How Realistic Are Poker Movies? Darren Elias Breaks Them Down

Four-time World Poker Tour (WPT) champion Darren Elias recently joined Business Insider to break down some of the most iconic poker scenes in film and television. With more than $13.4 million in live tournament earnings and a record-setting four WPT Main Event titles, Elias brings both authority and nuance to the table—making him one of the best-suited voices to evaluate how accurately Hollywood captures the game.

In the nearly 30-minute video feature, Elias reviews hands from classic gambling films like Rounders and Ocean’s Eleven, as well as blockbusters such as Casino Royale and John Wick: Chapter 4, several of which also appear in our list of the best poker movies ever made.

The segment aims to entertain poker fans while offering Insider’s 9.1 million YouTube subscribers a closer look at the strategy, psychology, and realism (or lack thereof) behind poker on screen.

While Rounders has long been regarded as the gold standard for poker movies, Elias gave even higher marks to Molly’s Game, rating it a 9 out of 10 after analyzing two scenes. One of those scenes involves a player inexplicably folding the nuts—a decision Elias called “unrealistic” but added that in a private game with unskilled players, such a mistake isn’t impossible.

He was also impressed by a scene that portrays a player spiraling into losses after being bluffed off a winning hand—an all-too-familiar scenario for anyone who's spent time at the felt.

By comparison, Rounders earned an 8/10, with Elias noting that the film mostly holds up well, aside from some questionable bet sizing. “Tough to be too harsh on Rounders,” he said, acknowledging its cult status among players.

Not all films fared as well. Elias gave the flashy Casino Royale scene, in which James Bond wins a massive pot with a straight flush, a mere 3/10, calling it "nuts" that so many strong hands would collide in one round. Bond’s casual $500,000 tip after scooping the pot didn’t help the realism score, either.

Beyond his film critiques, Darren Elias is widely regarded as one of the most technically sound tournament players of his generation. Based in New Jersey, he’s known for his precise, composed playing style and deep strategic understanding of the game.

He has four WPT Main Event victories, more than any other player in the tour’s history, and continues to be a consistent presence at the highest levels of competition. Elias is also a BetMGM Poker ambassador, contributing content and strategy insights while helping shape the platform’s direction in the U.S. market.

In addition to Molly’s Game, Rounders, and Casino Royale, Elias also reviewed scenes from Ocean’s Eleven, Maverick, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Sting, and even an episode of The Simpsons featuring actress and poker player Jennifer Tilly.

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