Winning the lottery: it’s something we all dream about, but chances are, most of us won’t ever find ourselves millions richer overnight. However, that’s not stopping us from living in that world of bliss for just a moment through the best films, movies, and TV series! With this in mind, today, we’re taking a look at some of the Top 7 films from Bollywood and around the world that feature that heartstopping dream of winning the lottery. After all, it’s a universal theme – and one that many of us wish we’d have the chance to experience ourselves!
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The 7 Best Films and Series About Winning the Lottery Globally
We all dream of winning the lottery, and while this is something that likely won’t come true for most of us, we can still indulge those dreams with some of the best lottery films and shows from around the world. We’ve picked out our top seven suggestions as follows to help you choose something to watch tonight; hopefully, this will help you find a great option for your own personal film preferences!
#1 Matka King – an Upcoming Series
This might seem like a strange choice for our top pick since it’s not out yet, but the Matka King series is set to be an incredibly engaging show about Ratan Khatri, who is commonly considered a founding father for India’s gambling industry. With the talents of Nagraj Manjule and Siddharth Roy Kapur behind the production and direction, it’s sure to be a big hit.
The show is primarily focusing on the Satta Matka lottery, one of the most famous lotteries in India; and, while it’s not yet clear who the cast will be, we’re confident that we can expect a good performance from whoever is chosen to play the leading role.
Before the show’s release, you can find out more about the Satta Matka here; alternatively, read on to discover more of the best films and series about lottery winners from around the world!
#2 Waking Ned
It’s one of the most highly acclaimed lottery-inspired movies out there, and for a good reason; indeed, with a passionate cast and expert direction from Kirk Jones, the film undeniably captured the audience’s full attention. Waking Ned was even nominated for a BAFTA award and went on to inspire many other lottery films, too.
#3 Welcome to Me
Released in 2014, Welcome to Me is one of those films that absolutely deserves a spot on this list. Indeed, Kristen Wiig’s performance as Alice ensures that the film is transfixing throughout and offers something that many lottery films struggle with. Instead of relying on cheap gags – which of course have their place but tend to be common in lottery films – there’s something quite worthwhile and rewarding about both the plot and the humour in Welcome to Me, making it an excellent film to add to the list.
#4 Fukrey / Fukrey Returns
Produced by Excel Entertainment and directed by Andre Menezes, Fukrey and its sequel Fukrey Returns are perhaps some of the most obvious picks for Bollywood lottery films. Indeed, the films feature an excellent and heartwarming coming-of-age tale, with more than their fair share of trouble. Meanwhile, in the sequel, we’re even treated to a rather unlikely love story that certainly adds a new twist compared to the original – one that we’d love to see more of.
#5 Malamaal Weekly
The Bollywood iteration of Waking Ned, Malamaal weekly follows a very similar storyline and structure – but with a few key differences that help it appeal specifically to Indian audiences. The vibrant cast and perfectly Bollywood-style music help make the film a worthy contender, particularly when one considers the actors’ incredible performances; however, the slow pacing at times mean we’d be remiss to rank it any higher.
#6 Greed
Just because it’s old – released in 1924 – doesn’t mean it’s an immediate write-off; in fact, while a large portion of the original movie has been lost to time, the portion that was played in 1999 on Turner Entertainment received massive critical acclaim overall. So, if you’re willing to put up with the movie’s black and white images and silent nature, this may be worth a watch – for posterity, if nothing else.
#7 Lucky Numbers
Next up on today’s list is the Lucky Numbers film, which was released in 2000 and featured the antics of Russ (played by the legendary John Travolta), whose friend encourages him to rig the Pennsylvania lottery. As one might expect, this leads to a whole host of antics and misdemeanours, making it a firm choice for a greater lottery-inspired film overall.
Final Thoughts
Chances are, most of us won’t win the lottery; still, there are hundreds of movies and films out there that focus on this exact theme, and it’s easy to see why. So, if you’re on the hunt for something to watch, but you’re not sure where to start your search, we hope that today’s guide may have helped you find something to keep you entertained.
