Focus (2015)

Last updated:
February 2, 2026

Focus is a sleek, stylish con-artist thriller directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. Built around deception, psychology, and seduction, the film blends romance with high-stakes grifting, anchored by the magnetic chemistry between Will Smith and Margot Robbie.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

First Encounter: Jess Meets Nicky

Jess Barrett (Margot Robbie), a small-time grifter, crosses paths with seasoned con artist Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith) in a New York bar. She pretends to be in danger to run a scam, but Nicky instantly sees through her. Instead of exposing her, he takes interest in her raw talent.

Nicky invites Jess into his world, introducing her to a large, highly organized crew of professional pickpockets and con artists. We see how elaborate and psychological their operations are. Jess becomes his protégé, learning how misdirection, timing, and reading people are more powerful than speed or force.

The Art of the Con: Super Bowl Weekend Scheme

One of the film’s most memorable sequences takes place during a packed Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans. Nicky’s crew executes dozens of coordinated pickpocketing schemes simultaneously in crowded spaces.

Here, Jess begins to prove herself. But more importantly, Nicky starts breaking his own rule: never mix business with emotions. Their romantic tension grows, and Jess clearly falls for him.

The High-Stakes Betting Con

Nicky pulls off a masterclass con involving a wealthy gambler named Liyuan. He manipulates him into betting increasingly ridiculous amounts of money on guessing which person in a crowd has a specific number. This long, tense sequence shows Nicky’s genius at psychological manipulation.

Jess watches Nicky operate at a level she didn’t realize existed. This is where she sees the real scale of his talent, and also the emotional distance he keeps from everyone.

Sudden Separation: Nicky Disappears

Just as Jess becomes emotionally invested, Nicky abruptly ends their partnership. Without warning, he gives her money and leaves, believing emotions will make him vulnerable and ruin his precision. Jess is heartbroken and confused.

This moment is critical: Nicky chooses control over connection.

Three Years Later: Reunion in Buenos Aires

The story jumps forward three years. Nicky is now working on a high-value con involving a Formula One racing team owner, Garriga (Rodrigo Santoro). Unexpectedly, Jess appears as Garriga’s girlfriend.

Nicky is visibly shaken. He doesn’t know if Jess is part of the con, running her own con, or genuinely involved with Garriga. The uncertainty destabilizes him, something we’ve never seen before.

Layers of Deception: Who Is Conning Whom?

The second half of the film becomes a psychological chess match. Nicky tries to focus on the job while constantly second-guessing Jess’s intentions.

Jess appears glamorous, confident, and emotionally distant now. The student has clearly learned from the master. Their interactions are filled with tension, suspicion, attraction, and unresolved feelings.

Movie Ending

As the plan unfolds, Nicky successfully manipulates Garriga into buying fake racing technology for millions. However, things spiral when Garriga’s enforcer, Owens, becomes suspicious and violent.

Nicky is captured, beaten, and forced into a car. Owens prepares to kill him. In a shocking twist, Owens is revealed to be working with Nicky. The entire kidnapping was staged as part of the con to extract the final payment from Garriga without suspicion.

But here’s the deeper twist: Jess was never working against Nicky. She had secretly paid Owens to ensure Nicky wouldn’t be harmed, because she still cared about him. Nicky realizes this when he discovers she had given Owens the money that saved his life.

This moment is crucial. For the first time, Nicky understands that Jess didn’t become cold or manipulative. She learned his lessons, but she didn’t lose her feelings.

They reunite in the final scene. The emotional wall Nicky built throughout the movie finally cracks. He chooses Jess over the con, over control, over his rules.

The film ends with them leaving together, suggesting a future where they may continue conning, but this time as equal partners, emotionally and professionally.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

There are no post-credits scenes in Focus. The story concludes fully in the final moments of the film.

Type of Movie

Focus is a stylish crime thriller blended with romance and psychological drama, centered on deception, manipulation, and emotional vulnerability between two professional con artists.

Cast

Will Smith as Nicky Spurgeon
Margot Robbie as Jess Barrett
Rodrigo Santoro as Garriga
Gerald McRaney as Owens
Adrian Martinez as Farhad

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Nick Urata, whose music gives the film a smooth, jazzy, and slightly playful tone that matches the elegance of the cons and the chemistry between the leads.

Filming Locations

The film was shot in:

New York City, USA for the opening cons and bar scenes
New Orleans, USA for the Super Bowl sequence
Buenos Aires, Argentina for the second half of the film

Buenos Aires is particularly important because its upscale architecture and Formula One backdrop provide the perfect setting for a high-class international con, reflecting how much bigger the stakes have become.

Awards and Nominations

While not a major awards contender, the film received recognition for:

Costume design and styling in several critics’ circles
Nominations at Teen Choice Awards and People’s Choice Awards for performances

Behind the Scenes Insights

Will Smith consulted real-life pickpockets to understand hand movements and distraction techniques
Margot Robbie performed many of her own sleight-of-hand shots after weeks of training
Directors Ficarra and Requa encouraged improvisation during flirtatious scenes
Many background extras in the Super Bowl sequence were unaware they were part of staged “pickpocket” shots for authenticity

Inspirations and References

The film draws inspiration from classic con-artist films such as The Sting (1973) and Ocean’s Eleven (2001), focusing more on psychology than action.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Deleted scenes include extended romantic moments between Nicky and Jess and longer explanations of the Buenos Aires con, which were removed to keep the pacing tight. No alternate ending was filmed.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Focus is an original screenplay and is not based on a book.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The crowded Super Bowl pickpocketing operation
The high-stakes betting game with Liyuan
The tense reunion between Nicky and Jess in Argentina
The staged kidnapping and final reveal

Iconic Quotes

Nicky: “There’s no room for heart in this game.”
Jess: “Teach me.”
Nicky: “Lose the focus, lose the game.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The repeated use of mirrors reflects themes of deception and dual identities
Jess often wears red when she’s emotionally vulnerable and white when she’s in control
Background characters in early scenes reappear subtly during later cons

Trivia

The script stayed on Hollywood’s Black List for years before production
Margot Robbie was cast shortly after The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Many cons shown are simplified versions of real techniques used by professional grifters

Why Watch?

Because Focus is not about explosions or violence, but about mind games, charm, and emotional manipulation wrapped inside a romantic thriller where you constantly question who is playing whom.