The Gambler (1974): cast, story & where to watch
1974 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1974, The Gambler is a drama and crime film directed by Karel Reisz, running about 111 minutes. “For $10,000 they break your arms. For $20,000 they break your legs. Axel Freed owes $44,000.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. New York City English professor Axel Freed outwardly seems like an upstanding citizen. But privately Freed is in the clutches of a severe gambling addiction that threatens to destroy him.
Who’s in it. The Gambler stars James Caan as Axel Freed, Paul Sorvino as Hips, Lauren Hutton as Billie and Morris Carnovsky as A. R. Lowenthal, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, The Gambler has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Gambler page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Gambler tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Gambler (1974)?
- In US, The Gambler is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Gambler worth watching?
- The Gambler holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Gambler?
- The Gambler stars James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Morris Carnovsky and Jacqueline Brookes.
- When was The Gambler released?
- The Gambler was released in 1974, with a runtime of about 111 minutes.