Top 5 Poker Documentaries

If you enjoy playing poker, you have probably thought about what it is like to be a professional poker player. After all, on the face of it, many big-name poker superstars live a life of glitz, glamour, and money. However, is the life of a professional poker player really as glamorous as it seems?

For every successful poker pro, there is often another that struggles to make ends meet. Becoming a successful professional takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and mental strength.

Watching poker documentaries is a great way to see if you really have what it takes to become a poker professional. They dig deep into the life of poker pros to showcase both the struggles and the successes they can experience.

5 Poker Documentaries You Should Check Out

There are many reasons to watch a poker documentary, including the fascinating history of the game, the plethora of characters, and the Old West stories.

Poker is a vast industry, and there are plenty of excellent choices for documentaries. You can see what it's like to be a pro, or get a better understanding of how the game works.

KidPoker

There are few poker professionals that can boast a playing career as successful as Daniel ‘Kid Poker’ Negreanu. This documentary looks at the life and times of a player that has won over $46 million playing in live poker tournaments. The Canadian has won six World Series of Poker bracelets, among a raft of other titles.

The documentary first looks at Negreanu’s early life, where he first began hunting in pool halls at 16. By the time he had reached 22 years of age, he had built a bankroll and made the move to Las Vegas. However, initially, his dream of becoming a professional poker player was short-lived, and he had to return home. After rebuilding his bankroll, he returned to Las Vegas and won his first WSOP bracelet at the tender age of 23.

Poker Queens

Historically, playing poker professionally was usually something that men did. However, the poker boom in the early 2000s changed all that. Women could now play online poker without the fear of mistreatment by male opponents.

Poker Queens looks at the prominent female professional poker players that have since made names for themselves. That includes tournament winners such as Liv Boeree, Maria Ho, Jennifer Harman, and Jennifer Tilly.

High Stakes: The Story of Sam Trickett

Sam Trickett is one of the UK’s most successful poker professionals. However, as this documentary highlights, life is not always as glamorous as you might think.

Sam Trickett speaks about his struggles against gambling addiction and depression despite enjoying enormous success. While Trickett has done well to keep his demons under control, it is a stark reminder that life is not always rosy as a poker pro.

All In: The Poker Movie

If you are a fan of the poker game, you might want to check out "All In." This documentary is a fascinating look at how poker has evolved over the years, from smoky back rooms to glitzy casinos. The film also covers how poker became so popular during the 2000s thanks to the internet.

The documentary features interviews with top poker players, such as Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Hellmuth. It also looks back at when Chris Moneymaker became the first online qualifier to win a WSOP Main Event.

One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stu Unger

Another great documentary about poker is One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stu Unger, a true documentary about the life of professional poker player Stu Ungar. Stu is regarded as one of the best players of all time, and a three-time World Series of Poker main event winner. Only two players have achieved this feat in history.

However, along with the highs came a long list of lows for Unger. He battled drug addiction and financial trouble before his tragic death in 1998 at 45. His legacy lives on, but this documentary shows that even the best poker players can have the worst demons.