Best poker documentaries
In our new article, we've gathered six poker documentaries that will help you see the game from a broader perspective. Pick an evening and get to know the game from a side you won't see at the tables.
Want to discover poker as a world with its own heroes, dramas, and history?
Whether you're a beginner who wants to learn where it all began, or an experienced player curious to peek behind the scenes of big tournaments, a good documentary will show you poker as it really is.
Our selection features six films everyone should watch. They tell the human side of poker: from the frantic pace of the first online rooms to the hardcore grind of today's pros.
All In: The Poker Movie (2009)
(IMDb rating: 6.7/10)
A film that sets out to tell the entire history of modern poker — from underground clubs to the worldwide boom sparked by Chris Moneymaker's win at the 2003 WSOP. In essence, it's an attempt to blend a chronology of events with portraits of the era's key figures.
The film features everyone — from Matt Damon to Kenny Rogers, as well as Daniel Negreanu, Chris Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, Howard Lederer, Chris Moneymaker, and many others.
Bet Raise Fold: The Story of Online Poker (2016)
(IMDb rating: 7.2/10)
If "All In" is a broad-brush look at poker history, then "Bet Raise Fold" is a serious conversation. The film focuses on online poker and, more importantly, on its collapse in the US after "Black Friday."
At the heart of the story are three different lives: Danielle Andersen — a young single mother who supports her family by playing, analyst Tony Dunst, and Canadian high roller Martin Bradstreet. The film shows their rise during the "golden era" of online play and how "Black Friday" wiped out their familiar lives in a single day. The picture isn't afraid to ask uncomfortable questions about morality, regulation, and gambling addiction.
The Gambler (2013)
(IMDb rating: 7.2/10)
A chronicle of the life of 27-year-old John O'Shea, who made a classic "escape from the office" for the sake of poker. Holding a prestigious master's degree and a promising accountant position at the giant KPMG, he quit right after winning his annual salary in a single night in an online tournament.
The film shows his journey from the Irish Poker Open to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. It's a chronicle of colossal emotional and financial swings.
The main question the film poses is: "What's it like to lose €100,000 in a single day?" John O'Shea speaks with brutal honesty about his strategies, about how pros "hunt" inexperienced players online, and openly admits his addiction to adrenaline and his fear of total bankruptcy. This film strips the Hollywood gloss off poker, showing a player's life without embellishment.
Nosebleed (2014)
(IMDb rating: 7.7/10)
One of the most underrated poker documentaries. The film focuses on the closed world of ultra-high-stakes cash games.
At the heart of the story are two of the best French online regulars of their generation: Alex Luneau and Sébastien Sabic. Having earned millions of dollars from their London apartment, they head to Las Vegas for the WSOP. The film shows their obsession with the game: from tracking down Gus Hansen to their attempts to win the coveted gold bracelet.
A genuine, intimate, and atmospheric film shot by independent director Victor Somon. He managed to pull off the impossible — making these guarded high rollers forget about the camera. The film vividly proves that high stakes isn't a glossy life with supercars, but colossal psychological pressure, sleepless nights, and an exhausting battle against variance.
KidPoker (2015)
(IMDb rating: 7.3/10)
Perhaps the most popular poker documentary and the only full-fledged biopic of a living legend — Daniel Negreanu.
The film traces Negreanu's path from a teenager playing for money in the basements of Toronto to becoming a multiple WSOP bracelet holder and one of the most recognizable faces in the global industry. Directors Gary Davis and Francine Watson skillfully build the picture along the classic lines of a quality sports drama: with falls, perseverance, and a triumphant climb to the top.
Watch it to understand how "reading" people and a positive mindset help in the game, and how that turns a player into an icon.
The Ultimate Stack (2024)
(IMDb rating: 6.1/10)
The most recent film on the list. "The Ultimate Stack" offers a modern take on the current state of the game, focusing on the 2023 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas — an event with a $40,000,000 prize pool.
The film takes the viewer through all the circles of the main tournament — from top professionals to amateurs who qualified through $10 satellites and ended up at the same table as legends. The picture reconstructs, minute by minute, this grand event from day one to the final table, where millions of dollars were on the line and the fate of the title was decided by a brutal cooler hand.
The camera uses a "follow the chips" technique. The director picks a player at the start, and once they bust, instantly switches to the opponent who took their stack. This chain runs through the entire event — from newcomers to the final heads-up, where the owner of that very Ultimate Stack is determined.
It's the perfect option for those who want to see the "new school" of poker: modern aggressive strategies and the newest generation of high rollers. The film serves as an excellent bridge between the classic history of the game and its digital future.
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