Gaming movies to watch this holiday season

The online sports and gaming industry is one of the world’s most lucrative and popular, in significant part thanks to two of its great inventions and assets: in recent years, online games portals that have started to lead the industry as the next big thing, and the many media adaptations on the subject have established it as a luxurious, exciting and profitable hobby or job.

There is huge variety where games are concerned, traditional, console and online (though nowadays the majority of the people prefer online). Some offer bonuses, and to find the best ones there are websites such as betting.com/gb/betting-sites that list them by region. For movies, there are endless streaming services offering the full range, but to help make a choice, here are some classic sports and gaming films to check out.

The Gambler

The American criminal film starring James Caan, Paul Sorvino and Lauren Hutton comes from the astounding director, Karel Reisz. The 1974 movie earned a Golden Globe nomination, which is an indicator of its sheer quality. 

The plot revolves around an English professor from Harvard University, and his life playing games. Axel Freed is the main character who is left with obligations that, at one point in the film, jeopardise his friendship with Billie, a love interest for the main character. The professor then goes to Las Vegas to pursue his losses, completely neglecting his obligations. But his methods mean he is able to lose all of the money he has just won, making the plot interesting as the protagonist pushes himself into increasingly risky situations.

Two for the Money

Sporting an amazing cast with Al Pacino, Armand Assante, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo and Carly pope in an American sports drama makes for an entertaining film with a core sports theme. It was released under DJ Caruso’s direction back in 2005. 

The protagonist is former college football standout Brandon Lang, facing the end of his playing days due to an irreparable injury, which leads him to look for an alternative job path, such as football game handicapping. The story sees him launch a brand-new company centred on sports, and their fame and wealth soar until events take a sharp turn for the worst. Paired with a joyful conclusion that brings hope to many people, this is a great movie to watch.

Lay the Favourite

Lay the Favourite is a 2021 American comedy drama directed by Stephen Frears. It is based on Beth Raymer’s autobiography of the same name and stars Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joshua Jackson and Rebecca Hall.

The story follows the female lead as she engages in gaming activities after getting bored with her life in Florida. The journey takes her to Las Vegas, where she first takes on honest work as a cocktail waitress. There, she meets a young woman named Holly who introduces her to a professional player, Dink Heimowitz, a man that follows the fast-changing odds at sporting events and has many people working for him. This serves as the catalyst for the journey Beth will go through in the movie. 

The film has a clear message, which Beth Raymer has noted in real life, all while telling a compelling story of a young woman who discovers gaming and her aptitude for it.

The editorial unit