Why Rounders (1998) Might Be the Greatest Poker Movie of All Time

Nearly 30 years after its release, Rounders (1998) remains etched in the minds of its stars and poker fans alike. In a 2024 interview on the Rich Eisen Show, Matt Damon admitted that he still had a strong interest in making a sequel to the now-cult classic poker drama that he starred in alongside Ed Norton. “So much has happened in the poker world in the last 25 years, it would be fun to catch up with those guys,” Damon said, reflecting on the underground world of high-stakes poker the film explored.

Upon its release in September 1998, Rounders grossed $22.9 million against a $12 million budget, a respectable return but not an immediate blockbuster. However, thanks to the explosion of poker’s popularity in the years that followed, the film found a second life. It became a touchstone for both casual players and professional card sharks, many of whom credit it as a pivotal influence in their poker journeys.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Rounders’ cultural impact and exactly how it helped the poker industry thrive.

The story that captivated poker fans

At its core, Rounders is a classic redemption story wrapped in the world of high-stakes poker. Matt Damon plays Mike McDermott, a gifted poker player who dreams of making it big. After losing his entire bankroll to the ruthless Russian mobster Teddy KGB (played by John Malkovich), Mike swears off gambling and focuses on law school. However, when his childhood friend Worm (Ed Norton) is released from prison and brings a trail of debt with him, Mike is drawn back into the underground poker scene to bail his friend out.

The film captures the tension and strategy of poker through gripping card games, with one of the most iconic scenes being Mike’s final showdown against Teddy KGB. The intense psychological battle between the two is punctuated by KGB’s eccentric mannerisms and Mike’s steely determination, making for one of the best poker face-offs ever put on screen. In the end, Mike dominates the table and makes the bold decision to drop out of law school. He then heads to Las Vegas, leaving behind the safety of a conventional career for the uncertain world of professional gambling.

A film that brought poker to the mainstream

Beyond its compelling story, Rounders played a crucial role in bringing poker to a wider audience. Both Damon and Norton took their roles seriously, immersing themselves in the poker world to bring authenticity to their performances. Damon even entered the 1998 World Series of Poker while researching his role, where he famously lost $25,000 to poker legend Doyle Brunson. Holding two kings, Damon was crushed when Brunson revealed his pocket aces, a moment that mirrored the film’s themes of high-risk, high-reward play.

Damon’s love for poker didn’t stop there. In 2010, he competed in the WSOP main event, joining fellow celebrities like Ben Affleck and Ray Romano. Although he didn’t win, his participation drew major attention to the tournament. Over the years, he has remained an active part of the poker community, participating in events such as the 2009 Ante Up for Africa charity tournament, which attracted 137 players and donated all winnings to charity.

More recently, in 2020, Damon and Affleck organized a charity poker tournament hosted on America’s Card Room. The event required a $10,000 donation to enter and featured an all-star lineup including Adam Sandler, Tom Brady, Jason Bateman, and Tobey Maguire. By the end of the night, they had raised around $1.75 million for Feeding America, the country’s largest hunger-relief organization. Damon’s ongoing involvement in the poker world is a testament to Rounders’ lasting influence—not just as a movie, but as a cultural phenomenon that helped propel poker into the mainstream.

Rounders and the poker boom

While Rounders may not have been a box office juggernaut in 1998, its impact on the poker industry is undeniable. The film’s release coincided with the early days of online poker, a phenomenon that would explode in the early 2000s. One of the biggest names in modern poker, Chris Moneymaker, has openly credited Rounders as a major inspiration for his career. Moneymaker’s 2003 WSOP victory—after qualifying through an online satellite tournament—helped ignite the “poker boom,” attracting countless new players to the game.

In addition to inspiring the next generation of poker pros, Rounders also contributed to the evolution of how poker was presented on television. One of the biggest innovations in televised poker—the “hole card” camera view—was inspired by the film. According to co-writer Brian Koppelman, the final poker scene was originally written without showing Mike’s cards. However, during test screenings, the filmmakers experimented by revealing that Mike had flopped a straight. The reaction was electric. “They were completely engaged. It was exactly the hole-card phenomenon,” Koppelman explained in a 2013 Grantland interview. This technique is now a staple in televised poker, allowing viewers to experience the game from the players’ perspective.

The lasting legacy of Rounders

Gambling-themed movies continue to thrive, though in recent years, the focus has shifted from poker to sports betting. With sports betting now legalized in 38 states and the District of Columbia, films like Final Wager (2024) have capitalized on the growing interest. The film, starring Hamm Duenas, explores the high-stakes world of sports betting, with Duenas drawing from his own experiences with gambling to bring authenticity to the story. “No matter what unique angle you might think you have as a bettor, it’s not true,” Duenas said in an interview. “The house always wins.”

Despite the shift toward sports betting, Rounders remains the definitive poker film. Its gritty portrayal of underground poker, its influence on professional players, and its role in shaping how poker is presented on television all contribute to its enduring legacy. With Damon still eager to revisit the world of Rounders, fans may yet get a sequel. Whether or not that happens, one thing is certain—Rounders isn’t just a great poker movie, it’s the poker movie.

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