Rounders at 25: The Poker Movie That Defined a Generation

September 11 marks the 25th anniversary of the film Rounders. To celebrate, we delve into intriguing facts and poker analysis from the movie. In the original script, the main character was supposed to bluff Phil Hellmuth, not Johny Chen. Edward Norton ate 17 hot dogs for a scene where his character eats a hot dog on the street. Edward Norton's character Worm was supposed to be a heavy smoker, but the actor refused to smoke on screen.

The screenplay of Rounders was written by David Levin and Brian Koppelman, who have been friends and collaborators since they were 14. The role of the main character's girlfriend was originally supposed to be played by Neve Campbell, but she declined and the role went to Gretchen Mol. Matt Damon and Edward Norton played in the main event of the 1998 World Series of Poker as part of the film's promotional campaign.

The film Rounders is considered one of the best poker movies ever made. The main character Mike McDermott, played by Matt Damon, was a skilled poker player before becoming a lawyer. Mike McDermott lost all his money to the character Teddy KGB, played by John Malkovich. Mike McDermott demonstrated his poker skills by bluffing his way through a game with professors. Edward Norton's character Worm is a friend of Mike McDermott and a compulsive gambler. Mike McDermott bluffs against Johny Chen in a key scene.