The Hustler
“They called him Fast Eddie. He was a winner. He was a loser. He was a hustler.”
Synopsis
Fast Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats to a high-stakes match.
Part of the The Hustler Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Cinematography Oscars® for "The Hustler" and "West Side Story"Official
Type: Featurette • Published 2016-02-04
Top Cast
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Paul Newman
Eddie Felson
Jackie Gleason
Minnesota Fats
Piper Laurie
Sarah Packard
George C. Scott
Bert Gordon
Myron McCormick
Charlie Burns
Murray Hamilton
Findley
Michael Constantine
Big John
Stefan Gierasch
Preacher
Clifford A. Pellow
Turk
Jake LaMotta
Bartender
Gordon B. Clarke
Cashier
Alexander Rose
Score Keeper
Carolyn Coates
Waitress
Carl York
Young Hustler
Vincent Gardenia
Bartender
Willie Mosconi
Willie (uncredited)
William Adams
Old Doctor (uncredited)
Tom Ahearne
Bartender (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Mar del Plata Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 25, 1961
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 1, 1984
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$2M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$7.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.8x
+$5.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Rossen
- Screenplay & Story
- Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen
- Original Score
- Kenyon Hopkins
- Original Title
- The Hustler
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 14m
- Production Budget
- $2M
- Worldwide Gross
- $7.6M
- Production Studios
- Rossen Films, 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Rossen
Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen, Walter Tevis
Kenyon Hopkins
Eugen Schüfftan
Dede Allen
Robert Rossen
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Rossen
Director
Sidney Carroll
Screenplay
Robert Rossen
Screenplay
Robert Rossen
Producer
Kenyon Hopkins
Original Music Composer
Eugen Schüfftan
Director of Photography
Dede Allen
Editor
Harry Horner
Production Design
Ruth Morley
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for 12 years and over.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Hustler.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Hustler.
Movie Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Hustler
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Hustler about?
Fast Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats to a high-stakes match.
Who directed The Hustler?
The Hustler was directed by Robert Rossen.
Who stars in The Hustler?
The principal cast of The Hustler includes Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Myron McCormick.
When was The Hustler released and how long is it?
The Hustler was released in 1961 with a total runtime of 2h 14m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Hustler?
The Hustler had a reported production budget of $2M and grossed $7.6M at the worldwide box office (3.8 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Hustler?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Hustler was composed by Kenyon Hopkins.
Is The Hustler based on a book or true story?
The Hustler is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Walter Tevis".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Hustler?
The Hustler holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 12 (Suitable only for 12 years and over.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).