Movies Like American Hustle Con Artists
Movies like American Hustle are movies that feature con artists getting into tight situations and skillfully getting out of them in the end. Not all movies like these have happy endings, but the great screenplay and acting usually make for a great viewing experience. Here are a couple of great con artist movies like American Hustle that we’ve dug up.
Matchstick Men (2003)
“Matchstick Men” is a 2003 American caper comedy film directed by Ridley Scott, written by Ted Griffin, and starring Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman. The film is about two con artists, Roy Waller (Cage) and Indie Hank (Rockwell), who team up to pull off a big score. Indie Hank convinces Roy to take on his teenage daughter, Angela (Lohman), as his protégé in the con game. But when Angela begins to suspect that her father is not who he says he is, she sets out to uncover his true identity.
This swindler movie was filmed on location in Los Angeles and New Orleans on a budget of $62 million. The film was a box office success, grossing over $130 million worldwide. Critics praised the cast, particularly the performances of Cage and Rockwell.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
“The Talented Mr. Ripley” is a 1999 American psychological thriller directed by Anthony Minghella and starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwenyth Paltrow. Matt Damon shines in this impostor movie.
This impostor movie is based on the 1955 novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith. The story follows Tom Ripley, a young man who is hired to travel to Italy to bring back his friend Dickie Greenleaf. However, when Dickie proves to be indifferent to Tom’s efforts, Tom starts to believe that he could have a better life if he were in Dickie’s shoes. This thinking leads him down a dark path of deceit and murder.
“The Talented Mr. Ripley” was filmed on location in Italy and had a budget of $50 million. It was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $130 million worldwide.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
“Catch Me If You Can” is a 2003 American biographical crime film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr., an expert con artist and impostor who assumed no fewer than eight identities before he was 19 years old. This is widely considered one of the best con artist movies ever.
The film is based on the life of Abagnale, along with co-author Stan Redding, as told in his autobiography of the same name. In addition to DiCaprio, the film stars Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, and Nathalie Baye. The film was shot on location in various cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami. The film has a budget of $52 million.
Confidence (2003)
The 2003 crime drama “Confidence” tells the story of a con artist who finds himself in over his head when he tries to take on a powerful loan shark. The film, which was directed by James Foley and starred Edward Burns and Rachel Weisz, was shot on location in Los Angeles and had a budget of $30 million. Swindler movies come rarely in Hollywood and this one sticks out for us as one of the better ones.
“Confidence” received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing over $62 million worldwide. The movie’s plot revolves around professional con artist Jake Vig (Burns) who, after double-crossing his boss (Dustin Hoffman), finds himself the target of a ruthless loan shark. To protect himself, Jake enlists the help of his friends, all of whom are experienced, con artists. Together, they pull off a series of complex cons that eventually lead them to their ultimate goal: taking down the loan shark and getting revenge.
“Confidence” is an entertaining movie about hustling that features a star-studded cast and plenty of twists and turns. This came way before the movies like American Hustle but is one of the most underrated and forgotten movies of the genre.
21 (2008)
“21” is a 2008 American heist drama film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Aaron Yoo, and Kieu Chinh. The film is inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. A movie about hustling casinos at their own card games using brilliant math as their weapon.
The plot of the film follows a group of students at MIT who used card counting techniques to win big at blackjack in Las Vegas casinos. As their success grows, they attract the attention of casino security and eventually the FBI.
The film was shot on location in Las Vegas and Boston. It had a production budget of $35 million and grossed over $157 million at the worldwide box office.
Critical reception for “21” was generally positive. The film was praised for its direction, acting, writing, and fast pace. However, some critics criticized the film’s lack of depth and its reliance on stereotypes.
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and written by John Cleese. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, and John Cleese as a gang of thieves who double-cross one another to find hidden treasure.
The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures and grossed more than $100 million worldwide, making it the fifth highest-grossing film of 1988! The cast also includes Tom Georgeson, Cynthia Stevenson, and Maria Aitken. The film was shot on location in London and Saint Augustine, Florida. The budget for the film was $15 million.
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Kevin Kline (who won), Best Original Screenplay for John Cleese, and Best Director for Charles Crichton. It also won four BAFTA Awards, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Kline. In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted A Fish Called Wanda the fourth-greatest comedy film of all time. In 2004, the American Film Institute ranked it 44th on their 100 Years…100 Laughs list of the top comedy films of all time.
A Fish Called Wanda continues to be popular and beloved to this day.
American Hustle (2013)
“American Hustle” is a 2013 crime drama directed by David O. Russell and starring an ensemble cast including Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner.
The film is set in the late 1970s and early 1980s and follows a con artist and his partner who are forced to work for a federal agent to avoid prison time. The film was shot on location in New York City and Boston and had a budget of $40 million.
“American Hustle” was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning three for Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, and Best Original Screenplay. It was also nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, winning two for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Amy Adams).
Parasite (2019)
“Parasite” is a 2019 Korean thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho. The film tells the story of the Kim family, who live in poverty in a rundown apartment.
When the son, Ki-woo, is allowed to tutor the daughter of a wealthy family, he seizes the opportunity to improve his family’s financial situation. However, as Ki-woo and his family become more entrenched in the lives of their wealthy employers, they realize that they are not the only ones with secrets.
“Parasite” is a thrilling portrait of class warfare that has won numerous awards, including the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
Shattered Glass (2003)
“Shattered Glass” is a 2003 American drama film directed by Billy Ray. The film is about the life of Stephen Glass, a journalist who was caught fabricating over half of the articles he wrote for The New Republic in the late 1990s. Hayden Christensen stars as Glass, with Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny, and Rosario Dawson in supporting roles.
