Hustlers

Hustlers

Year: 2019

Runtime: 110 min

Language: English

Director: Lorene Scafaria

Echo Score: 76

Budget: $20M

DramaThrillerComedyCrime

Amidst the competitive world of New York City’s exotic dancing scene, Destiny struggles to stay afloat until she meets Ramona, a skilled and charismatic dancer. Ramona mentors Destiny, teaching her how to strategically charm and work Manhattan's wealthy clientele. As a financial crisis impacts their lives and careers, a group of resourceful strippers devise a risky scheme to take charge and turn the challenging circumstances to their advantage.

Hustlers (2019) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Hustlers (2019) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the neon‑lit underbelly of Manhattan, the world of exotic dancing pulses like a restless beat, where glittering clubs hide the daily grind of ambition and survival. The city’s relentless energy fuels a cut‑throat competition that turns every performance into a negotiation, and every night out on the town into a gamble. Amid glitter and grit, the atmosphere is a mix of sultry confidence and underlying tension, hinting at both opportunity and danger for those who dare to thrive there.

Destiny is a young woman fighting to keep her head above water, juggling the demands of family responsibility and the unforgiving pace of the strip club scene. When she catches the eye of the magnetic and charismatic Ramona, a seasoned dancer whose presence commands both respect and envy, a mentorship forms that feels as much like friendship as it is a shortcut to financial stability. Through Ramona’s guidance, Destiny learns to navigate the unspoken rules of the city’s wealthy clientele, discovering that charm can be as powerful a currency as any tip.

As the 2007‑2008 financial crisis begins to tighten its grip on the city, a small band of resourceful dancers—including ambitious newcomers—recognize that the ordinary grind will no longer suffice. United by shared hardship and a daring audacity, they hatch a bold, risky scheme aimed at turning the tide of their precarious lives. The plan hinges on their ability to outwit the affluent patrons who frequent Manhattan’s nightlife, leveraging their wit, allure, and the tight‑knit bond they’ve forged. In this high‑stakes dance of survival, the line between empowerment and peril blurs, leaving the audience wondering how far these women will go to rewrite their destinies.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 01:40

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Female-Driven Crime Stories Like Hustlers

Resourceful women turn to risky criminal schemes for survival and power.If you enjoyed the high-stakes criminal hustle in Hustlers, explore more movies about resourceful women who mastermind risky schemes. These films share a tense, gritty vibe, complex female relationships, and a focus on survival and empowerment within a dangerous world.

tensedangerousgrittyempoweringfranticregretfulextravagant

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a group or individual who transitions from a position of vulnerability to one of calculated criminal power. The narrative often builds steadily as the plan is devised and executed, leading to a peak of frantic success before the inevitable unraveling due to internal betrayal or external pressure, resulting in bittersweet or heavy consequences.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared core of female-led criminal enterprises, a tense and dark tone, and the exploration of themes like financial desperation, greed, and the bonds (and fractures) of friendship forged in fire.

Movies About Fractured Friendships Like Hustlers

A powerful partnership shatters under the weight of ambition and betrayal.For viewers who appreciated the complex relationship between Destiny and Ramona in Hustlers, this collection features movies where a powerful mentorship or friendship is torn apart by the very ambition that built it. These are heavy, character-driven dramas with bittersweet endings.

melancholicregretfulgrittytenseempoweringbetrayalbittersweet

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist who is lifted up by a charismatic mentor or partner, achieving a new level of power or success. However, the methods used to maintain that success—often involving moral compromise and escalating risk—create irreparable fissures in the relationship. The story culminates not just in external consequences, but in the melancholic loss of the connection that defined the journey.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their core emotional arc: the rise and tragic fall of a central, empowering relationship due to the pressures of a criminal world or ruthless ambition, leaving a lingering sense of what was lost.

Unlock the Full Story of Hustlers

Don't stop at just watching — explore Hustlers in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Hustlers is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Hustlers Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Hustlers, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Hustlers Summary

Hustlers Timeline

Track the full timeline of Hustlers with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Hustlers Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hustlers

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Hustlers. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hustlers

More About Hustlers

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Hustlers: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Hustlers

Similar Movies to Hustlers

Discover movies like Hustlers that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.