The Best of Poker Documentaries

They say it takes 10, 000 hours to become adept in any field. With poker, sometimes it’s all about watching the game, and nobody’s ever said that you can’t fill up some of those hours by watching some movies about poker. Here are Alex’s picks for some of the best poker documentaries out there.

Grinders (2011)

Grinders was released through documentary filmmaker Journeyman Pictures, and it features filmmaker Matt Gallagher doing what people really, really shouldn’t: Jumping right into poker playing to see if his winnings would be enough to support his wife and child. (How the heck did he pitch that to his wife beforehand? “It’s a bad idea, but it’ll make a great movie – honest!”). It’s rated six out of ten on IMDB, and you can either go to the Official Website or watch the trailer on YouTube.

No Limit: A Search for the American Dream on the Poker Tournament Trail (2006)

So, what happens when a filmmaker couple decides to pack up everything, hit the road and head off to play poker and film it? Well, pretty much this. Its IMDB rating is 6.8/10, though the first review that comes up is particularly harsh: You’ll have to watch it and decide for yourself. (The cameo’s, which include Daniel Negreanu, might still make this one worth it!)

KidPoker (2015)

Now, if a cameo isn’t enough and you want an entire movie about Daniel Negreanu – who we’ve featured on some lists before – here you go. KidPoker (released in 2015) is named after his screen name KidPoker, and (after some delays in its release) you can now watch it on Netflix. Again, a 6.8/10 rating on IMDB. See the official trailer on YouTube, or get in touch with Negreanu on Facebook or Twitter.

Drawing Dead: The Highs and Lows of Online Poker (2008)

Drawing Dead is a vitally important movie, and it shows you both sides of the poker circuit: The story is told from the perspective of a professional poker player (who definitely has the odds on his side) and a gambling addict, for which the game has come to represent something worlds apart. It’s rated 7.8/10 on IMDB. Check out the trailer on YouTube, get it from Amazon or visit the official website here.

Bet Raise Fold: The Story of Online Poker (2013)

Yes, Bet Raise Fold (released 2013) is another documentary that focuses on the ever-rising game of online poker. This one, though, looks at the origin of life, the universe and the game: Where and how did online poker start, exactly? Well, if you’ve ever wondered, your answer is here. Take a look at the trailer on YouTube or watch the movie directly from the official website, here.

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