Everybody loves a good film right? Especially these days, what with our evening entertainment options still severely limited.
Well, that’s why Bet Chat Bec and I have decided to create the Bet Chat Film List, our selection of the very best films out there with a focus on sport, betting, or ideally, both.
If you think we’ve missed any crackers, just send the film title and a brief synopsis to clients@thebetchat.com.
Josh’s Best of Sport and Betting
Uncut Gems
The Adam Sandler film for people who, like me, despise Adam Sandler films.
Sandler ditches his usual low rent comedy schtick, replacing it with an unrecognisable performance as a 100 mile an hour wheeler dealer and degenerate gambler.
Very much not a film for the faint hearted but a real edge of the seat watch with an ending you won’t forget in a hurry.
Available to watch on Netflix
The Gambler (1974)
A brilliantly told story about somebody who just can’t stop gambling, despite being given absolutely every opportunity to do so.
For my money (pun intentional), it’s the most accurate portrayal of problem gambling out there and, if you’re not screaming ‘stop, for the love of god please stop!’ by the end of the film then you officially have no heart.
There was a re-make in 2014 with Mark Wahlberg but this James Caan version is infinitely superior.
Available to watch on Sky Cinema via Now TV
The Color of Money
Tom Cruise, Paul Newman, the 80’s, pool, hustling… what more could you want?!
This is a remake of the considerably darker ‘The Hustler’, in which Paul Newman plays the young upstart but, for once, I actually prefer the remake. Plus, after watching the first two films on this list you’ll need something a little lighter, where the person doing the betting isn’t just a walking disaster zone.
Available to watch on Amazon Prime
13 (Tzameti)
This film is shot in black and white and is French (so is therefore subtitled). It’s also brilliant.
It’s not the sort of film to be giving too much away but it’s fair to say that it centres around the ultimate gamble.
Available to watch on YouTube
Raging Bull
The greatest boxing film bar none, featuring a career best performance from Robert de Niro and fight scenes that put the likes of Rocky to shame.
The Fighter with Christian Bale is more easily available (via Netflix) and also worth a watch but, if you like your boxing and have never seen Raging Bull, you need to correct that mistake immediately.
Available to watch with an MGM subscription on Amazon
The Big Short
An entertaining look at the most recent financial crash but from the perspective of those who gained from it rather than lost out.
This is a good film in it’s own right (you generally can’t go too far wrong with Christian Bale) but I’ve included it in this list for two main reasons… 1) to reiterate once again that trading and investing is just as much gambling as sports betting and 2) to reiterate once again that it can and does pay big to bet against the crowd.
The majority don’t win, so don’t follow the majority!
Available to watch on Netflix
The Damned United
For such a popular sport, it’s fair to say that there aren’t that many films about football and even fewer films about football that are actually any good. The Damned United emphatically breaks the mould.
Telling the story of Brian Clough’s ill-fated tenure at Leeds United, as opposed to his successes at Derby County and Nottingham Forest, the filmmaker has clearly correctly realised that the makings of a genuinely good sports film are not last second winners that you know are coming before you’ve even started the film.
Sure, in real life we all want our teams to be successful but, most of the time, for most of us, they’re not, and there’s a fascination in that – after all, if there wasn’t then most football teams in the world wouldn’t have any fans at all!
This film in particular seems to get that and is all the better for focusing on one of the few occasions in Clough’s career when things were far from rosy.
Available to watch on Amazon Prime
Moneyball
The concept of moneyball was given a bad name on these shores when Liverpool’s new owners, FSG, initially appeared to trial the concept by signing the likes of Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam. While that may not have gone especially well, those owners and their transfer committee are still in place now and, well, they’re not doing too badly are they?!
FSG are headed up by an American named John Henry who also owns the first major benefactor of the moneyball strategy, the Boston Red Sox. Henry himself makes a cameo in this film but it’s Brad Pitt who stars and he does a good job.
While there are better films about US sport (Any Given Sunday is right at the top of that particular list) this one warrants a mention as it helps show how maths and statistics can be used to significantly increase the chances of success for a sports club. The same clearly also applies to your betting!
Available to watch on Netflix
Bet Chat Bec’s Bonuses
For when you require a break from all mentions of sport and betting…
The Visit
Put the children to bed and lock the doors, this one is for adults only.
While on a visit to see their grandparents, two kids decide to make a film about their family. However, they soon discover their grandparents are not the storybook ‘nan and pop’ they thought and their apparent quirkiness soon takes a terrifying turn.
While definitely scary, this film is also surprisingly funny and is riddled with classic horror clichés. All in all, an entertaining horror film that will make you think twice before getting the grandparents to babysit again.
Available to watch on Netflix
Searching for Sugar Man
A true story, this docu-movie tells the tale of a struggling Detroit musician.
Living pay cheque to pay cheque for the majority of his life, he finds out more than 20 years after producing his album that it somehow made its way into South Africa.
Unbeknownst to him, this album became a phenomenon majorly associated with the apartheid movement. He had absolutely no idea that he’ been famous in South Africa for the last two decades.
Available to watch on Amazon Prime
The Report
This film explores the alarming period after 9/11 when the CIA were detaining and interrogating terrorist suspects.
Based on a true story, an FBI agent investigates the horrific and inhumane interrogation tactics used by the CIA, which the government turned a blind eye to.
After the report was eventually published, Barack Obama publicly admitted that the CIA had been torturing terrorist suspects.
Available to watch on Amazon Prime
I reckon that’s plenty for you to be getting on with for now! Don’t forget to email in your own recommendations and we’ll add them to the list.
Reader Recommendations
Big Deal (TV Series)
This recommendation comes from Miles Tredwell. Miles describes the series as, “an 80s light drama following the ups and downs of a gambler. Gentle but very watchable and I ploughed through it over lockdown.”
Available to watch on YouTube
Million Dollar Baby
A great recommendation from Martin, who describes it as, “a decent boxing film and I especially like it when Morgan Freeman knocks out the young pretender who is bullying the vulnerable kid”.
Available to watch on Amazon Prime
Casino
Another brilliant movie recommendation from Martin, who describes the film, “Joe Pesci steals every scene! Great film, even if links to gambling are a bit light!”
Available to watch on Amazon Prime
