Swiss-Austrian director Edward Berger is on a roll. The 55-year old filmmaker made a name for himself on the world stage in 2023, when his German World War I epic, All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), bagged four Oscars, including a best international feature prize.
Berger followed this up with his first English-language film, the Vatican-set thriller, Conclave (2024), which was lauded critically and commercially, garnering prizes such as best film at the 2025 Bafta Film Awards.
The director is now gearing up for the release of his latest film, the Macao-shot Ballad of a Small Player, which will hold limited theatrical screenings in October and debut on Netflix on 29 October.
Adapted from the 2014 novel of the same name by Lawrence Osborne, Ballad of a Small Player follows the story of Doyle, an English gambling addict who forms a unique bond with a Chinese woman while trying to hide from his past in Macao.
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“It’s a dramatic opera with a good ending,” Berger said on the sidelines of an event earlier this year.
Acclaimed Irish actor, Colin Farrell, leads a cast that includes Fala Chen, Tilda Swinton, Alex Jennings and Deanie Ip. While details remain scarce, Berger revealed in an Empire interview that Farrell’s “incredible warmth and likeability” allow audiences to like Doyle, despite his behaviour. Meanwhile, Swinton is set to play a detective trying to apprehend Doyle.
Given Berger’s pedigree, expectations are already high for the film, with Variety already listing it as a potential Best Picture candidate for next year’s Oscars.
Whether or not the film lives up to expectations remains to be seen. For now, why not satisfy your craving for gambling films by checking out these other quality titles available on Netflix and other streaming services?
Casino Tycoon I and Casino Tycoon II (both 1992)
Hong Kong actor Andy Lau has long been a mainstay in Hong Kong’s gambling genre, starring in titles such as God of Gamblers (1989) and From Vegas to Macau II and III (2015 to 2016). Netflix Macao currently doesn’t have these films available, but you can still stream other Andy Lau vehicles of this genre such as The Conman (1998), Fat Choi Spirit (2002) and the Casino Tycoon duology.
The latter is loosely inspired by the real life story of Macao gaming magnate, Stanley Ho, although the main character’s name has been changed to Benny Ho. Much like his real-life counterpart, Ho flees to Macao after the Japanese invade Hong Kong during World War II.
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Once in Macao, Lau’s character embarks on a journey that sees him rise to the top echelons of Macao’s gaming industry. As Ho settles in the territory and starts a family, he must also contend with business rivals who threaten the future of his casino empire.
A sequel that jumps forward in time by around 20 years was released later the same year, focusing on an older Ho’s casino exploits, his attempt to stay at the top and his interactions with his daughter’s new boyfriend, who may not have his best interests at heart.
Casino (1995)
Directed by maestro Martin Scorsese, Casino is a crime epic set against the backdrop of the mob’s wax and wane in Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s. While the mob’s machinations form the crux of the film, Scorsese also weaves a sweeping tale of love, friendship, marriage, betrayal and tragedy.
Robert De Niro plays Ace, an expert gambler whose talents are rewarded by his mafia associates when they put him in charge of their Las Vegas casino. Over the ensuing decade, Ace helps the mafia earn a fortune through cash skimming operations, all the while navigating a tumultuous marriage with former prostitute Ginger (Sharon Stone) and an equally rocky relationship with his unhinged friend Nicky (Joe Pesci).
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Even at around 3 hours long, Casino is never a slog. Thanks to Scorsese’s masterful direction and the editing of his long-time collaborator, Thelma Schoonmaker, the film moves at a brisk and energetic pace, allowing audiences to appreciate the development of the various characters.
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
One of the more tragic films in the casino genre, Leaving Las Vegas follows an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter named Ben Sanderson (Nicholas Cage) who decides to drink himself to death in Las Vegas after losing his family and job. While in Sin City, the former screenwriter meets prostitute Sera (Elisabeth Shue), forming a close bond with her that threatens to derail due to his self-destructive behaviour.
Although casinos and gambling are a recurring presence in Leaving Las Vegas, they play second-fiddle to Sanderson and Sera’s relationship, which forms the heart of the film.
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As renowned film critic, Roger Ebert, puts it, “the story is about two wounded, desperate, marginal people, and how they create for each other a measure of grace.” Despite ostensibly playing archetypes of “the drunk” and the “whore with a heart of gold,” Cage and Shue turn in performances that Ebert says “make these cliches into unforgettable people.”
