The Hustler
They called him Fast Eddie. He was a winner. He was a loser. He was a hustler.
Directed by Robert Rossen
Produced by Rossen Films, 20th Century Fox
A gritty, character-driven drama about a talented but self-destructive pool hustler's rise and fall, shot in stark black and white with an unflinching eye on ambition, addiction, and moral compromise.
Fast Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats to a high-stakes match.
Clusters
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is The Hustler sad? Yes. More sad than 88% of films.
Does The Hustler end with hope? Barely. Less hopeful than 78% of films.
Is The Hustler scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 58% of films.
Is The Hustler violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is The Hustler easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
There is almost nothing else like this.
How unlike any other film this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like The Hustler, and what each one shares →
Like The Hustler
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as The Hustler
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like The Hustler, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like The Hustler, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like The Hustler, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
