Pain Hustlers

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2:12

Pain Hustlers

R

Released Oct 20, 2023

2h 2m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

23%

Tomatometer

115 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Liza Drake (Emily Blunt) is a blue-collar single mom who has just lost her job and is at the end of her rope. A chance meeting with pharmaceutical sales rep Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) puts her on an upwards trajectory economically but dubious path ethically as she becomes entangled in a dangerous racketeering scheme. Dealing with her increasingly unhinged boss (Andy Garcia), the worsening medical condition of her daughter (Chloe Coleman), and a growing awareness of the devastation the company is causing forces Liza to examine her choices. Pain Hustlers is a sharp and revealing look at what some people do out of desperation and others do out of greed.

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Critics Consensus

Pain Hustlers has some great actors and a worthwhile premise, but lackluster execution dooms this dramatic look at the opioid epidemic.

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Jocelyn Noveck

Associated Press

Pain Hustlers feels like a retreading of the same ground covered in other recent works, bringing nothing especially new to the table and, in splitting the stylistic difference between slick/breezy and poignant/authentic, succeeding fully at neither.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 30, 2023

Full Review

Devan Coggan

Entertainment Weekly

It's plenty entertaining, but not particularly thoughtful — just enough depth to fill a prescription pad, not a whole book.

Rated: B-

Oct 30, 2023

Full Review

Liz Shannon Miller

Consequence

Pain Husters manages to avoid feeling like an Adam McKay remake of Dopesick, but its shifting tone never quite hits the right notes.

Rated: C+

Oct 27, 2023

Full Review

Monita Roy Mohan

Women Write About Comics

Pain Hustlers puts the spotlight on the people who were part of a devastating crisis, but its lackadaisical direction and underwhelming performances do the subject matter no justice.

Aug 20, 2025

Full Review

Maxance Vincent

The Cosmic Circus

Everything in Pain Hustlers feels unimportant, and its distractingly flashy style certainly doesn’t help. It’s great to see Yates doing something else than Harry Potter, but his first real Wizarding World break doesn’t leave a good lasting impression.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 12, 2025

Full Review

Clotilde Chinnici

Loud and Clear Reviews

Ultimately, Pain Hustlers feels like a half-finished product, one that does manage to fully delve into the depths and complexities of the opioid epidemic in the United States.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 14, 2024

Full Review

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Ana G

I really liked it, Emily Blunt is perfect as always and Chris too, pretty solid movie

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

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Gina R

I found this movie very entertaining and informative. We've known for years that big Pharma caters to, brides and pay doctors in accepting their drugs and writing prescriptions for them. Believe me, I've seen plenty of drug companies rent out an entire theatre and give doctors all kinds of perks. Trips, money and incredible expensive items. In addition, character played by Emily Blunt is spot on in appearance and demeanor. Drug reps strut like peacocks into these doctor offices to tout their goods. I've even heard them joking and flirting when in the next room It's all a game and the patients are the guinea pigs. I wouldn't trust the FDA as far as I could throw them.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

Full Review

Pez R

Fun! And yet thought-provoking. A good look at greed in the pharmaceutical industry and medical ethics.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/11/25

Full Review

Neil M

A good watch that is well acted and tells a compelling story of greed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I've reviewed other source materials on what happened and this film was true to life. I recommend watching this movie with no skepticism to what it depicts and the viewer will both be entertained and learn something.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

Full Review

Jerod S

It has some Erin Brokovich vibes, but fentanyl being peddled is the struggling single-mom goal.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

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David Yates

Director

Emily Blunt

Liza Drake

Chris Evans

Actor

Andy Garcia

Actor

Catherine O'Hara

Actor

Amit Shah

Actor

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Pain Hustlers: Trailer 1

2:12

Pain Hustlers: Teaser

0:48

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Synopsis

Liza Drake (Emily Blunt) is a blue-collar single mom who has just lost her job and is at the end of her rope. A chance meeting with pharmaceutical sales rep Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) puts her on an upwards trajectory economically but dubious path ethically as she becomes entangled in a dangerous racketeering scheme. Dealing with her increasingly unhinged boss (Andy Garcia), the worsening medical condition of her daughter (Chloe Coleman), and a growing awareness of the devastation the company is causing forces Liza to examine her choices. Pain Hustlers is a sharp and revealing look at what some people do out of desperation and others do out of greed.

Director: David Yates
Producer: Lawrence Grey, David Yates
Screenwriter: Wells Tower
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Grey Matters Productions, Wychwood Media
Rating: R (Nudity|Language Throughout|Drug Use|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 27, 2023
Runtime: 2h 2m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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