The Sting
Two grifters team up to pull off the ultimate con.
Directed by George Roy Hill · Comedy · Crime · Drama · 129 min · 1973
Trailer
Director
George Roy Hill
Writer
David S. Ward
Studio
Universal Pictures / The Zanuck/Brown Company
Release
25 Dec 1973
Runtime
129 min
Genres
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Full Plot
Johnny Hooker, a small time grifter, unknowingly steals from Doyle Lonnegan, a big time crime boss, when he pulls a standard street con. Lonnegan demands satisfaction for the insult. After his partner, Luther, is killed, Hooker flees, and seeks the help of Henry Gondorff, one of Luther's contacts, who is a master of the long con. Hooker wants to use Gondorff's expertise to take Lonnegan for an enormous sum of money to even the score, since he admits he "doesn't know enough about killing to kill him." They devise a complicated scheme and amass a talented group of other con artists who want their share of the reparations. The stakes are high in this game, and our heroes must not only deal with Lonnegan's murderous tendencies, but also other side players who want a piece of the action. To win, Hooker and Gondorff will need all their skills...and a fair amount of confidence.
Cast & Characters
Henry Gondorff
Paul Newman
Johnny Hooker
Robert Redford
Doyle Lonnegan
Robert Shaw
Lt. William Snyder
Charles Durning
J. J. Singleton
Ray Walston
Billie
Eileen Brennan
Kid Twist
Harold Gould
Eddie Niles
John Heffernan
FBI Agent Polk
Dana Elcar
Erie Kid
Jack Kehoe
Loretta
Dimitra Arliss
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $5.5M, The Sting has grossed $159.6M worldwide — about 29.0x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The Sting is part of TMDb's "The Sting Collection."
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The film was a box-office smash in 1973 and early 1974, grossing $156 million in the United States and Canada.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
The Sting holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (298,899 votes), 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.2/10 on IMDb (298,899 votes), 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Sting's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
The Sting holds a 93% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is The Sting's IMDb rating?+
The Sting has a 8.2/10 rating on IMDb from 298,899 votes.
What is The Sting's Metacritic score?+
The Sting has a Metascore of 83/100 on Metacritic.
Is The Sting good? What are critics saying?+
The Sting holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (298,899 votes), 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83/100 on Metacritic.
How long is The Sting?+
The Sting has a runtime of 129 min.
Who directed The Sting?+
The Sting was directed by George Roy Hill.
Where can I watch The Sting?+
The Sting is available to stream, rent, or buy on YouTube TV, TCM, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The movie "The Sting" has received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its engaging storyline, likable characters, and outstanding performances. Reviewers have noted that the film's chemistry between Paul Newman and Robert Redford is particularly notable, and that it sets a high standard for films about con artists and confidence games.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Not only does it sting, it floats like a butterfly as well. Academy Award Winner Best Picture, Academy Award Winner Best Director-George Roy Hill, Academy Award Winner Best Screenplay-David S. Ward, Academy Award Winner Best Editing-William Reynolds, Academy Award Winner Best Son…
John Chard · 10/10Say what you like about the undoubted chemistry between Paul Newman ("Henry") and Robert Redford ("Johnny") this film belongs to a superb effort from the understated but hugely entertaining Robert Shaw. He's the hard-nosed gangster "Lonnegan" who gets (anonymously) fleeced by a "…
CinemaSerf · 8/10**It is imperative to rediscover this magnificent film.** There are many films about con artists and confidence games (Ocean’s Eleven and its two or three sequels, for example), but I had never seen one that was so good-natured and in which the main characters were so likable. It…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 10/10
From the trailer's comments
I like how he said, "This time they might get away with it" alluding to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
@rustinonthevine · 170 likesRIP Paul Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008), aged 83 RIP Robert Shaw (August 9, 1927 – August 28, 1978), aged 51 RIP Robert Redford (August 18, 1936 – September 16, 2025), aged 89 You will be remembered as legends
@LPJack02 · 54 likesOne of the really nice touches to this flick is that the Universal logo at the beginning of the movie was what was actually used in the 30s
@robertschmidt7879 · 64 likesScott Joplin's rags just MAKE this film. Oh how I love this! Every second.
@thomashogan16 · 64 likesRIP Robert Redford. 😢🌷 (16/set/2025)
@sheilakantora7415 · 40 likesOne of the best movies of all time
@Dmiller7239 · 66 likesThe best con movie of all time.A sheer classic.Superb acting by Newman, Redford and Shaw.A Brilliant story and an unforgettable movie experience.
@ranilpeiris1929 · 84 likesI have seen thousands of movies in my lifetime, and this one is at the top of the list. Magnificent from start to finish.
@skontch1 · 44 likes
