Rounders 1998

Rounders

Critics Consensus

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

65%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 80

87%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 78,235

Where to watch

Other Movies

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Rounders Photos

View All Photos (14)

Movie Info

Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) loses his money in a poker game against Russian gangster Teddy "KGB" (John Malkovich). Under pressure from his girlfriend, Jo (Gretchen Mol), he promises to quit gambling. This lasts until his friend, Lester "Worm" Murphy (Edward Norton), 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.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    John Dahl
  • Producer:
    Joel Stillerman, Ted Demme
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $$22,905,674
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Miramax Films, Spanky Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    SDDS, Dolby Digital, Surround
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Matt Damon
Mike McDermott
Ed Norton
Lester 'Worm' Murphy
John Turturro
Joey Knish
Gretchen Mol
Jo
Famke Janssen
Petra
John Malkovich
Teddy KGB
Martin Landau
Abe Petrovsky
Michael Rispoli
Grama
Melina Kanakaredes
Barbara
Josh Mostel
Zagosh
John Dahl
Director
David Levien
Writer
Brian Koppelman
Writer
Bobby Cohen
Executive Producer
Kerry Orent
Executive Producer
Bob Weinstein
Executive Producer
Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producer
Joel Stillerman
Producer
Ted Demme
Producer
Christopher Young
Original Music
Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Rounders

Definitive Matt Damon Movies
RT Flashback: The First Ten Movies Ever Reviewed
Total Recall: Go All In with These Gambling Movies
View All

Critic Reviews for Rounders

All Critics (80) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (28)

  • Quote not available.

    September 7, 2011 | Rating: B | Full Review…

    Owen Gleiberman

    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    March 25, 2008 | Full Review…

    Rita Kempley

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • Intermittently engaging but dramatically slack.

    March 25, 2008

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • Gretchen Mol, Edward Norton, John Turturro, Martin Landau, and Famke Janssen costar; they're all pretty good, but not good enough to make this 1998 feature worth seeing.

    March 25, 2008 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • The end result is still short of a winning hand, since the screenplay is so utterly predictable.

    June 24, 2006 | Full Review…

    Trevor Johnston

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Though it's a good-looking flick with some smart acting and a few flashy runs, it barely breaks even dramatically, and feels, overall, like a good chance wasted.

    July 12, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Liam Lacey

    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (80)

Audience Reviews for Rounders

  • Oct 23, 2012
    Brilliant film about the underworld of high stakes poker. Director's John Dahl's effective direction is what keeps you interested and the tone of the film that of a film noir, which adds so much to the film's atmosphere. The cast are wonderful in their parts, and the plot is very engaging, thrilling from start to finish. Edward Norton and Matt Damon are terrific here, and they both have intense on-screen chemistry. Rounders is a must see for poker fans, and with a well crafted script, great acting and a memorable cast of talented actor that star alongside Norton and Damon, this is an accomplished film that will leave you wanting to see it again and again. If you enjoy a thrilling story with effective direction and a great cast, this film is for you. Rounders reminded me of the Mars Callahan film Pool hall Junkies, but this was a much better acted film with a more developed plot. Enjoyable if you're a fan of poker and to the common film goers looking for a terrific flick that is sure to electrify the viewer. Well crafted from beginning to end, Rounders is a wild ride and even if it lacks in some areas, there's enough good elements at work on-screen that make the film overcome its flaws and with an effective pacing set by director John Dahl, this is a well executed hustler flick that is very cool to watch. With a great script and wonderful acting, Rounders is a film that you won't soon forget. Thrilling from the first frame onwards, Dahl's film delivers, and is never dull and highly entertaining. It<s no wonder that this film is so popular with poker players everywhere. If you enjoy these types of films, definitely give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.
    Alex r Super Reviewer
  • Jul 27, 2012
    At one time, this was the cool Damon/Norton film that no one saw but actually was pretty interesting. Now everyone seems to have caught it and it has fallen into the realm of being overrated. It wasn't bad but it isn't great.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Jun 14, 2012
    Really good. I hadn't even really heard of this film aside from the name once or twice, but just decided to watch it one day out of boredom, which ended up being a great decision. Great cast, and storyline. Check this film out.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 29, 2011
    It may have its flaws, but "Rounders" is by far one of the most entertaining films I've ever had to sit through. From the wonderful, genuine performances of its actors to the clever, snappy dialogue of its script, "Rounders" is well-made all around, and it's so perfectly paced that not once did I find myself checking the time. The film has its problems, and I'm not a huge fan of the ending, but I greatly enjoyed myself while watching it.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Rounders Quotes

View All Quotes

Movie & TV guides