Fittingly, Cage was awarded with an Oscar for Best Actor in 1995.
Casino Royale (2006)
As the 21st film in the James Bond franchise, Casino Royale marked a return to form for the fictional spy, who had been bogged down by stale plotlines and a lack of realism. Taking on the role of Bond is Daniel Craig, who eschews his predecessor, Pierce Brosnan’s suave and charming depiction of the character in favour of a darker and more complex characterisation.
The film follows Bond as he undertakes his first mission as a lethal 007 agent, which involves bringing down a terrorist-linked banker Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) in a high-stakes poker game.
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Unlike previous Bond movies where casino scenes form just one part of a sprawling story, Casino Royale has Bond spending a sizable portion of the film inside the titular casino in Montenegro.
As an adaptation of Bond creator Ian Fleming’s first 007 novel, Casino Royale attempts to stay faithful to its source material while updating the story to fit with modern sensibilities.
21 (2008)
When it comes to great card-counting movies, 21 is almost always at the top of the list. The film is centred around Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a brilliant MIT student who is in desperate need of money to fund his studies at Harvard. After an encounter with a professor played by Kevin Spacey, Campbell joins a team of mathematically gifted students and begins counting cards at Las Vegas casinos. Despite his success, Campbell’s work with the team begins to impact his study, putting him on a collision course with casino security.
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Loosely based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack team, 21 was praised upon its release for its fast pacing and ability to maintain focus on the theme of greed. Despite this, the film was accused of whitewashing by choosing white actors to portray characters whose real-life counterparts were Asian-Americans. The producer of the film, Dana Brunetti, tried to deflect criticism by arguing that “we didn’t have access to any bankable Asian American actors we wanted.”
If you’re a fan of films that feature elements of card counting, give Rainman (1988) and The Card Counter (2021) a watch as well.
Uncut Gems (2019)
In Uncut Gems, US comedian Adam Sandler plays against type by taking on the role of Howard Ratner, a New York jeweller whose gambling addiction and infidelity risk upending his life.
The movie’s frantic and brisk pacing also immerses viewers in a reckless and high-stakes world. For many, watching the film will be an anxiety and stress-inducing experience, as they witness the bad decisions that Ratner makes one after the other, even when the situation looks to be improving.
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While Ratner’s obsession with gambling helps to propel the movie forward, the film is also part family and crime drama, sports betting flick, and tragicomedy.
Upon its release, Uncut Gem was critically acclaimed, with reviewers praising Sandler’s career-defining performance and his ability to present a complex, nuanced character. While the comedy actor has certainly attempted meaty roles in the past as demonstrated in Punch-Drunk Love (2002) and Reign Over Me (2007), Uncut Gem remains one of, if not, his best non-comedy outings.
No More Bets (2023)
When the mainland Chinese crime film No More Bets was released, it was a bonafide commercial success, raking in 3.84 billion yuan (US$534.58 million) to become the third highest grossing movie in the mainland in 2023.
At its heart, No More Bets is a film that focuses on the perpetrators and victims of online gambling scams. The main character is Pan Sheng (Lay Zhang), a programmer who is lured to a Southeast Asian country with the promise of a high-paying job, but ends up being forced to help facilitate online betting scams in a remote scam centre.
The film also features other narrative threads, including one concerning Gu Tianzhi (Darren Wang), a young man who becomes a gambling addict after falling victim to Pan’s online betting scam.
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Interestingly, the film has a Macao connection. Parts of the film were shot in Macao, which doubles as the undisclosed South East Asian country. As a result, locals will immediately recognise places such as the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Rua dos Ervanários, Calçada da Igreja de São Lázaro and Taipa Village.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
If you can’t afford to spend several hours watching a casino movie, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, can still satisfy your gambling film cravings at a fraction of the time.
Running at just 39 minutes, this short film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the eponymous Henry Sugar, a gambling enthusiast who acquires the power to see through items from a guru, which he then uses to cheat in the casinos.
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While the story is decent enough, the film’s main draw will no doubt be director Wes Anderson’s distinct style, which is characterised by symmetry, surrealism and his use of vibrant and exaggerated colours.
Although The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar can be viewed on its own, it was later screened as part of a film anthology that included three other shorts that Anderson shot, which were also based on Roald Dahl short stories.
