The Sting
...all it takes is a little confidence.
1973 • 129 min • Comedy · Crime · Drama
Synopsis
A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.
Our family guide
Best from age 10- 100 Reviewers · 3 · 53%
- 80 Audience · 3035 · 47%
Two con artists team up in 1930s Chicago to pull off an elaborate swindle against a powerful mob boss, seeking revenge for a friend's murder. The film is a clever caper with intricate schemes and twists.
- Violence & peril
- 3/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 4/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 1/10
- Scary moments
- 2/10
Heads up
- Some period-typical violence, including a murder
- Characters drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes
- Mild suggestive content and references to prostitution
- Complex plot might be challenging for younger viewers
What it models well
- Clever problem-solving
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Loyalty to friends
- Justice through wit
Talk about it after
- The morality of con artistry and revenge
- How characters use deception
- The dangers of gambling
- Historical setting of the 1930s
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Sting. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Stream
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- Apple TV Store
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- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: George Roy Hill • Crew: David S. Ward
Trailers & clips
Easiest 5k Ever
Paul Newman Cons a Con Man in a High-Stakes Poker Game in 4K HDR
Trailer #1
Reviewer notes
Recommended**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.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersSay 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 "Johnny" who quickly decides that discretion is the better part of valour and gets out of Dodge.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersNot 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.…
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 8.0/10 (3,035)
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $5,500,000
- Box office
- $159,616,327
- Franchise
- The Sting Collection
- IMDb
- tt0070735
