What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSmokin' Aces
Joe Carnahan · Film · 2006
If you loved Smokin' Aces, start with Burn Notice (Matt Nix, 2007) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Smokin' Aces across media.
What hooked you in Smokin' Aces was the frantic collision of desperate criminals, high-stakes targets, and darkly comedic violence.
Books on the same thread
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
Like Smokin' Aces, this story captures the absurdity of mob life and the colorful personalities that emerge when career criminals find themselves in way over their heads.
Trunk Music
Michael Connelly · Book · 2006
Shares a thread with Smokin' Aces: Crime Thriller.
You will appreciate the gritty urban realism here, which mirrors the dangerous, mob-infested atmosphere of Smokin' Aces while focusing on a detective navigating a lethal criminal landscape.
Pronto
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1993
Explores: Gambling, Mob life, Witness protection.
The high-stakes tension of a snitch on the run from the mob creates a frantic, chase-driven narrative that mirrors the central conflict found in Smokin' Aces.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Steven Jay Schneider · Book · 2008
Explores: Film History, Classic Cinema, Cult Films.
If you want to explore the cinematic lineage of fast-paced action films like Smokin' Aces, this guide provides the essential context for the genre's most iconic entries.
Series on the same thread
Burn Notice
Matt Nix · Series · 2007
Explores: Redemption, Underdog, Blacklist.
This series captures the same high-stakes desperation seen in Smokin' Aces, following a skilled operative who must use his unique training to survive after being blacklisted.
Mr Inbetween
Scott Ryan · Series · 2018
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Balancing Family and Crime, Working Class Criminal.
This series masterfully balances the brutal violence of the hitman lifestyle with dark humor, perfectly capturing the tonal tightrope walk that made Smokin' Aces so uniquely engaging.
Chuck
Josh Schwartz · Series · 2007
Shares a thread with Smokin' Aces: Action Comedy.
While lighter in tone, this show shares the fish-out-of-water intensity of Smokin' Aces, thrusting an ordinary person into a world of deadly professionals and complex conspiracies.
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Surveillance State, Moral Ambiguity.
The moral ambiguity and high-stakes pursuit of justice in this series echo the chaotic, fast-paced nature of Smokin' Aces, featuring operatives who excel in dangerous environments.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If you enjoyed the macabre humor found in Smokin' Aces, these hosts offer a similar comedic spin on the darker side of crime and tragic human behavior.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
This podcast taps into the same dark humor and fascination with criminal misconduct that defined Smokin' Aces, focusing on the absurd intersection of sports and illegal activity.
Common questions
What is the primary conflict in Smokin' Aces?
The conflict in Smokin' Aces centers on Buddy Israel, a Las Vegas performer who becomes a government witness against the mob. His decision to testify triggers a dangerous situation where numerous parties attempt to prevent him from staying alive to fulfill his role as a state's evidence witness.
Who directed Smokin' Aces?
Smokin' Aces was directed by Joe Carnahan. The film was released in 2006 and follows the high-stakes scenario involving a mob snitch named Buddy Israel who is targeted by various groups after deciding to cooperate with the authorities.
Is Smokin' Aces about a mob snitch?
Yes, Smokin' Aces follows a Las Vegas performer named Buddy Israel who turns state's evidence against the mob. Because he possesses information that could harm the organization, he becomes the target of many individuals who want to ensure he is no longer breathing.
Why are people trying to kill Buddy Israel in Smokin' Aces?
In Smokin' Aces, Buddy Israel is targeted because he is a mob snitch who has decided to testify for the government. His cooperation poses a significant threat to the mob, leading many different people to attempt to stop him before he can provide his testimony.