5 great gambling movies to watch on Netflix

The Sting (1973)

Directed By: George Roy Hill

The Sting is an Oscar-winning film starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford as they team up once again with George Roy Hill after the success of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. This time they play con men with gambling addictions.

The film follows Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford), who cons a dangerous man played excellently by Robert Shaw, which eventually forces him to join forces with Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) for the ultimate con. What follows is a film full of twists and turns and lots of gambling. 

The screenplay is rich with humor and character development, the direction is filled to the brim with style, and the chemistry between Newman and Redford is completely in synch. Think Clooney and Pitt from Oceans 11 levels of charm and banter. 

While this is less about the art of gambling or the lifestyle of a gambler, poker, horse races, and underground casinos all play major roles in the film and the con being played. Plus this film is just too good not to include on a list like this. If you have not seen The Sting, do yourself a favor and throw it on Netflix. The film may just be the most light-hearted fun on this list.