Rounders

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Rounders

R

1998

2h 30m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

81 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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Critics Consensus

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

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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.

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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.

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

Mar 25, 2008

Intermittently engaging but dramatically slack.

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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.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 2, 2022

C-

This is tired, tired stuff.

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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.

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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.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 7, 2026

Rounders = a *3.5* star movie!

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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

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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.

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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.

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Teddy S

@Teddy_S Aug 13, 2026

Extremely dumb but superficially entertaining film that manages to gloss over the horror of gambling addiction with a flimsy and unbelievable script. The actors are fine and the direction is solid.

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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

54

15%

31%

54

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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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