Theres something about poker thats hard to resist. As a pure contest of will and skill, the game has woven itself into our culture. From rough and tumble Old West saloons to the glitz and glamour of a Las Vegas casino, poker has captured our imaginations like no other game. The raw drama inherent in the game has provided a wealth of material for Hollywood screenwriters. Here are some of their best efforts.

Rounders (1998)

With a look into the thrill of winning and the potential destructiveness of a gambling addiction, this is the poker movie for generation X. When a young poker prodigy (Matt Damon) loses everything in a high stakes game, he promises hes done forever. His vow is short lived when his own love of poker and a shady card shark (Edward Norton) pulls him back to the table. Watch for the cameo from poker legend Johnny Chan, who plays himself in a match against Matt Damons character.

Maverick (1994)

Maverick takes us on a trip to an idealized Old West and how we imagine the game was played on the grand riverboats of yesteryear. A remake of the 1950s television show of the same name, Mel Gibson plays a charming con man whos trying his best to raise the buy in for a high-stakes tournament. Theres a lot of light-hearted humor along the way as well as a few entertaining twists and turns. Watch for Danny Glover playing a bank robber and pay homage to his work with Gibson in the Lethal Weapon series.

Cincinnati Kid (1965)

A true classic that stars Steve McQueen as the kid in question, a young rising star who tries his luck in 1930s New Orleans. He has the skill to be a champion, but the deck is stacked against him from the start as he discovers the influence of crime and corruption on the poker scene. McQueen plays opposite the great Edward G. Robinson, and the chemistry between these different generations of actors is one of the best parts of the movie.

The Sting (1973)

Another much-loved film set in the 1930s, this Oscar winner tells the story of two small-potato con men (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) who try to bilk a corrupt banker as revenge for a murder. Through numerous plot twists and a crucial private poker game, the two men eventually are poised to carry out their plan. The Sting set the standard for the caper movie genre and still stands out as one of its finest examples.

Aces and Eights (1936)

Two pair, Aces and Eights are known as The Dead Mans Hand. Its what Old West legend Wild Bill Hickok was holding when he was shot in the back and murdered in Deadwood. Its also the hand dealt in the climax of this classic western about Gentleman Tim Madigan a roguish gambler with a soft spot. The gambler (Tim McCoy) comes to the aid of a Mexican family in danger of losing their ranch to a couple of unscrupulous characters. Madigan eventually confronts the villains in a poker showdown with the future of the ranch at stake. While the movie seems dated in spots, its definitely one of the earliest examples of a poker classic.