It’s always fun dreaming about winning the lottery and what you would do with all that money. But since the odds of winning are really not in your favour, the next best thing is watching a movie about people winning the lottery!
Here are six movies about people winning the lottery that we recommend watching.
It Could Happen to You (1994)
Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda star in this movie about a police officer who offers to share his lottery winnings with a waitress when he can’t give her a tip. Spoiler alert – he wins $4 million! And then things get complicated when his wife (Rose Perez) fights him for all the money. It Could Happen to You is loosely based on a true story, and is overall a funny, heartfelt movie with a very toned down Nic Cage performance. It Could Happen to You is available to rent or buy on VOD platforms in Canada. It’s also available on Blu-ray.
Waking Ned Devine (1998)
After dying from the shock of winning the lottery, Ned Devine’s friends plan to claim the prize money by not telling anyone he’s dead. This little Irish film was an indie hit when it was released in 1998. It still holds up today and is a lot of fun to watch. Waking Ned Devine is available on VOD platforms in Canada.
Lucky Numbers (2000)
Nora Ephron’s Lucky Numbers stars John Travolta as a weatherman who tries to scam the local lottery with the woman who draws the numbered balls (Lisa Kudrow). It’s far from being a masterpiece, but the cast, which also includes Tim Roth, Ed O’Neill, and Michael Rapaport, all make it a worthwhile watch. Lucky Numbers is available to watch for free on Hoopla.
Lottery Ticket (2010)
After winning $370 million on the lottery, a young man (Shad Moss aka rapper Lil’ Bow Wow) has to survive a long weekend in the projects after his neighbours find out about the win. Brandon T. Jackson, Ice Cube, Terry Crews, Keith David, and Mike Epps also star. Lottery Ticket is available to watch on VOD platforms and Blu-ray in Canada.
Welcome to Me (2014)
Welcome to Me is a hilarious, yet sometimes painful, movie to watch about a woman who wins the Mega Millions lottery, goes off her meds, and buys a TV talk show for herself. Produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the film has an all-star cast that includes Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Linda Cardellini, Joan Cusack, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Wes Bentley, Tim Robbins, Alan Tudyk, and Loretta Devine (who was also in Lottery Ticket). You can watch Welcome to Me on Prime Video Canada.
Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022)
Based on a true story about a retired man who figures out a loophole in the local lottery and then creates a system to get his whole town involved as he continues to win bigger and bigger prizes. Bryan Cranston, Annette Bening, and Rainn Wilson all star in this funny and sweet film. Jerry & Marge Go Large is available to watch on Paramount+ Canada.
Do you have a favourite movie about winning the lottery? Tell us in the comments below.
Photo credit: A scene from Jerry & Marge Go Large. Courtesy Paramount+ Canada.
