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Rounders

Play trailer Poster for Rounders R 1998 2h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
62% Tomatometer 76 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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Rounders

Rounders

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Jason Bailey Flavorwire Jun 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. Go to Full Review Rita Kempley Washington Post Mar 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. Go to Full Review Todd McCarthy Variety Mar 25, 2008
Intermittently engaging but dramatically slack. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Jan 28, 2026
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. Go to Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Sep 2, 2022
C-
This is tired, tired stuff. Go to Full Review Mark Jackson Epoch Times Aug 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Otimer K @SouthernGothic 1 day ago Great movie. Poker becomes a metaphor for risk-taking and compulsive behavior. An ending that appears one way becomes something else after repeated watching and consideration. An amazing cast with Ed Norton and John Turturro. As well as a stand-up comedian, the son of Zero Mostel, and lovely Gretchen Mol. So many names and faces. The writing for this one is masterful. Imagine writing so many different characters. See more Janav S @TheCoolJ92781 Sep 20, 2026 A great early work of Matt Damon, my favorite actor of all time. Great performances and great direction by John Dahl, which changed the genre of poker movies. See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 7, 2026 Rounders = a *3.5* star movie! See more themagnum M @themagnummukbanger Aug 29, 2026 not the most intense and like makes you want to watch more movie , but like I guess it really shows how poker can change your whole life so quickly, I like the point where it's like skill not luck. The part when mike asked for money petrovsky gave it to him , rlly almost made me cry , I liked that part , the mitzvah part, but otherwise I wished there was more poker explaining See more J H @UpstateNYThriller Aug 24, 2026 7/10 Drama, Poker Decent Matt Damon movie about being a nighttime poker player. Not as great as some other Casino movies like bond etc but a decent movie. See more Ashequl I @Tofa13 Aug 19, 2026 John Dahl’s Rounders (1998) stands as a classic crime drama that authentically captures the high-stakes world of underground poker. Matt Damon gives a great, grounded performance as Mike McDermott, a talented law student trying to walk a straight path after losing his bankroll. The narrative thrives on the chaotic dynamic between Mike and his reckless childhood friend Worm, played brilliantly by Edward Norton, whose bad choices destroy Mike’s quiet life and romantic relationship. Supported by a warm turn from Martin Landau and an iconic, memorable villain performance by John Malkovich, the film succeeds through sharp dialogue and authentic poker strategy. While some subplots feel a bit underdeveloped, it remains an absolute must-watch for drama and poker fans alike. See more Read all reviews
Rounders

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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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

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Rounders

Rounders (1998) Rounders (1998) Rounders (1998) Rounders (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

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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