More than two decades since it first shuffled onto the big screen, “Rounders” (1998) remains the ultimate cult poker film. In recent years, Matt Damon (Hollywood’s perennial everyman and a known poker enthusiast) publicly expressed his desire to return as Mike McDermott, the ambitious law student turned high-stakes card shark. “The first installment of John Dahl’s 1998 film starred the actor as a poker player under pressure,” Far Out Magazine notes, “who risks it all when he reunites with Edward Norton’s freshly released convict and best friend to try and salvage both of their debts in a high-stakes game.” The film nearly doubled its production budget in global box office receipts, earning over $22 million from a reported $12 million budget, and has since cultivated a devout fan base among poker aficionados and film lovers alike. Still, there’s been no green light for a follow-up yet, despite Damon’s public enthusiasm and the game’s surging popularity since the poker boom of the early 2000s.
Today, “Rounders” continues to hold an almost mythical status among fans of card-based cinema. And the film’s rewatchability is only bolstered by recent real-world acknowledgments of its authenticity, from professionals who lived those very underground games, to actors like Damon who still play the game today. As audiences continue to rediscover it through streaming and poker forums, the question remains: why hasn’t “Rounders 2” been dealt yet?
A Raw and Gripping Portrait of the Underground Poker World
At its core, “Rounders” is a gritty character study wrapped in the seductive allure of underground poker. Damon’s portrayal of Mike McDermott is both subtle and emotionally charged. He’s a law student with one foot in a legitimate career and the other in dark basements filled with tilting players. When his childhood friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison and pulls him back into the game, the stakes quickly escalate, not just in terms of money, but reputation, loyalty, and personal freedom.
Director John Dahl, working from a script by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (both avid poker players themselves), constructs a story with all the trappings of noir and all the psychology of a sports thriller. “Rounders” shows us what poker is, dives into its strategy, lingo, and life-or-death importance to those who play it for survival rather than leisure.
Professional poker players have long celebrated the film’s dedication to authenticity. Four-time World Poker Tour champion Darren Elias praised “Rounders” highly during a recent analysis for Business Insider, saying, “I would give this scene in ‘Rounders’ an eight out of 10. Tough to be too harsh on [it].” In an era when most Hollywood poker scenes are either over-dramatized or technically flawed, “Rounders” stands tall for its attempt to get the details right, from the chip tricks to the tension at the table.
Matt Damon’s Love of the Game Helped Make “Rounders” Feel Real
The believability of “Rounders” owes much to the real-life poker passion of its lead star. Damon and his longtime friend Ben Affleck have long been a fixture in celebrity poker circles. His affection for the game isn’t casual; he’s studied the craft, played in high-stakes charity events, and has been seen sitting at tables with some of the biggest names in poker.
In 2020, Damon participated in a high-profile charity poker tournament hosted by US poker site Americas Cardroom to benefit Feeding America. The virtual event featured A-listers like Tom Brady, Bryan Cranston, Tobey Maguire, and Sarah Silverman. According to Fox Business, the event had already raised over $1 million for hunger relief by the time it aired. Damon’s continued involvement in poker offscreen shows that his role as Mike McDermott wasn’t a one-off performance; it was a reflection of a real player’s mindset.
This grounded connection to poker culture gave “Rounders” a certain weight and credibility. Clips like Mike’s climactic face-off with Teddy KGB (John Malkovich in scene-stealing form) resonate with people who understand tells, stakes, bankrolls, and what it means to go “all-in” in more ways than one.
The Enduring Influence of “Rounders” on Modern Poker Cinema
Though it wasn’t an immediate box office juggernaut, “Rounders” ultimately became one of the most influential poker films ever made. Its release preceded the early 2000s poker boom, and many credit it with introducing a generation to the game. It also helped reshape how poker is portrayed on screen from a game of luck to a game of skill, psychology, and grit.
Its legacy can be felt in modern poker films like “Molly’s Game” (2017), written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. That film, based on the true story of Molly Bloom’s underground poker empire, echoes “Rounders” in tone and style. Both dive beneath the glitz of the game to expose the emotional and ethical costs of playing with high stakes, both financially and personally. As noted in our review, “Molly’s Game” teaches us the power of the curveball with a sleight of hand, much like “Rounders” teaching us that a good read can be more valuable than the best hand.
Moreover, the oral history of “Rounders,” documented in “The Ringer,” reveals how many poker professionals, filmmakers, and fans alike hold the movie close to their hearts. From the first time Mike McDermott folds a winning hand to prove a point to the final image of him walking off to Las Vegas, “Rounders” isn’t just a poker movie – it’s the poker movie.
Conclusion
In the world of poker and film, “Rounders” is the undisputed classic that keeps aging like fine whiskey. With Matt Damon ready to return, Darren Elias giving the nod to its realism, and new audiences discovering its depth every year, its legend only continues to grow. For fans of cinema and cards, the film remains a masterclass in tension, character, and authenticity, so maybe, just maybe, the deck isn’t done being shuffled for Mike McDermott yet.
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