The endless mystery and possibility that poker provides has been immortalized time and again in the movies. Films about poker have been around almost as long as film itself. The following is a sampling of some interesting poker movies.

Rounders (1998)

This poker flick stars Matt Damon. A former master poker player who has put away his cards in favor of a more honest lifestyle, he gets sucked back into the game when his friend Ed Norton needs help paying off gambling debts.

Maverick (1994)

Set in the old west, this comedy/action flick features Mel Gibson as one of the top poker players in the west. The movie follows Maverick’s crazy attempts at scrounging up $3000 to play in a winner-take-all poker tournament on a gambling boat. When fellow poker fiend Jody Foster shows up, the two get into some crazy situations.

Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)

When couple Nicolas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker finally decide to tie the knot they head for Vegas. Unfortunately, Cage gets involved in some shady poker and James Caan arranges for Cage to lose a lot of money in one game. When he offers to erase the debt for one weekend with Parker, chaos ensues when Cage becomes insanely jealous. A bunch of skydiving Elvis impersonators fit in there somewhere, too.

House of Games (1987)

This movie focuses on two con artists who spend not only the poker game trying to fool one another, but their lives, too. Lindsay Crouse plays a famous psychologist who helps those with addictive personalities. When one of her patients gets into a huge gambling debt, she tries to help him and gets pulled into a game of conspiracy with gambler/con artist Joe Mantegna.

The Sting (1973)

One of the most recalled poker scenes takes place when a pair of Chicago con artists, Paul Newman and Robert Redford, set out to avenge the murder of a good friend. Robert Shaw plays the super-mobster that they are up against.

The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

This poker movie illustrates the dream of many young poker players today. Steve McQueen decides to take on an old poker expert in hopes of winning money and fame.