Rounders

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Rounders

R

1998

2h 30m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

81 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Mike McDermott loses his money in a poker game against Russian gangster Teddy "KGB". Under pressure from his girlfriend, Jo, he promises to quit gambling. This lasts until his friend, Lester "Worm" Murphy, gets out of prison and needs to pay off an old debt. The pair come close to earning the money back but are caught cheating. Then Mike finds out the debt is owed to Teddy and makes one last-ditch effort to beat the Russian.

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Critics Consensus

Richly atmospheric and colorful performances contributed to the movie's entertainment value.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

06/19/2016

The most vivid and most enjoyable movies immerse us in a world, and show us how that world works. The screenplay by David Levien and Brian Koppelman does that; Dahl's direction closes the deal.

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Rita Kempley

Washington Post

03/25/2008

The wholesome pup's poker face alone, however, hardly accounts for the film's failure to thrill. Damon's character doesn't really have that much stake in the story's outcome.

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

03/25/2008

Intermittently engaging but dramatically slack.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Jan 28

2.5/5

It is certifiably insane for "Rounders" to anchor its narrative with two generational talents in the lead and then trample over their excellent efforts to convey context, or sometimes even just text, without incessant narration.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

09/02/2022

C-

This is tired, tired stuff.

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

08/31/2021

4/5

"Rounders" is basically "Good Will Hunting 2." I'll go so far as to say that it's even more entertaining. I've seen "Good Will Hunting" twice. I've seen "Rounders" at least nine times.

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Stoner J

@Stoner Feb 22

A great and much underrated movie! And every character is perfectly cast.

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Matt L

@Mattliptak Feb 6

Rounders is a true cult classic that gets better with every rewatch. Matt Damon and Edward Norton are at the top of their game, with effortless chemistry and razor-sharp performances. John Malkovich is endlessly quotable as Teddy KGB, while John Turturro and Martin Landau add real weight. The story is tight, the pacing smooth, and the poker world feels authentic without getting bogged down in jargon. Smart, stylish, and highly rewatchable—Rounders knows exactly when to push all in and never folds.

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Stephen H.

@HoopsUD Feb 1

If you’re a poker fan, this is a must watch. Tackling many of the hurdles a grinder goes through. Not a tournament poker view, it old school cash.

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Jake C.

@JT.Champagne Jan 13

Rounders is a smart, tightly written drama that offers a compelling look into the high-stakes world of underground poker. Matt Damon delivers a strong, nuanced performance, supported by an iconic turn from Edward Norton. The film balances sharp dialogue with tension-filled gameplay, while exploring themes of discipline, risk, and personal integrity. Well-paced and memorable, Rounders has earned its status as a cult classic and remains one of the most authentic poker films ever made.

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Stephen C

@RT64277567 Jan 12

As a movie it's okay but it glamorizes betting a bit too much.

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ed m

@RT80499164 Nov 23

This is a really good movie. Great performances from Damon, Norton, Malkovich, Turturro, Landau.

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John Dahl

Director

Matt Damon

Mike McDermott

Edward Norton

Lester 'Worm' Murphy

John Turturro

Joey Knish

Gretchen Mol

Jo

Famke Janssen

Petra

54

15%

28%

54

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Synopsis

Mike McDermott loses his money in a poker game against Russian gangster Teddy "KGB". Under pressure from his girlfriend, Jo, he promises to quit gambling. This lasts until his friend, Lester "Worm" Murphy, gets out of prison and needs to pay off an old debt. The pair come close to earning the money back but are caught cheating. Then Mike finds out the debt is owed to Teddy and makes one last-ditch effort to beat the Russian.

Director: John Dahl
Producer: Joel Stillerman, Ted Demme
Screenwriter: David Levien, Brian Koppelman
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films, Spanky Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.9M
Runtime: 2h 30m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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