The Highest Stakes is a 2026 American thriller film directed by Tony Dean Smith and written by Gary Preisler, based on a story by Steven Paul, who also produced the film. The film follows five people who are invited to a high-stakes poker game when they learn the game is about survival rather than winning.

Plot

Five strangers (Billy Gray, Michale Quinn, Tom Cartright, Dr. Scott Stevens and Aurora) are independently invited to an exclusive high-stakes poker game at a secluded luxury hotel. Each arrives expecting a lucrative opportunity, but soon discovers that the event is tightly controlled and that leaving the premises is not permitted. As the game begins, the participants are introduced to a series of strange occurances that defy explanation. Personal information about each player is revealed over the course of the night, exposing hidden connections and past actions that suggest the invitation was not random. Tensions rise as the stakes increase, shifting from financial loss to physical danger.