Film

The Hustle

Name: The Hustle
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: 2019
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson, Alex Sharp, Dean Norris, Timothy Simons

A comedy about two con artists—one polished, one scrappy—who put aside their rivalry to fleece a tech billionaire. It's a breezy, fizzy heist film built on chemistry, costume changes, and the pleasures of watching smart people outsmart the room. For anyone who likes their comedies light, their cons clever, and their leads having genuine fun together.

TMDb rating

3.1

If you liked this

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels1988

The original blueprint: Michael Caine and Steve Martin as con men competing on the French Riviera. Sharper, meaner, and funnier—a masterclass in comedy timing and the appeal of likeable fraudsters.

But Shot in 1988 with a '80s sensibility; some of the humor hasn't aged as gracefully as the Palm Beach setting.

Ghostbusters1984

Four people who shouldn't work as a team absolutely do, creating magic through genuine rapport and complementary personalities. The template for ensemble comedy done right, with heart beneath the laughs.

But Heavy on practical effects and dated technology; the supernatural premise might feel dated compared to modern CGI-heavy comedies.

Ocean's Eleven2001

A heist where the real pleasure is watching impossibly cool people execute a clever plan. Stylish, fun, bursting with a cast having the time of their lives pulling off the impossible.

But The plot is less important than the vibe; if you need intricate, airtight heist logic, this delivers charm instead.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Hustle

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Marjorie Morningstar1958

Both are fascinated by the idea of reinvention: becoming a polished version of yourself as a form of power and survival.

Gene Kelly and Claire Trevor in a screwball romance about performance and reinvention. The DNA of The Hustle's con-through-costume idea, but lushly romantic and rooted in the glamour of becoming someone else.

But A 1950s melodrama about marriage, ambition, and women's choices—it's sincere where The Hustle is ironic, which can feel heavy-handed now.

Nine to Five1980

Three women take down their terrible boss through pranks, schemes, and teamwork. Genuinely funny, genuinely furious, genuinely satisfying—comedy with a point about workplace power dynamics.

But The corporate satire is of its era; some may find the tone uneven between comedy and genuine critique.

Paper Moon1973

A con artist and a young girl traveling Depression-era America, running small scams and bickering. Dry, clever, with a rhythm and rhythm built on dialogue and the clash between their temperaments.

But Black and white, sparse, deliberately paced—nothing flashy, which means it demands patience and attention to appreciate the script.

Addams Family Values1993

Dark comedy with bite: the Addams family navigate summer camp and attempted murder with deadpan charm. Wickedly funny, beautifully shot, memorable in every frame.

But Gothic and macabre; if you prefer bright, contemporary settings and humor, this goes purposefully dark and cold.

The Heat2013

Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy as cop and crook forced to partner up. Crude, generous with comedy, and genuinely interested in how its leads drive each other crazy and come to respect one another.

But Loud, raunchy, with a surplus of jokes that swing for the fences; restraint is not the goal, which isn't for everyone.

Thelma & Louise1991

Two friends on the run, robbing their way to freedom and themselves. Thrilling, funny, furious, and unexpectedly moving—a film about what happens when women stop apologizing and start taking what they need.

But The ending is devastating; this isn't a light heist, it's a tragedy dressed as an escape fantasy.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang2005

A con artist, a private detective, and a movie star in Los Angeles. Rapid-fire, self-aware, bursting with cleverness and affection for everyone involved in this ridiculous scheme.

But The meta-commentary and rapid pacing can feel exhausting; it's actively trying to be too smart in every frame.

The Wolf of Wall Street2013

Both understand that cons work because charm and performance are real power; The Hustle celebrates it, Wolf condemns it, but they see the same engine.

Scammers at work and play, filmed with a kinetic, almost orgasmic energy. Excess, charm, charisma, and the terrible magnetism of people who have convinced themselves (and others) they're invincible.

But Bloated, repetitive, aggressively male and often sordid; it argues for no moral reckoning, just speed and surfaces.

Rififi1955

Both build their DNA around the pleasure of watching smart people orchestrate an impossible con; Rififi is where the heist movie as a form was perfected.

A legendary French heist film told mostly without dialogue—a masterpiece of visual storytelling about criminals planning and executing a perfect theft. Taut, elegant, genuinely thrilling without a wink.

But Entirely in French with subtitles, shot in stark black and white, built on suspense rather than laughs—the inverse of The Hustle's tonal register.