Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Jan 28, 2026 2.5/5

It is certifiably insane for "Rounders" to anchor its narrative with two generational talents in the lead and then trample over their excellent efforts to convey context, or sometimes even just text, without incessant narration.

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Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Sep 2, 2022 C-

This is tired, tired stuff.

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Mark Jackson Epoch Times Aug 31, 2021 4/5

"Rounders" is basically "Good Will Hunting 2." I'll go so far as to say that it's even more entertaining. I've seen "Good Will Hunting" twice. I've seen "Rounders" at least nine times.

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Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 21, 2020 3.5/4.0

If you are a fan of poker, you will likely love this film's portrayal of the poker world.

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Jason Bailey Flavorwire Jun 19, 2016

The most vivid and most enjoyable movies immerse us in a world, and show us how that world works. The screenplay by David Levien and Brian Koppelman does that; Dahl's direction closes the deal.

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Dan Jardine Cinemania May 3, 2013 71/100

John Dahl's film is not as sinister or complex as its cinematic cousin, House of Games, but it is fun to see these young Hollywood studs (Damon, Edward Norton, Gretchen Mol) strut their stuff.

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Betty Jo Tucker ReelTalk Movie Reviews Oct 29, 2011

Although featuring a splendid Edward Norton performance, 'Rounders' comes across as too unbelievable, often straying beyond the bounds of rationality.

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Sep 7, 2011 B

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Jon Fortgang Film4 Mar 25, 2008 3.5/5

John Dahl creates an intelligent and character-driven crime-drama built around solid performances by Damon and Norton.

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Rita Kempley Washington Post Mar 25, 2008

The wholesome pup's poker face alone, however, hardly accounts for the film's failure to thrill. Damon's character doesn't really have that much stake in the story's outcome.

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Todd McCarthy Variety Mar 25, 2008

Intermittently engaging but dramatically slack.

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Maitland McDonagh TV Guide Mar 25, 2008 2.5/4

This ode to the allure of clipping suckers and psyching out the competition is richly atmospheric but thin in the character department.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Mar 25, 2008

Gretchen Mol, Edward Norton, John Turturro, Martin Landau, and Famke Janssen costar; they're all pretty good, but not good enough to make this 1998 feature worth seeing.

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jan 14, 2007 B-

In his first non-noir film, John Dahl, assisted by the great French lenser Jean-Yves Escoffier, gives New York's underground gambling scene a vivid atmopshere, with special attention to its particular rituals and fast macho talk.

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Phil Villarreal Arizona Daily Star Dec 17, 2006 4/4

"Rounders" makes you feel the suspense and thrive in the thrill of the moment, always coming up aces.

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Trevor Johnston Time Out Jun 24, 2006

The end result is still short of a winning hand, since the screenplay is so utterly predictable.

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Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid May 26, 2006 3/4

Other directors simply pay homage to film noir and their movies come across as copies or throwbacks, but Dahl's movies work because he seems to understand the inner workings of film noir, and the absurd situations that people can get into.

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Ron Wells Film Threat Dec 6, 2005 3/5

It's too bad with all of the poker action there wasn't enough time to establish the relationships between characters.

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Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Apr 9, 2005 B

It's a likable movie and a solid follow up for Damon.

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