The Best Poker Movie Scenes of All-Time

When it comes to poker, conveying realism in film is a challenge.

Poker’s essence and intensity are difficult to capture.  Its subtleties are invisible to the naked eye.

In real life, most of the time, poker players sit around.  They say nothing.  They do nothing.  There’s little or no action.  The game can be wickedly dull — not just to watch but to play.  That’s not exactly the cinematic backdrop you want for a great movie.

For this reason, films have a tendency to amplify confrontation.  Key hands are wildly exaggerated.  Real high-stakes poker games and major tournaments are often won with ace high or a single pair.  But in the movies, straight flushes typically steamroll full-houses.