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The Hustler (1961) | Ranked Top 8% · CriticCrunch

The Hustler backdrop

The Hustler

Movie1961·134 min

The Hustler

Directed by Robert Rossen

An Academy Award-winning drama romance film directed by Robert Rossen. Winner of 2 Academy Awards, with 6 additional nominations.

◈ CrunchScore

Top 8%

of all movies · weighted by audience size & source agreement

★ TMDB Audience Rating

7.7/10

1K ratings

About The Hustler

Fast Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats to a high-stakes match.

Pacing: Measured (4 of 9)
Tone: Dark (2 of 9)
Intensity: Intense (7 of 9)
Complexity: Layered (6 of 9)
Humor: Light-touch (4 of 9)
Scale: Personal (4 of 9)
Spirit: Earnest (5 of 9)
Texture: Gritty, Contemplative
Story Tags: ambition hubris, grief and loss, obsession, mid century, sports, new york, urban, rivals, romantic partners, con artist trickster, anti hero, competition tournament, rise and fall, cat and mouse

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Where to Watch The Hustler

Checked yesterday

2 streaming · 4 rent/buy

Stream

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Included with subscription

Prime Video

Included with subscription

Not on:NetflixMaxHuluDisney+Peacock

Also available

Rent

Prime Videohd

$3.99Rent

Apple TV+hd

$3.99Rent

Buy

Apple TV+hd

$4.99Buy

Prime Videohd

$9.99Buy

Availability may change. Verify with the streaming service.

Details

Director: Robert Rossen
Language: English

Cast

Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie

⬡Explore cast & crew→

Awards

🏆Oscar Winner — Best Production Design (1961)🏆Oscar Winner — Best Cinematography (1961)◆Oscar Nominee — Best Actor (1961)◆Oscar Nominee — Best Supporting Actor (1961)◆Oscar Nominee — Best Actress (1961)◆Oscar Nominee — Best Director (1961)◆Oscar Nominee — Best Picture (1961)◆Oscar Nominee — Best Adapted Screenplay (1961)

How The Hustler Ranks

All movies

Top 8%

1960s movies

Top 14%

Drama movies

Top 7%

1960s Drama movies

Top 17%

★Robert Rossen films#1 of 4

Robert Rossen's highest-rated film in our catalog.

the vibe

The Hustler Vibe

What it feels like

measureddarkintenselayeredlight-touchpersonalearnest

gritty

contemplative

What it's about

competition tournamentrise & fallcat & mouseambition hubrisgrief & lossobsessioncon artistanti-herorivalsromantic partnerssportsNew Yorkurbanmid-century

pacing

measured 4/9measured 4/9

tone

dark 2/9dark 2/9

intensity

intense 7/9intense 7/9

complexity

layered 6/9layered 6/9

humor

light-touch 4/9light 4/9

scale

personal 4/9personal 4/9

spirit

earnest 5/9earnest 5/9

texture

grittygritty