THE DEER HUNTER + L.A CONFIDENTIAL + STARSKY & HUTCH + LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL: Russian Roulette in the Movies – Top 4 Scenes

We all remember the famous poker scenes in ‘Casino Royale’. With their slow-burning tension and quick-fire camera angles, they even inspired us all to play casino online! But if you’re now after a movie where the stakes are even higher, what should you watch next?

In this article, we’ve put together a list of the top four Russian roulette scenes in movie history. This game of life and death is one you definitely shouldn’t try at home – but if you enjoy exciting films with compelling storylines and scenes that will have you fixed to the edge of your seat, these are the perfect movies to add to your watch list.

1. The Deer Hunter (1978)

The award-winning film ‘The Deer Hunter’ is regularly included in lists of the best movies ever made. Starring Robert de Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage – who play three steelworkers fighting in the Vietnam war – it examines the psychological effects of wartime against a backdrop of Russian roulette.

The first game of Russian roulette in the movie occurs when the steelworkers, now soldiers who have been taken prisoner in Vietnam, are forced to play against each other while their captors place bets on who will win. Thanks to its high intensity and carefully calculated suspense, it’s become one of the most iconic scenes in movie history.

2. L.A Confidential (1997)

Set in 1950s’ Los Angeles, ‘L.A Confidential’ follows two police detectives, Exley and White, who get caught up in corruption. Although White hates Exley, they both find themselves investigating the same crime – a robbery and homicide which has supposedly already been solved by their police department.

White, played by Russell Crowe, is obsessed with punishing men who abuse women and is disturbingly happy to torture criminals. His violent streak means he’s unsatisfied with his partner’s more conventional methods of questioning a suspect, and he initiates a shocking game of Russian roulette to get the information he needs.

3. Starsky & Hutch (2004)

This 2004 comedy action film is an adaptation of the TV series of the same name from the 1970s. It follows two Californian detectives, the hot-headed Starsky (Ben Stiller) and easy-going Hutch (Owen Wilson), as they investigate the murder of a man whose body has washed ashore.

The Russian roulette scene stands out from the others featured in this list in that it’s actually comedic – but that doesn’t stop it from being tense. It all goes wrong when Starsky fails to notice that he’s accidentally loaded his gun, turning a would-be bluff game of Russian roulette into something altogether more dangerous.

4. Léon: The Professional (1994)

Although the Russian roulette scene never made it into the original release of this film, it’s since become a fan favourite after it was released as part of the director’s cut.

Twelve-year-old Mathilda, played by a young Natalie Portman, seeks refuge with a French hitman, Léon, after gangsters murder her family. She uses a game of Russian roulette as a bargaining tool to persuade Léon to teach her to become a killer – and to prove how deadly serious she is about it too.

If you want to raise the stakes when it comes to your next movie choice, why not try one of our top picks? You won’t be disappointed!