Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- slick
- witty
- tense
- crime movie night
- poker night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an entertaining but uneven poker-heist thriller with stylish genre pleasures and a familiar script.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Vernon and the other hustlers use card games, cheating techniques, and staged deception to execute their sting.
The group’s successful operation depends on cooperation while the gangster’s retaliation exposes its fragility.
The story is explicitly rooted in Los Angeles clubs and martini bars, whose glamorous social spaces frame the poker cons.
Vernon navigates poker hustling through controlled performances designed to misdirect opponents and conceal intent.
Films like Shade, and why
Rounders
Shared poker-centered crime plotting, charismatic hustlers, and stylish con-game tension.
The Thomas Crown Affair
Shared heist structure, criminal deception, and a polished ensemble of professional operators.
California Split
Shared Los Angeles crime atmosphere, gambling intrigue, and morally slippery protagonists.
House of Games
Shared ensemble caper mechanics, betrayal, and escalating pursuit by dangerous criminals.
Movie Details
- Director
- Damian Nieman
- Release Date
- 2003-05-18
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (276)
Cast
- Stuart Townsend
- Sylvester Stallone
- Jamie Foxx
- Gabriel Byrne
- Thandiwe Newton
- Melanie Griffith
- Hal Holbrook
- Roger Guenveur Smith
- Bo Hopkins
- Dina Merrill
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Shade about?
- A gifted Los Angeles poker hustler joins forces with fellow con artists for a lucrative sting against a legendary card player, only to draw the wrath of a ruthless gangster.
- What is Shade like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shade as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Shade violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Shade as moderate.
- What did critics think of Shade?
- Critics generally found the film an entertaining but uneven poker-heist thriller with stylish genre pleasures and a familiar script.
- Which films are like Shade?
- Films with a similar feel include Rounders, The Thomas Crown Affair, California Split, and House of Games.
- How long is Shade?
- Shade runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Shade?
- In United States, Shade streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