The film was shot on location in Toronto and Montreal. It cost an estimated $10 million to produce and grossed just under $5 million at the box office. Despite its commercial failure, “Shattered Glass” was well-received by critics. Many praised Christensen’s performance, as well as Ray’s direction and screenplay. The film was nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Compliance (2012)
Compliance (2012), stars Ann Dowd as a middle-aged manager of a Chick-Wich. The film follows the life of a young female employee who is framed for stealing. As a result of this prank call, the character is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions. The resulting conflict is heartbreaking. If you haven’t seen this movie, you should.
Compliance is ripe for a sociology or psychology class, as it explores the darkest recesses of human behavior in a social environment. But while the movie doesn’t get to the root of these characters’ motivations, it is still a powerful portrait of the compliant nature of most people. Compliance also features a stellar cast that includes Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy, Ashlie Atkinson, and Bill Camp.
Joneses (2009)
The Joneses 2009 is a funny anti-capitalist comedy, but it also has an underlying message about capitalism and class differences. Though this film may seem silly at first, it’s an enjoyable watch that contains many surprises. Here are a few of the film’s most interesting details. The movie is not without its flaws. There are some moments when the comedy falls flat, but overall, it’s a solid film.
This satire explores the world of professional families and finds the troubling flaws that make them tick. There’s sex, emotion, and an underlying sense of inner worthlessness in the family dynamics. Demi Moore’s Kate Jones is an ideal team leader, but her husband, Steve, is a former golf pro with devout religious faith and a sexy lifestyle that makes him look sexy.
The Joneses’ sex-based philosophies are well-depicted in the satire. They are all obsessed with their “beautiful” lives and are not content with settling for a mediocre life. The film satirizes consumerism and narcissism, and even skewers materialism and greed. It turns a small town upside down with a dysfunctional family and a desperate attempt to “keep up.”
The Illusionist (2006)
The Illusionist 2006 is based on the short story by Steven Millhauser about a charismatic magician in pre-WWI Vienna. Norton plays the role of Eisenheim, a con artist with a quiet presence offstage and an imposing presence on stage. Eisenheim plays games with Crown Prince Leopold and the aristocracy, and he plays the role of the prince’s favorite magician among the police.
The script was inspired by “Eisenheim the Illusionist” by Steven Millhauser, a short story collection published in 1990. While the story has a gimmick like a protagonist framing the crown prince, it is still based on a real-life event. In reality, Eisenheim’s final trick is the most realistic in the movie. His last trick is a simple practical illusion that reveals a smile of admiration.
“The Illusionist” is a stunningly shot film. The costumes and interiors are beautiful, and the music by Philip Glass is delightful. While the direction by Neil Burger is somewhat underwhelming, the film is engaging and the visuals are stunning. The movie’s stars, Giamatti and Norton, with their German accents, add to the film’s appeal. Ultimately, “The Illusionist” is a film for everyone.
Eisenheim’s performances impress the crowd as he performs his magic tricks. His ability to deceive and manipulate people is astounding, and he stumps the crown prince and amateur conjuring enthusiast, Uhl. The audience is fascinated by Eisenheim’s skills, and Uhl is compelled to discover the secrets of his magic. He even tries to explain some of the tricks to the prince, but it doesn’t work.
Billionaire Boys Club (2018)
Billionaire Boys Club stars Taron Egerton as Dean Karny, Emma Roberts as Sydney Evans, and Kevin Spacey as Ron Levin, a wealthy Beverly Hills banker. But the movie has some problems, too, including a lack of verve. It lacks focus and aims and is riddled with distracting elements.
The movie has become controversial because of allegations of sexual misconduct. Actor Anthony Rapp was the first to come forward with his allegations, accusing Kevin Spacey of sexual assault at an early age. Since then, Spacey has been involved in over a dozen sexual harassment allegations. Meanwhile, Billionaire Boys Club’s distributor, Vertical Entertainment, has announced that it will move forward with the film anyway.
Gold (2016)
Gold the movie is about the quest for gold. The characters, including Jeff and Mutt, are unlikely heroes as they defy the allures of big business. The story is a little convoluted and there are several gratuitous and gimmicky scenes, but there are some excellent performances throughout. The film’s soundtrack by Daniel Pemberton is one of its many strong points, often resembling a James Bond or Ocean’s Eleven-style sequence.
As the titular character, Wells is played by Matthew McConaughey, and his performance is charismatic and engaging. This is a role that required a lot of preparation on the part of the actor. It was reported that McConaughey was on a cheeseburger and beer diet for four months before shooting the movie. His character is so unrecognizable without his Texan drawl and mumbling accent, the film is a fascinating and highly enjoyable experience.
GOLD is an action-thriller starring Matthew McConaughey, Bryce Dallas Howard, Edgar Ramirez, Toby Kebbell, and Joshua Harto. In addition to the aforementioned stars, GOLD also stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Timothy Simons, Bruce Greenwood, and Craig T Nelson. The story follows the journey of a mining company through Indonesia and its shady past.
The Words (2012)
The Words is a satirical novel that follows a young writer named Rory Jansen, who is attempting to publish the next great American novel. Unfortunately, he doesn’t actually write the book, but he’s convinced that it is a masterpiece. Trying to prove his worth, Rory must pay a high price for stealing another man’s work – and the consequences of putting ambition over success.
While not a true story, The Words is loosely based on the life of the author, Ernest Hemingway. The novelist was never able to forgive his wife for stealing his manuscript and never forgave her for the loss of it. It’s a tense story that will leave you begging for more. If you want to know more about the book, watch The Words 2012 movie.
