The Hustler

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The Hustler

Released Sep 25, 1961

2h 15m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Story Fast Eddie Felsen (Paul Newman) and his adventures in the world of professional pool. Fast Eddie is a young hopeful on his way to challenging Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) for his world title. When he starts getting feelings for a woman he gets into a dilemma.

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Critics Consensus

Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason give iconic performances in this dark, morally complex tale of redemption.

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James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

Newman gives a restrained, modulated performance, an unusual one in that character development is sought and achieved with utilization only of voice, gesture, intensity.

Sep 25, 2018

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Rosen, the co-author, has directed with a sure, economical hand. Newman is first-rate.

Jan 27, 2016

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Like a traditional morality play; teens and up.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2010

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Adrian Turner

Radio Times

As a showcase for one of Paul Newman's best screen performances, it's still a masterpiece, with Newman, Jackie Gleason and George C Scott striking sparks in the perfectly captured seedy pool-hall atmosphere.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 31, 2024

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

...features one of Paul Newman’s most tarnished, self-destructive golden boys.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 26, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

A tragedy at the conclusion proves yet again that the motives and beliefs are way off base, inspiring a fantastical comeback rather than a believable change in dauntlessness.

Rated: 3/10

Aug 29, 2022

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Stephen C

Success in 2.25 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring the late Paul Newman and the late Jackie Gleason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

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Audience Member

Easily the best movie i think i've ever seen. Incredible symbolism. Incredible acting cinematography writing. Cutting commentary of the human condition. Remarkable. Exquisite. A poetic synecdoche of the ordinary. Majestic. I cannot recommend it enough. Cinema in a beautiful form.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/25

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Vitor O

With great acting all around, this tale or redemption is the template for a lot of the sports drama that came after, even to this day. With a great beginning and a fantastic ending, the only reason why this movie doesn't deserve the 5 stars is the slow and kind of repetitive middle section where Newman and Laurie are living together.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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Jay W

"The Hustler" is a critically acclaimed sports movie from 1961. It won 2 Oscars and is in AFI's top 10 Sports movies of all time. It stars some of the best actors to do ever do the job with, Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie and a different role for Jackie Gleason. It is likely the first movie that comes to mind when people think of a pool movie. With all that in mind, why do I not care for it? This may seem like a short attention span problem, but for most of the movie- Nothing happens. It begins with some impressive pool playing, but then follows an hour of characters wallowing in self-pity. In the characters own words, "all we do is drink and sleep." Paul Newman's "Fast Eddie", is anything but fast. The movie's pacing is pretty darn slow. Characters overreact to the extreme for simple misunderstandings. Sarah Packard (Piper Laurie) is so emotionally unstable, that when Eddie tells her that he is going out of town for the week, she has a complete meltdown. It is not a relationship that I am rooting for. There are great actors, cool pool trick shots and even a good scene. But I can't get passed the story and characters. I don't like Fast Eddie nor Sarah Packard. This movie has a lot of talent, but it needs character. For me, this film is a loser.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

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timmy b

Cinematic brilliance. Newman, Marie, Scott, McCormick & Gleason were incredible. From writing to cinematography to lighting to music to directing this is one of the most impactful & artistic films ever made.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

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Fer S

Great cinematography and acting, just not a very interesting plot.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

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Robert Rossen

Director

Paul Newman

'Fast' Eddie Felson

Jackie Gleason

Minnesota Fats

George C. Scott

Bert Gordon

Piper Laurie

Sarah Packard

Myron McCormick

Charlie Burns

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Synopsis

Story Fast Eddie Felsen (Paul Newman) and his adventures in the world of professional pool. Fast Eddie is a young hopeful on his way to challenging Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) for his world title. When he starts getting feelings for a woman he gets into a dilemma.

Director: Robert Rossen
Producer: Robert Rossen
Screenwriter: Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen, Walter Tevis
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, Key Video
Production Co: Rossen Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 25, 1961, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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