turn the tables and steal the house edge. He also shares the tricks he used to distract the dealers and cause them to make mistakes. Finally, he gives some tips on what rules work to a player’s advantage.

60 Minutes to Winning Blackjack (2005)

This instructional video is available as a DVD or a box set from the Blackjack Institute. If you’d like to get the basics of blackjack, this is just what you need. Produced and directed by Eliot Brodsky, the tutorial covers everything from the basics of playing blackjack to the techniques of card counting. Moreover, everything is explained in simple terms and is easy to follow. That makes it a great learning tool for beginners as well. The DVD, which is hosted by MIT team member Mike Aponte, incudes visual demonstrations and interactive exercises to help you understand the rules of blackjack. Unlike some other tutorials, this one will keep you interested till the end. Use the extras on the DVD to practice your card counting interactively. This DVD boasts quality of production and covers all the topics associated with blackjack without going into too much detail. So, if you’re look for a more advanced instructional material, this may seem rather simplistic. You’d still probably find it interesting to watch because, as the DVD sleeve says, ‘MIT students reveal their secrets.’

Breaking Vegas Documentary: The True Story of The MIT Blackjack Team (2004)

This is another documentary that details the experience of the MIT blackjack team. This one is based on the famous book by Ben Mezrich ‘Bringing Down the House’. That is the same book that highly successful movie 21 was based upon. This one, however, is a documentary produced in association with the History Channel, that is without the added storylines and drama of the feature film. Also, this documentary includes some of the big names from the golden era of the notorious MIT team, such as Jon Hirschtick, Semyon Dukach and Katie Byl. In the entertaining film, you’ll also meet blackjack theorist Edward O. Thorp and author Ben Mezrich, along with an investigator and a casino detective. Not only will you have the chance to look into the real story of the MIT team thanks to the exclusive interviews in this film but you’ll get an insight on the Las Vegas history of cheating, card counting theory and what measures casinos take in order to prevent it. Although it’s a great documentary, this film will make you feel as if you’re watching a feature movie because of its thrilling intensity.

Blackjack Feature Films

As much as learning in its straightforward form is important, sometimes we just want to relax on the couch and put a nice, engaging movie on. We want to be swept off our feet and transported to a wonderful world of possibilities. And if you like blackjack, you’d definitely want to combine the recreational factor of watching a film with the special thrill of your favourite card game. If that is the case, you’d want to check the films we have prepared for you. Some are an astounding box office success, others are a touching personal story but what they all have in common is that they are serious about blackjack. Once again, we’re not going to give you an exhaustive list. Instead, we’ll focus on the most notable movie titles – the crème de la crème of blackjack and card counting movies.

21 (2008)

If there was a single best movie depicting blackjack, it would be this one. Though a relatively new one, it has managed to acquire a star status in the genre. It’s not the first movie based on Ben Mezrich’s influential book ‘Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions’ but it’s definitely the most well-known. What has made the film so successful? Well, despite many people’s accusations for casting Caucasian actors to portray the characters of Asian MIT students, director Robert Luketic and his team have done a great job. The film is not only entertaining and to the point but it has blackjack tricks and tips, mathematical brain teasers, card counting explained and put to practice and even gambling addiction. The main actors – Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth – give the performance to match the big-budget film. All in all, this film is deservingly the first to pop up in many people’s heads at the mentioning of blackjack. It has made many aware of card counting and how one could improve their game and lower the house edge.

Croupier (1998)

This film noir strikes home with its British charm. It starts innocently when a wannabe writer sells his soul by getting a job as a croupier at a London casino. He deludes himself that he’s there just so he can explore the world of gambling and use that experience to write his novel as he gets stuck deeper and deeper into the dark night-time reality of sad losers, cheats, and desperate people standing at both sides of the casino table. It’s a highly underappreciated film that is worth watching more than once. It depicts the casino reality from the other perspective – that of the dealer. It’s all about blackjack and casino games. Yet, it’s a thriller that will keep you interested till the end. As its trailer says, it’s the ‘British thriller that took America by storm’.

The Hangover (2009)

This film is mainly about Las Vegas as the ultimate bachelor party location. Unlike the other two movies in this category, this one isn’t about blackjack exclusively. It’s not even that much about gambling. However, it’s set in iconic Las Vegas and because of its huge success, its casino scene has also become quite popular and one of the most recognisable blackjack scenes. Hence, many think of it when asked about a blackjack movie. In a memorable car scene, we see the four main characters discuss if they should gamble. Alan, played by Zach Galifianakis, is holding a copy of the ‘The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book’ by Lance Humble. There are some notable references in the film. The first one’s to Rain Man (1988) – another very influential movie with a memorable blackjack scene – that’s when two of the friends are shown descending on the escalator on entering the casino. Also, they need to win the same amount of money as in the Dustin Hoffman film – $80,000. Another reference is made to ’21’ – a few moments after starting the game of blackjack, Alan is seen moving his lips as he’s counting cards with complex mathematical equations floating in midair – that refers directly to ’21’ when they’re counting cards.

Honourable Mentions

Last but not least, we’re going to list a few movies that are not so much about BJ. However, they have certain advantages for blackjack fans, such as memorable blackjack scenes. Moreover, they are important movies on their own. One of them is a highly-acclaimed, timeless classic, the other is a box office success and the third one a curious look behind the scenes of Las Vegas and its casino business. Although they don’t focus on blackjack and card counting exclusively, these are our secret tip for extra entertainment for blackjack fans.

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

This award-winning classic movie based on the book by Ken Kesey, which has long found its special place into the American literary canon, offers a touching story, memorable play by the talented cast and, last but not least, a special blackjack scene. Watch Jack Nicholson, as McMurphy, explain what the card game is all about. It was no coincidence that the movie won major awards at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes in 1975 and the BAFTA Awards the following year.

Casino Wars: Beating Vegas (2011)

This National Geographic documentary will give you 45 minutes of information on the daily war between cheaters and casino security. Professionals from major casino surveillance teams share their experience. There are examples of some interesting cheats, including a complex craps scam by a number of people working together using a juice dice, a laser device that predicts where the ball would stop on the roulette wheel, a slots cheat with 30 years of experience stealing from casinos and 26 criminal charges. There is, of course, a blackjack story, too, told by Josh Axelrad – the author of the book ‘Repeat Until Rich’. Apart from the classic examples of using the light wand in cheating slots, for instance, there are also some of the latest tricks in surveillance – top-notch computer programs, 360 cameras and choke points.

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