The Sting II

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The Sting II

PG

1983

1h 42m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

10%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

28%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A follow-up to the classic original, this film finds con men Fargo Gondorff (Jackie Gleason) and Jake Hooker (Mac Davis) reuniting for another scam. While Hooker matches wits with the seductive Veronica (Teri Garr), she ultimately becomes an ally when the schemers take on their old archrival, Doyle Lonnegan (Oliver Reed), and his fellow shady character, Gus Macalinski (Karl Malden). Hooker poses as a washed-up boxer, and Gondorff and Veronica help to set up the sting.

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Rita Kempley

Washington Post

The twists and turns from there on are more predictable than suspenseful. So are the jokes.

Jan 9, 2021

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

Moves slowly, looks terrible and copies the first film shamelessly. Rather than a sequel, it's a retread, with David S. Ward's screenplay supplying hoodlum lingo you could cut with a knife and outlining a set of similar shenanigans.

Apr 14, 2015

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Tom Milne

Time Out

First time round, if you got bored with the endlessly twisting convolutions of the scam, there were compensations in the fancifully nostalgic settings and the host of quirky minor characters. This time you stay bored.

Apr 14, 2015

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

despite the lack of star-power, there’s much to enjoy here, with neat support from Karl Marlden, Oliver Reed and Teri Garr. Forever in the shadow of the original film, The Sting II is worth checking out for curiosity’s sake.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 28, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This project should have been axed. Instead, it was made with Robert Redford replaced by Mac Davis(!) and Paul Newman replaced by Jackie Gleason(!!).

Rated: 2/4

Feb 15, 2020

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Diego Galán

El Pais (Spain)

The film is flat, without any invention or humor. [Full Review in Spanish]

Sep 3, 2019

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Blu B

It's borderline incoherent at times because the editing just isn't good. It cuts so fast at first and than really drags in the second half and becomes sooooo boring but it makes more sense. The pacing is just terrible honestly. The worst part is the humor moments in this and they don't even use Gleason for hardly any of them. There is lots of production value here and captures the look and feel of the first well but the direction is so basic and the humor moments are terrible. This is just lots of talking too and scenes especially in the first half just don't make sense and it's just not good overall. Everything else is ok. Gleason is so....ok it's kind of bizarre. He doesn't even come close to Newman and honestly none of the cast does. It comes very clse to just repeating the first movie honestly and nothing is done well at all. Again it's crazy how boring this gets and terribly jumpy it can be. Gleason,Malden, and everyone elses stories can feel like seperate stories constantly and barely tie toegether with the end fight which isn't even done that well. Skip this. Not even worth acknowledging it exists.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

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Stephen C

1 hour and 42 minutes of unfunny comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

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alan g

How did they convince Arnold to make this movie? Must have been when that no talent hack Devito was flavor of the month. Unfunny, insipid premise, any movie with Devito is a bomb.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Audience Member

It's not as awful as most people say. If you're going to watch it, just forget that you have ever seen the first movie, which of course is one of the best ever made. The Sting II is a fun watch if you don't force the comparison between the two.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Minus Redford and Newman, this sequel stood no chance of succeeding. It's identical to the original in plot and concept minus the fun and energy of its predecessor.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

One of the best Gleason movies of all time! Bar NONE!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Jeremy Kagan

Director

Jackie Gleason

Fargo Gondorff

Mac Davis

Jake Hooker

Teri Garr

Veronica

Karl Malden

Gus Macalinski

Oliver Reed

Lonnegan

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Synopsis

A follow-up to the classic original, this film finds con men Fargo Gondorff (Jackie Gleason) and Jake Hooker (Mac Davis) reuniting for another scam. While Hooker matches wits with the seductive Veronica (Teri Garr), she ultimately becomes an ally when the schemers take on their old archrival, Doyle Lonnegan (Oliver Reed), and his fellow shady character, Gus Macalinski (Karl Malden). Hooker poses as a washed-up boxer, and Gondorff and Veronica help to set up the sting.

Director: Jeremy Kagan
Producer: Jennings Lang
Screenwriter: David S. Ward
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 1983, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2015
Runtime: 1h 42m

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