The most common fantasy of people who play real money games in casinos is hitting huge jackpot pokie games. It’s the number one force that drives us to continue playing, just as buying lottery tickets is always going to be a thing. People love the idea of betting a small amount of money for a chance to win a huge reward. And what could be better than winning millions of dollars after playing only a few dollars or less?
We all have our own ideas of happiness and what we do if we win. For many it’s traveling the world, buying mansions, fancy cars, and a collection of designer clothes. This is why the lottery plotline always makes for a fabulous cinematic escape.
Without further ado, here are the top movies about winning the lotto!
29th Street
29th Street tells the real-life story of Frank Pesce Jr. played by Anthony LaPaglia, blessed with the gift of good luck at birth. Throughout his life he continues to have abundant good fortune, narrowly escaping death. His luck is so abundant that it inspires jealously from his own father. Which culminates in Frank becoming the very first New York State Lottery winner.
Welcome to Me
This darkly comic tale released in 2015, stars Kristen Wiig as Alice Klieg, a woman with Bipolar Disorder who wins the lottery. After winning 86 million dollars, Alice decides to stop taking her meds and starts her own talk show modeled after her idol, Oprah Winfrey.
Alice’s Misadventures leads to an excellent comedic escape which will keep you entertained from start to finish.
It Could Happen to You
Starring Nicholas Cage, It Could Happen to You is an unbelievable true story about an NYPD officer and a waitress (played by Bridget Fonda) who end up winning the lottery together. They split the cash but the real prize was falling in love with each other. The premise of them winning the lottery is based on factual events but the falling in love part is purely Hollywood. Nonetheless, the 1994 movie is a great, light-hearted watch about the dream of winning the lottery.
According to sources, the lucky pair remain good friends to this day!
Waking Ned Devine
This 1998 independent film is about two friends played by Ian Bannen and David Kelly. Jackie and Michael find out that an elderly neighbor won the lottery. However, when they go to his home to visit, they find him dead from the shock. Because the rules require that the winner, Ned is the only one who can claim the prize, a group of the townspeople decide to figure out a way to keep the money.
They do so by coming together to convince the detective that Michael is the elderly neighbor Ned. Of course, comedy ensues.
If you’re looking for your next good watch about winning the lottery, you would do well with any of the titles above, from comedy to romance and drama, there’s something to suit every mood.
