A Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed crime epic is currently available to stream, reigniting fierce debates among fans of the genre.
Often compared to classics like Goodfellas and The Godfather, Casino has found a loyal following who argue it surpasses even Francis Ford Coppola’s legendary saga.
And a recent discussion on Reddit posed the question: “Goodfellas, Casino, or Godfather? Which do you prefer?”
The original poster stated their preference for Goodfellas, and one commenter captured the sentiment of many fans by ranking Casino above its revered peers: “I prefer Casino, because, to me, it keeps a constant flow, never gets boring and has the most interesting characters, style and music.”
“Besides that the cinematography was really great (Pesci’s car in De Niro’s sunglasses) the acting was brilliant by everyone and I simply like watching people going down a downward spiral (only in movies of course).”
While The Godfather is often cited as the gold standard for gangster cinema, Casino appeals to those who crave an unflinching look at ambition, greed and downfall in Las Vegas’ golden age.
Released in 1995 and directed by Martin Scorsese, Casino is based on true events chronicled in Nicholas Pileggi’s non-fiction book. The film follows Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a meticulous sports handicapper chosen by the Chicago mob to run the Tangiers Casino in 1970s Las Vegas.
Ace brings order and profit to the gambling empire but finds his world threatened by the violent unpredictability of his childhood friend Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) and the turbulent ambitions of his wife Ginger (Sharon Stone).
As power struggles intensify both inside and outside the casino walls, loyalties are tested and betrayals mount. What begins as an American dream spirals into a nightmare of violence, corruption and shattered trust – a classic tale of rise and fall in a city built on risk.
Though sometimes overshadowed by Goodfellas or The Godfather at awards ceremonies, Casino has received widespread acclaim for its direction, screenplay and technical achievement.
Sharon Stone’s Oscar nomination stands out among numerous accolades, while Scorsese’s signature tracking shots, period detail and use of rock music have been praised by critics worldwide.
Casino’s influence can be seen across modern crime dramas – from television epics like Boardwalk Empire to films exploring the dark heart of American ambition.
Casino is currently available to stream on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.