3 Reasons to Watch the Matusow Movie

Reason #1: A Unique Character from the Poker Boom Era

Mike Matusow isn’t just a poker player — he’s one of the most colorful figures of the poker boom’s “golden era.” He was one of the first true poker ambassadors, a natural entertainer who brought drama and energy to the screen during High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, The Big Game, and of course, televised WSOP broadcasts.

The film places Matusow in a fascinating modern context. One of its core themes is: what does it mean to be an old-school pro in today’s GTO-driven poker world? At 57, Matusow is still competing with GTO prodigies. His last bracelet came in 2013 — and since then, he’s been a regular nominee for the Poker Hall of Fame, but hasn’t made it in yet. In many ways, this film serves as a full-throated answer to the question of why he deserves to be there.

Reason #2: Raw Honesty and Real Emotion

The film doesn’t sugarcoat anything — it dives into controversial and painful parts of Matusow’s life:

• His issues with drugs, which led to a stint in jail
• Gambling addiction, which left him broke multiple times
• A difficult relationship with his parents, where he’s the first to admit he hasn’t been the ideal son
• A devastating car accident that left him bedridden for 15 months and dependent on opioids

These stories don’t leave the viewer indifferent. Some moments provoke empathy, others discomfort or judgment.
This isn’t a polished, heroic biography — it’s more like a confession from someone who’s learning to own his mistakes and refuses to give up.

Reason #3: At Its Core, It’s a Film About Poker

Filming took place between 2021 and 2024, including during the World Series of Poker. You see Matusow venting about bad beats, dropping F-bombs, crying after busting the Main Event, and celebrating Phil Hellmuth’s victories.

One Special Note About the Film’s Style

At first glance, the film’s narrative seems chaotic. One moment Mike is lying on the floor petting his cat — ten minutes later he’s flirting with a stripper — ten minutes after that he’s relearning how to walk — all intercut with WSOP footage.

But that scattered structure (or lack of structure?) seems to fit who Matusow is. He’s unpredictable, emotional, constantly shifting gears — and this film captures the full range of his chaos and charisma.

Final Verdict

Matusow isn’t just a poker story. It’s a story of pain and glory, of losing control and trying to stand back up — literally and figuratively.
For poker fans, it’s a must-watch. For everyone else, it’s a surprisingly powerful portrait of a man who never played by the rules.