A wonderful hymn to the last true era when men of substance played pool with a vengeance.
Comment
06/24/06
The Hustler (1961)
97
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:33
Fresh:32
Rotten:1
Average Rating:8.6/10
Consensus: Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason give iconic performances in this dark, morally complex tale of redemption.
Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: An arrogant and amoral hustler haunts pool rooms to get a crack at bringing down Minnesota Fats. When he starts to have real feelings for a woman, he's faced with a dilemma. See THE COLOR OF MONEY,... [More]
Starring: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott
Director: Robert Rossen
Reviews for The Hustler
Top CriticDirector Rossen presses all the right buttons in this classic dark masterpiece, and the atmosphere of the pool halls is brilliantly conveyed by Shufton's black-and-white CinemaScope photography.
08/03/08
Top CriticNo review available.
05/01/04
Dingy atmosphere and great performances make this a standout.
03/10/03
One of the most compelling character-based films to emerge from the decade of the 1960s.
09/26/02
shows timeless struggle and is a classic in cinema
09/09/07
Eddie's true modern progeny is There Will Be Blood's Daniel Plainview, drinking bitter milkshakes since 1961.
05/07/08
Under Robert Rossen's strong direction, its ruthless and odorous account of one young hustler's eventual emancipation is positive and alive.
05/20/03
Top CriticThe Hustler (1961) is the realistic adult story of a small-time, ambitious, struggling, self-destructive pool shark, commenting on winning/success and losing,
01/01/00
The Hustler is one of those films where scenes have such psychic weight that they grow in our memories.
07/11/02
Top CriticNewman and Scott smolder through the moody black-and-white cinematography, delivering line after line of crackling dialogue.
09/16/03
An unusually coherent and accomplished pool drama with a top-notch turn from Paul Newman, as a jaded and disillusioned player, and an exemplary supporting cast headed by Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, and Jackie Gleason.
06/19/07
Despite the seedy settings (so evocative that they are almost a character in the story), this is almost a traditional morality play about humility and redemption.
07/28/02
A Streetcar Named Desire for the con man.
05/30/02
This picture is so much better than Martin Scorsese's belated sequel The Color of Money that they don't even belong in the same category.
01/01/00
A rich paean to the low-life pool players, dank pool halls and its pool sharks.
01/01/06
Strikes that magical balance between a phenomenal cast, a director with a gift for shadow and mood, and a near-perfect screenplay.
06/28/02
Newman is better than usual; Gleason, as the slit-mouthed, beady-eyed Minnesota Fats, darts among the shabby little pool sharks like an improbably agile and natty whale; and Gambler Scott looks as though he could sell hot-air heat to the devil.
08/03/08
Top CriticNot to be missed.
07/30/03
Top CriticThe Hustler belongs to that school of screen realism that allows impressive performances but defeats the basic goal of pure entertainment.
03/21/07
Top CriticWhat’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
RT on YouTube 
Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.
RT on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.
IGN RSS Feeds