Ballad of a Small Player is a British psychological thriller directed by Edward Berger from a screenplay by Rowan Joffe. Based on Lawrence Osborne‘s 2014 novel of the same name, the Netflix film is set in Macau, and it follows Lord Doyle, a gambler trying to lay low, but things take an unexpected turn when his past comes back to haunt him, leaving him no choice but to make up for his past mistakes. Ballad of a Small Player stars Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings, and Tilda Swinton. So, if you loved the interpersonal drama, gambling-related story, and compelling characters in Ballad of a Small Player, here are some similar movies you should check out next.
The Card Counter (Prime Video)
The Card Counter is a crime drama film written and directed by Paul Schrader. The 2021 film follows former soldier and professional gambler William Tell, who decides to stop a young man from doing something disastrous and tries to help him by taking him along to the World Series of Poker. The Card Counter stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan, and Willem Dafoe.
Why It’s Similar? The Card Counter features a gambler protagonist who’s haunted by his past, but now they have a ray of hope to achieve their salvation.
Mississippi Grind (Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Xumo Play, & Rent on Prime Video)
Mississippi Grind is a comedy-drama film co-written and co-directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The 2015 film follows Curtis, a charismatic gambler and Gerry, a gambling addict, who meet at a game and decide to go on a road trip to New Orleans to take part in a high-stakes poker game. Mississippi Grind stars Ryan Reynolds, Ben Mendelsohn, Sienna Miller, Lio Tipton, and Alfre Woodard.
Why It’s Similar? Mississippi Grind and Ballad of a Small Player are very similar movies, from their desperate heroes going on the run to trying to win big to repay their debts.
Win It All (Netflix)
Win It All is a comedy-drama film directed by Joe Swanberg, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jake Johnson. The 2017 film follows Eddie, a small-time gambler who agrees to keep a duffel bag filled with money for a friend, but he soon gets the urge to take some of the money to gamble. Win It All stars Jake Johnson, Aislinn Derbez, Joe Lo Truglio, Keegan-Michael Key, and Nicky Excitement.
Why It’s Similar? While Win It All is pretty different from Ballad of a Small Player, as the Jake Johnson film is a dark comedy, while the other is a drama. They do have similar story beats, including the compulsions of a gambler and thinking that their biggest score is just around the corner.
Uncut Gems (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Uncut Gems is a crime thriller film written and directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bronstein. The 2019 film is set in New York City’s Diamond District, and it follows Howard Ratner, a jeweller and gambling addict, as he races against time to retrieve a diamond he needs to pay off his gambling debts. Uncut Gems stars Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, and Eric Bogosian.
Why It’s Similar? From their intense and erratic style of storytelling to their desperate and extremely flawed protagonists, both Uncut Gems and Ballad of a Small Player are very similar films, except for the surrealism in the Netflix film.
The Gambler (Rent on Prime Video)
The Gambler is a crime drama film directed by Rupert Wyatt from a screenplay by William Monahan. Based on James Toback’s 1974 film of the same name, the 2014 film follows Jim Bennett, a literature professor struggling with gambling addiction. His addiction leads him to borrow money from dangerous people. The Gambler stars Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Michael K. Williams, and Jessica Lange.
Why It’s Similar? The Gambler and Ballad of a Small Player have similar themes, such as a flawed and desperate protagonist struggling to come to terms with their addictions and nature.
Hard Eight (Rent on Prime Video)
Hard Eight is a crime thriller drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Based on Anderson’s 1993 short film Cigarettes & Coffee, the 1996 film is set in Reno and revolves around veteran gambler Sydney and homeless young man John, who develops a bond with Sydney, becoming John’s gambling mentor, but things take a turn when John falls for a woman. Hard Eight stars Phillip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Why It’s Similar? Hard Eight is a bit different from Ballad of a Small Player as these are trying to tell different stories, but Hall’s Sydney and Farrell’s Lord Doyle are fairly similar characters, and both films also feature high-stakes gambling.
Rounders (Rent on Prime Video)
Rounders is a thriller drama film directed by John Dahl from a screenplay co-written by David Levien and Brian Koppelman. The 1998 film follows Mike and Lester, two friends who must travel city to city to take part in high-stakes card games to earn enough money to pay back their loan. Rounders stars Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturro, Famke Janssen, Gretchen Mol, John Malkovich, and Martin Landau.
Why It’s Similar? While Rounders and Ballad of a Small Player differ in their protagonists and themes, both films capture the intensity of gambling and how easily it can become an addiction.