Let’s be real for a second. Most of the time, when a movie gets a 13% on Rotten Tomatoes, it quietly crawls into a dark corner of a streaming library and dies. It becomes the answer to a trivia question nobody asks. But then there’s The Hustle. You know the one—it’s that movie with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson playing two con artists who basically try to out-swindle each other in the South of France.
Funny thing is, despite critics absolutely shredding it back in 2019, it just won’t go away.
Honestly, it's currently pulling off its own long con. As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, the film has been hovering in the Top 10 on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. People are watching it. Like, a lot of people. It’s the ultimate "guilty pleasure" watch that defies every logic of "prestige" cinema. If you’ve been scrolling through your feed and wondering why this specific comedy keeps popping up, you’re not alone.
What is The Hustle Actually About?
Basically, it's a gender-swapped remake. If you’re a film nerd, you know it’s actually a remake of a remake. It takes the bones of the 1988 classic Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (which starred Steve Martin and Michael Caine) and flips the script. Before that, it was a 1964 Marlon Brando movie called Bedtime Story.
In this version, Anne Hathaway plays Josephine Chesterfield. She’s the "high-class" con. She has the massive villa, the polished British accent, and the ability to make men hand over their life savings just by blinking at them. Then you’ve got Rebel Wilson as Penny Rust. Penny is the "low-rent" version. She scams guys for free burgers and beer.
They meet, they clash, and eventually, they place a bet: whoever can con a tech billionaire (played by Alex Sharp) out of $500,000 gets to stay in the French Riviera. The loser has to pack their bags and find a new territory.
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Why critics hated it (and why they might have been right)
Critics weren't just mean for the sake of it. The movie has some... let's call them "choices." Hathaway’s accent is so posh it feels like a parody of a parody. There’s a scene involving a "blindness" scam that goes on for about twenty minutes too long.
And then there's the humor. A lot of it relies on Rebel Wilson doing physical comedy—tripping, falling, or getting her hand superglued to things. Some people find it hilarious. Others, like most professional reviewers, found it a bit dated. They felt the movie wasted the sheer talent of two Oscar-tier (or at least high-caliber) actresses on jokes that belonged in 2004.
The Secret Behind Its Streaming Success
So, why is a movie with a "D-" grade from some outlets currently a global hit?
Timing.
We’re living in an era of "The Bleakness." Everything on TV is a dark documentary about a serial killer or a high-stress drama about the end of the world. The Hustle is the opposite of that. It’s bright. It’s fast (94 minutes!). It’s set in a place that looks like a vacation.
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Sometimes you don't want to think. You just want to see Anne Hathaway pretend to be a terrifying German doctor while Rebel Wilson pretends she can't see.
The "Comfort Watch" Factor
There’s something weirdly soothing about watching two people who are clearly having fun on set. Hathaway has even said in interviews that she took the role because she wanted to work with Wilson. That chemistry, even when the jokes are a bit "groan-worthy," actually translates to the screen.
- Low Stakes: Nobody is going to die.
- Visual Candy: The fashion and the locations are stunning.
- The Twist: Without spoiling it, the ending actually flips the "men vs. women" dynamic in a way that feels satisfying.
The Financial Reality vs. The Reviews
If you look at the numbers, The Hustle was never a failure for the studio. It was produced on a relatively modest budget of $21 million. By the time it finished its theatrical run, it had raked in over $97 million worldwide.
That’s a massive return on investment.
It turns out that while critics were writing essays about the "decline of the comedy genre," general audiences were buying tickets and laughing at the toilet humor. The movie actually made more money internationally than it did in the US, proving that physical comedy is a universal language, even if that language involves a few too many "fat jokes" for some people's taste.
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Is a Sequel Happening?
This is the big question. Given how well it’s doing on streaming, fans are asking if we’ll see Penny and Josephine again.
As of right now, there is no official confirmation of a sequel. Hathaway and Wilson are both busy with massive individual projects. However, the ending of the first movie definitely leaves the door wide open for a "Medusa" storyline. In Hollywood, if a movie keeps hitting the Top 10, the studio usually finds a way to make part two happen.
If it does happen, hopefully they’ll tighten up the script. The biggest complaint wasn't the stars; it was the fact that four different writers worked on the screenplay, which often makes a comedy feel a bit disjointed.
Actionable Insights for Movie Night:
If you’re planning to finally watch (or re-watch) this movie tonight, here’s how to actually enjoy it:
- Adjust Your Expectations: Don't go in expecting The Godfather or even The Devil Wears Prada. This is a "turn your brain off" 90-minute ride.
- Watch the Original: If you find the plot too thin, go back and watch Dirty Rotten Scoundrels afterwards. It’s a masterclass in how this specific story can be told.
- Check the Streaming Platform: It jumps between Netflix, Prime, and Max depending on your region. Check a site like JustWatch before you spend $3.99 to rent it.
- Look for the Cameos: Keep an eye out for Timothy Simons (from Veep). He’s in the opening scene and he’s one of the few people who matches Rebel Wilson’s energy perfectly.
The movie with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson might not be a "masterpiece," but in 2026, it’s proving that "fun" is a lot more durable than "critical acclaim."