Casino games have always been a source of inspiration for filmmakers and screenwriters.
Films from the early to mid-20th century, as well as some of the first documentary videos from the late 19th century, showcased casino scenes and people playing card games.
It is no surprise that the casino industry attracted the attention of the film industry. After all, the casino industry is one of the most popular and profitable industries in the world.
It was estimated that around 26% of the world’s population takes part in casino games every year. According to another report, the online casino gaming market by itself reached the value of $63.5 billion USD in 2022.
These numbers are expected to go up over the next few years, indicating that the casino industry’s expansion is far from over.
But why are filmmakers and screenwriters choosing blackjack out of all casino games for many film scenes? What are some of the best blackjack scenes in movies?
This article will answer these questions and provide some information on the game of blackjack itself.
Why blackjack?
Screenwriters and filmmakers love including a blackjack scene in a film for three main reasons.
- For character development
Blackjack is a game that combines luck and strategy. Great blackjack players are very good at using quick math and probability to increase their winnings.
Although luck is also a factor, it is not the main factor. A player who demonstrates consistent and great blackjack skills and techniques will outperform a lucky player.
These aspects of blackjack are some of the reasons why screenwriters love using blackjack to reveal a character’s traits, strengths and overall personality.
A character who is excellent at blackjack will be perceived by the audience as lucky, very smart, precise, and good at assessing the potential risks, losses and gains. Overall, they seem very cool.
With just a simple blackjack scene, the screenwriters can deliver some good character development and secure the public’s perception of the character.
- For the thrill and suspense
Blackjack is a game that is thrilling and exciting. it increases players and viewers adrenaline levels by creating suspense: will the player lose or win?
What will happen if he loses?
The stakes can be very high in a blackjack film scene, particularly if the character has bet all their money on the game or is betting their life or someone else’s life on it.
The dynamic of the game, its pace and its rules can lead to suspense. It can also be used to create or reveal tensions between characters.
- For the aesthetic and cinematography
Casinos have some of the most aesthetic atmospheres and designs in the world.
Filmmakers usually love capturing the soft lighting, colours, unique furniture, architecture and overall design of these spaces for the film’s cinematography.
Best blackjack scenes in films
Here are some of the best blackjack scenes in the history of cinema:
- The Hangover (2009) – dir. Todd Phillips
- Casino (1995) – dir. Martin Scorsese
- James Bond: Licence to Kill (1989) – dir. John Glen
- Rain Man (1989) – dir. Barry Levinson
But let us focus on two scenes in particular.
- Casino (1995) – dir. Martin Scorsese
Scorsese is a living legend of cinema and one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation. In his film Casino, he captures one of the best blackjack scenes in film history.
The scene is hilarious thanks to a great performance by Joe Pesci. Although it is a funny and entertaining scene, it is not a blackjack tutorial.
If any casino player behaved the way Pesci’s character did at a blackjack table, they would be kicked off the premises. Insulting, mocking, intimidating and throwing cards at a live blackjack dealer is never okay (although it does make for a memorable scene).
- Rain Man (1989) – dir. Barry Levinson
In Rain Man, Tom Cruise’s character takes his brother, an autistic-savant played by Dustin Hoffman, to a casino in order to use his brother’s skills and accumulate winnings.
This scene is very memorable and has become iconic with its line “Rain Man, let’s play some cards”. Many movie buffs still reference this scene and this line when playing card games.
However, despite the actors’ great performances, this scene is not really believable. The autistic-savant wins too much during that scene.
Instead of bluffing during the round, he reveals his hand by saying “lots of them” which blackjack players would never do. It would automatically attract the attention of the dealer.
Instead, the dealer takes little notice of this.
The way blackjack was portrayed in that scene was not entirely realistic. No player would behave the way Rain Man did and still win as much as he did.
Despite these small issues, which must be forgiven as it is cinema, the scene is great and remains one of the top blackjack scenes in film history.
Final thoughts
This article listed a few of the best blackjack scenes in film. As mentioned above, blackjack is a great tool to advance character development, create suspense, and contribute to the film’s cinematography.
