MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for Lay the Favorite

Lay the Favorite

2012 · 94 min

A breezy, scattershot caper that coasts on charm and colourful characters rather than stakes or sharpness.

Directed by
Stephen Frears
Genres
Drama, Comedy
Tagline
How far can a losing shot take you?
Overview
A former stripper's talent with numbers lands her a job with a professional gambler who runs a sports book in Las Vegas.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Add to a list: Lay the Favorite

You have no lists yet. Name one, and this title goes into it.

All your lists

Free in the UK
  • Rakuten TV
  • Plex
More options Data from JustWatch
Directed by
Stephen Frears
Genres
Drama, Comedy
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • lightstrength 2 of 3
  • whimsicalstrength 2 of 3
  • cynicalstrength 1 of 3
  • warmstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
brisk, 3 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
easy-watch, 2 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • greed
  • ambition
  • love
  • identity
  • loyalty
Places
  • big city
  • workplace
  • road trip
Era
contemporary
Audience
adult
Form
  • true story
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language strong
  • Violence mild
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action3
Horror0
Humour6
Realism6
Romance5
Tension4
Darkness3
Complexity4
Emotional weight3

More like this

Titles like Lay the Favorite

Movie

Molly's Game

2017

A fast-talking, stylish rise-and-fall story that keeps you hooked with sharp dialogue and a tense, introspective edge.

Brisk · about greed and ambition · true story

Via
  • greed
  • ambition
  • true story
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
141 min
Details
Molly's GameHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Swing Time

1936

A breezy, elegant escape into a world of effortless charm, where dazzling dance numbers and witty banter make the slight story feel like pure joy.

Light, whimsical · about ambition and love

Via
  • light
  • whimsical
  • ambition
  • love
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
103 min
Details
Swing TimeHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Florence Foster Jenkins

2016

A gentle, affectionate comedy that makes you cringe and smile at once, then quietly breaks your heart in its final act.

Same writer: Stephen Frears · Whimsical · about love and identity · true story

Also
Same writer: Stephen Frears
Via
  • whimsical
  • love
  • identity
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
110 min
Details
Florence Foster JenkinsHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Tulsa King

2022

A relaxed, wry crime saga that coasts on its star's gruff charm, mixing mob menace with small-town comedy and easy momentum.

About ambition and loyalty

Via
  • ambition
  • loyalty
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Seasons
4
Details
Tulsa KingHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

It Could Happen to You

1994

A gentle, feel-good romantic comedy that charms with its earnest kindness and simple faith in human decency.

Light · about greed and love · true story

Via
  • light
  • greed
  • love
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
101 min
Details
It Could Happen to YouHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Magic Mike

2012

A seductive, sun-drenched ride through a flashy world that slowly reveals its hollowness, anchored by a quietly yearning lead.

Light · about ambition and identity

Via
  • light
  • ambition
  • identity
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
110 min
Details
Magic MikeHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Hit Man

2024

A breezy, playful romp that keeps shifting shape, charming you with disguises and banter before quietly turning darker and more dangerous.

Light, brisk · about love and identity · true story

Via
  • light
  • love
  • identity
  • true story
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
116 min
Details
Hit ManHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

War Dogs

2016

A slick, fast-moving ride through sleazy deals and bad decisions, funny but with a sour aftertaste.

Brisk · about greed and ambition · true story

Via
  • greed
  • ambition
  • true story
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
114 min
Details
War DogsHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Suits

2011–2019

Sharp banter and slick legal maneuvering keep the stakes high, while personal entanglements add soapy warmth.

Brisk · about ambition and identity

Via
  • ambition
  • identity
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Seasons
9
Details
SuitsHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Hustle

2022

A warm, crowd-pleasing underdog story that mixes basketball action with heartfelt family moments and a redemptive arc.

About ambition and loyalty · true story

Via
  • ambition
  • loyalty
  • true story
Pacing
measured
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
117 min
Details
HustleHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Maverick

1994

A breezy, joke-filled ride with charming con artists, playful twists, and a warm Western vibe that keeps you smiling.

Light, whimsical, brisk · about greed and loyalty

Via
  • light
  • whimsical
  • greed
  • loyalty
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
127 min
Details
MaverickHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Hustlers

2019

A glittery, fast-talking crime story that seduces you with glamour, then slowly reveals the desperation and loyalty underneath.

Brisk · about greed · true story

Via
  • greed
  • true story
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
110 min
Details
HustlersHidden from your suggestions.

Cast

Where to watch in the UK

Free
  • Rakuten TV
  • Plex
Rent or buy
  • Apple TV Store
  • Rakuten TV
  • Amazon Video
  • Sky Store
  • YouTube

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres
drama, comedy
Directed by
Stephen Frears
Written by
D.V. DeVincentis
Starring
Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joshua Jackson, Laura Prepon, Frank Grillo, Wayne Péré, John Carroll Lynch
Music
James Seymour Brett
Cinematography
Michael McDonough
Runtime
94 min
Country
France, United Kingdom, United States of America
Languages
English, Spanish

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata