The Gambler hit theatres this holiday, bringing a classic film into a modern setting. The film was expected to make a big debut at the box office, but has only seen modest numbers. Opening on Christmas Day, The Gambler saw a $4 million debut. While this seems quite impressive, it certainly pales in comparison to other Christmas debuts like Into the Woods (which brought in $12 million) and Unbroken (which earned $15 million).

The Gambler was certainly up against some fierce competition, but still managed to fare well. The Gambler is a remake of a 1974 film of the same name, about a professor who hides his high-stakes gambling habit. He owes millions of dollars to various shady individuals, who get closer and close to tracking him down as the film progresses.

The original film starred James Caan, Lauren Hutton and Paul Sorvino. In the remake, there is also a star-studded cast which includes Mark Wahlberg, Brie Larson, John Goodman and Jessica Lange. Even with a stellar cast, the film has not fared very well among critics. It has a rating of 6.4/10 on IMDB and has earned 47% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film has been accused of being ‘too arty’, lacking action and failing to live up to the original 1974 classic. The Critic Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “Well-paced and reasonably entertaining in its own right, The Gambler still suffers from comparisons to the James Caan classic that inspired it”. Still, plenty of critics enjoyed the film.

Some noted the powerful performances from the incredible cast while others have stated that it is simply ‘worth seeing’. If you’re interested in seeing the film, have a look at the trailer below:‘The Gambler’ Remark Sees Modest Box Office Debut 

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.