Movie themed slots draw massive crowds in casinos, and it’s not unusual to see a line forming for a chance to play. While some of the appeal is due to Hollywood’s uncanny ability to market to the masses, elements like authentic video clips, crystal clear sound, and huge jackpots should also be taken into account. Slot machines based on films are available at online casinos, as well, although their level of sophistication usually can’t match the more upscale versions found on the gaming floors of Las Vegas.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the movie themed slots available to players. Reading along won’t provide any secrets to beating slots, but it will give cinema fans a number of exciting options when it comes time to plan their next trip to a casino.
Most Popular Movie Themed Slot Machines
Grease – Manufactured by Bally Technologies, this land-based casino slot is adapted from the hit musical film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. This real money game only costs a penny to play, but the top award pays out 40 million credits. Grease is a 5-reel, 25-payline game, with a maximum wager of 300 credits. Multiple bonus features are included, and the Bally website lists the game as having an overall hit frequency of 54.48%. You can play two games at once, and this slot is packed with original music and scenes from the movie.
Star Wars Trilogy – This video slot has three base games that correspond to the three original movies in the trilogy: Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. A minimum wager of 30 credits must be made to activate each game, so playing with all available gaming options will cost you 90 credits per spin. Numerous bonuses appear during gameplay, including the Ewok Adventure Bonus and the Rapid Reload feature.
There are also three battle bonus rounds, where players get to participate in some of the most lethal showdowns in the Star Wars universe. First is the Battle of Yavin Bonus, where the player must strap into an X-wing fighter and fly down the narrow corridors of the Death Star. Next is the Battle of Hoth Bonus, where players must drive a lumbering AT-AT on the surface of Hoth and try to blast away the rebels’ shield generator. Finally, there’s the Emperor’s Final Battle Bonus, which allows players to choose between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. You’ll earn bonus credits as these two iconic characters battle it out, and you’ll walk away even richer if your chosen character manages to prevail.
Indiana Jones – The folks at IGT offer three types of Indiana Jones games to choose from. While none are named after the feature films, they do include familiar names from the series such as the Cross of Coronado and the Well of Souls. Each game is discussed in more detail below.
The Indiana Jones: Cross of Coronado video slot machine is also a multi-level progressive with five reels and 25 paylines. The base version of the game features stacked wilds, while the shared bonus allows multiple players to compete for progressive levels and free spins.
Indiana Jones: Treasure of the Incas is a 5-reel, 25-payline slot with 243 ways to win. Depending on the gaming jurisdiction, there’s either a 100-coin maximum bet for nickel denominations or a 250-coin maximum for penny denominations. Wild and scatter pay symbols appear on the reels, and fans of the film series should love the authentic clips from the popular adventure series. Stacked wilds offer up to 10 free spins, with a bonus multiplier ranging from 1 to 99. The shared group bonus is also unique, allowing multiple players to compete for free spins and up to four progressive jackpots.
Indiana Jones: Well of Souls is named after the snake-filled location in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and it contains treasure almost as valuable as the Ark of the Covenant. It’s a 5-reel, 25-payline game with group bonus play, 243 ways to win, stacked wilds, clips from the films, and special graphics to denote the group play bonus. If you enter the free spins bonus round, you’ll be able to choose an on-screen icon that will determine whether you win a fixed credit amount or a progressive jackpot. Gather the correct award symbols on the upper payline and you’ll be eligible for the MegaJackpots top award (assuming you’re playing maximum coins).
The Dark Knight – A fitting centerpiece for any casino floor, this massive movie-themed slot from IGT has been wowing players ever since The Dark Knight was released in theaters in 2008. Multiple players can try their luck at the same time, and interested observers can watch the action unfold on the game’s oversized 103-inch video display located above the machines.
Actual clips from the billion-dollar movie are sprinkled throughout the game, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised when the Joker drives onto the screen and fires a rocket launcher. This results in additional credits, which can be multiplied if Batman turns up in pursuit. One of my personal favorites is the Sleight of Hand Bonus, which requires the player to pass their hand over the screen in order to turn over a series of playing cards. Flip over the right cards, and you’ll win an assortment of prizes.
The biggest event in the game is the Battle for Gotham community bonus. This takes the form of a white-knuckle car chase between Batman and the Joker, and multiple players can participate for a chance to win the progressive jackpot. Just choose between Batman and the Joker, and then win credits based on their success.
The movie industry rakes in billions of dollars each year, and the same can be said of online and land-based casinos. Since both deliver visual entertainment and stimulation, it’s natural that they would combine to make movie themed slots.
If you’re tired of playing slot machines where the reels are filled with depictions of generic stars and bars, slots based on films offer an experience that’s both familiar and exciting. And after you’re through relieving some of your favorite cinematic moments through audio and video clips, you might also walk into the sunset with a small fortune in your pockets.