Hollywood has often used casino and gambling scenes to show tension between characters, and this has led to some great blackjack scenes on film.
The game is easier for viewers to understand than other card games, making it easier for viewers to follow the action.
While it is very popular with all generations, recent advances in technology have seen its popularity grow even further, as online blackjack sites go from strength to strength.
So many have sprung up that it can be difficult to know which one to choose.
Luckily, scams.info list the best online blackjack sites in the UK, so you make an informed decision if you want to have a go and see if you can do as well as the characters in these scenes.
21 (2008)
Jim Sturgess in 21 – Credit: Columbia Pictures
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As expected for a movie all about blackjack, there are plenty of scenes here to choose from.
Kevin Spacey teaches a team of maths graduates to count cards and beat the top casinos, and the first scene where Jim Sturgess walks around the tables, spotting all his teammates is one of the best.
The movie shows us how their training is put into practice and the audience, in on the secret, feel part of the unfolding drama.
Rain Man (1988)
Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise in Rain Man – Credit: MGM Studios
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The culmination of the movie that sees Charlie (Tom Cruise) bonding with his long-lost autistic brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), is set in the casinos of Las Vegas.
Raymond’s talent for maths enables the brothers to count cards at the blackjack table, winning over $86,000.
While the counting isn’t portrayed with a realistic method, it is the emotional drama of the moment that really captivates the audience.
We know that Charlie is only using his brother for the money, which makes Raymond’s eagerness to please him heart-breaking.
The film was a huge success and remains one of the inspirations for modern casino dramas.
The Hangover (2009)
The Hangover has a great blackjack scene in it – Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
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Blackjack scenes don’t have to be tense, they can have comedy value too, as shown to brilliant effect in The Hangover.
Having travelled to Las Vegas for a stag party, the group of friends wake up to find the groom missing and have to hilariously retrace their steps to find him.
Believing to have been kidnapped by a gangster, they head to the blackjack tables to try and win the ransom money.
It’s all down to Alan (Zach Galifianakis) who suggests implementing methods he read in a book.
The scene is played extremely well and manages to create tension and laughs in equal measures.
You’ll have to watch the movie to find out how it all ends.
The Hangover was a huge success all over the world, so much so that two further films followed, turning the franchise into a hilarious trilogy.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is another movie with a great blackjack scene in it – Credit: New Line Cinema
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Another comedic scene which shows exactly how clueless the titular character actually is.
Sidling up to the villainous Number 2 (Robert Wagner), Powers attempts to appear as cool and intimidating and fails spectacularly.
Number 2, shirking the dealer’s advice, hits on a 17, claiming that he likes to live dangerously.
Of course, he is cheating and knows that the next card is a 4.
Powers utters the same phrase and also ignores the dealer’s advice, except this results in him standing on 5.
Instead of looking suave and daring, he only ends up looking foolish, much to the delight of the audience.
Croupier (1998)
Clive Owen in Croupier – Credit: FilmFour
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One that shows the game from a different perspective now, Croupier is the story of a blackjack dealer.
Jack (Clive Owen) is an aspiring writer who takes a job in the pits to pay the bills.
What was supposed to be a temporary job starts to overtake his life, as Jack gets drawn into the world of the casino and its inhabitants.
He starts to despise the gamblers and rejoices when they lose, showing much of the less-glamourous side of blackjack.
As expected, there are many blackjack scenes to choose from in the film, all played for gritty realism.
This British movie was more of an indie hit than a global blockbuster, which is a shame because it’s very good.
These are the best blackjack scenes ever put to film
These are the best blackjack scenes in movies – Credit: Pexels
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These are just a few of the best blackjack scenes in movies, but there are plenty more to watch as well.
Whether you’re a fan of the game itself or just a movie buff looking for new films to watch, there’s a lot of fun to be had in Hollywood’s casinos.
Blackjack scenes are full of emotions, ranging from high tension hands to hilarious situation comedy.
Whether you get to see the characters win it all or sink into despair as their bankroll dribbles away, you’ll come away from the scene with a new respect for blackjack players, and maybe even a desire to give it a go yourself.
What do you make of this list?
Are they any movies with great blackjack scenes in them we missed?
If so, let us know in the comments below.
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