The Hustle (2019)

Last updated:
January 25, 2026

The Hustle (2019) is a glossy, fast-paced comedy that blends classic con-artist tropes with modern humor. Starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, the film is a gender-swapped remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), updated with contemporary jokes, luxury locations, and an intentionally exaggerated tone.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Introduction: Two Very Different Con Artists

The film introduces Josephine Chesterfield, an elegant and sophisticated con artist who operates among Europe’s ultra-wealthy elite. She relies on refinement, fake charities, and emotional manipulation to extract millions from rich men.

In contrast, Penny Rust is a small-time scammer who targets everyday men using crude stories and obvious emotional tricks. Penny’s scams are messy but effective.

Their paths cross on the French Riviera, where Josephine quickly realizes Penny is operating on her territory.

The Rivalry Begins

Josephine attempts to intimidate Penny into leaving town. When that fails, she agrees to train Penny in high-class scamming so she can operate elsewhere.

Their dynamic becomes the backbone of the film:
Josephine represents precision, image, and luxury, while Penny represents chaos, improvisation, and emotional bluntness.

Training montages follow, filled with etiquette lessons, accent practice, and identity-building exercises, all played for comedy.

The Bet That Changes Everything

Their uneasy alliance turns into a competition.

They make a wager:
Whoever can successfully scam a young tech millionaire named Thomas Westerburg out of $500,000 gets to stay on the Riviera. The loser must leave forever.

Unbeknownst to Thomas, both women independently begin manipulating him using completely different personas.

Josephine pretends to be a cultured art curator.
Penny pretends to be a partially blind woman who needs surgery.

Thomas, naive and emotionally open, becomes increasingly confused as he falls for both versions of the women.

Escalation and Deception

As the competition intensifies, both women sabotage each other’s schemes.

They plant fake evidence, manipulate emotional moments and exploit Thomas’s kindness in increasingly outrageous ways.

Eventually, Penny appears to suffer a medical emergency, prompting Thomas to hand over the money for her “operation.”

At this point, Josephine believes Penny has won the bet.

The Twist: Nothing Was What It Seemed

After Penny leaves town, Josephine begins to realize something is wrong.

Clues emerge suggesting Thomas may not be the innocent victim he appeared to be.

This leads directly into the film’s final reveal.

Movie Ending

The ending reveals that Penny and Josephine were working together the entire time.

Thomas Westerburg is exposed as another con artist, known for targeting female scammers and stealing their money by pretending to be a harmless tech billionaire.

Rather than falling into his trap, Penny and Josephine identified him early and staged the entire rivalry as a distraction.

Key revelations in the finale:

Thomas had previously scammed multiple women across Europe.
Josephine already knew his real identity.
The supposed rivalry and bet were part of an elaborate setup to manipulate him emotionally.

In the final act, Thomas is humiliated publicly and financially drained. His money is redistributed back to the women he previously scammed.

The film ends with Penny and Josephine officially becoming partners, expanding their operation internationally and targeting corrupt or predatory men rather than innocent victims.

The final scene shows them boarding a private jet together, confident, wealthy, and fully in control, confirming that the real hustle was against the audience’s expectations.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. The Hustle does not include a post-credits or mid-credits scene. Once the credits roll, the story is fully complete.

Type of Movie

The Hustle is a lighthearted crime comedy that mixes slapstick humor with classic con-artist storytelling, leaning more toward entertainment and character chemistry than realism.

Cast

Anne Hathaway as Josephine Chesterfield
Rebel Wilson as Penny Rust
Alex Sharp as Thomas Westerburg
Ingrid Oliver as Brigitte Desjardins
Hannah Waddingham as Police Inspector

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Anne Dudley, an Academy Award–winning composer.
The music supports the film’s glamorous tone with jazzy rhythms and playful orchestration, reinforcing the Riviera’s luxurious atmosphere.

Filming Locations

The movie was filmed primarily in:

France (Nice, Cannes, and the French Riviera)
United Kingdom (studio interiors)

These locations were essential to the story, as the Riviera represents wealth, exclusivity, and deception beneath beauty. The glamorous settings intentionally contrast with the morally questionable behavior of the characters.

Awards and Nominations

The film did not receive major award nominations. However, it gained attention for:

Costume design praise in fashion publications
Box-office performance as a mid-budget studio comedy

Its reception was mixed critically but stronger among general audiences.

Behind the Scenes Insights

The film is a gender-swapped remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988).
Anne Hathaway also served as a producer.
Rebel Wilson improvised many of her comedic lines.
Costume designer Debra McGuire created over 40 outfits for Hathaway alone.
The filmmakers aimed for exaggerated comedy rather than realism.
Several jokes were rewritten during filming to better fit Wilson’s comedic timing.

Inspirations and References

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
The original French film Bedtime Story (1964)
Classic con-artist narratives
British and American slapstick comedy traditions

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No official alternate ending has been released.

However, deleted scenes reportedly included:

Extended training montages
More backstory for Josephine’s early scams
A longer epilogue showing future cons

These were cut to maintain pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The movie is not based on a book.
It is adapted from previous films rather than literary material.

The main difference from the 1988 version is tone:
The original leaned toward subtle humor, while The Hustle embraces broader comedy and modern satire.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The luxury restaurant confrontation between Penny and Josephine
Penny’s exaggerated blindness routine
The high-society etiquette training montage
The final reveal of Thomas’s true identity

Iconic Quotes

“You’re either born rich or you learn how to steal from the rich.”
“This isn’t a con. This is a performance.”
“Men like him don’t lose money. They donate it.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Several costumes mirror outfits worn in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Josephine’s mansion décor includes subtle references to classic heist films.
The name “Westerburg” is intentionally generic, hinting at a fake identity.
The Riviera locations echo the original film’s visual framing.

Trivia

Anne Hathaway learned multiple European accents for the role.
Rebel Wilson’s character was originally written as British.
The film was shot in under three months.
Hathaway described the movie as “a fashion film disguised as a comedy.”
The sunglasses theme subtly represents deception throughout the film.

Why Watch?

You should watch The Hustle if you enjoy:

Stylish settings and luxury aesthetics
Fast-paced, easygoing comedy
Strong female leads
Con-artist stories with twists
Movies that don’t take themselves too seriously

It’s not meant to be deep crime cinema. It’s meant to be fun, glossy, and mischievous.

Director’s Other Works (Movies)

Chris Addison:

Veep (TV Series, 2012–2019)
In the Loop (2009) – actor and contributor

This was his feature-film directorial debut.

The Hustle (2019)

Detailed Summary