The Grifters

Name: The Grifters
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: December 5, 1990
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 86
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening, John Cusack

1990

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 18 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 72 Ratings

See All

8.0

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.0	Your Score
8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 72 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Grifters

Now Playing: The Grifters

Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: December 5, 1990 | R

Starring: Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening, John Cusack

Summary: When small-time cheat Roy Dillon (Cusack) winds up in the hospital following an unsuccessful scam, it sets up a confrontation between his estranged mother Lilly (Huston) and sexy girlfriend Myra (Bening). Both Lilly and Myra are ruthless confidence artists playing the con game in a league far above Roy ... and always looking for their nextWhen small-time cheat Roy Dillon (Cusack) winds up in the hospital following an unsuccessful scam, it sets up a confrontation between his estranged mother Lilly (Huston) and sexy girlfriend Myra (Bening). Both Lilly and Myra are ruthless confidence artists playing the con game in a league far above Roy ... and always looking for their next victim. The question soon becomes who's conning who as Roy finds himself caught in a complicated web of passion and mistrust. (Miramax)… Expand

Director: Stephen Frears

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 110 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Pauline Kael

Huston's power as Lilly is astounding... She bites right through the film-noir pulp; the [climactic] scene is paralyzing, and it won't go away.

100

John Stone

[Frears] has not only captured the bleak qualities of the old film noir melodramas but supplied an undercurrent that is as sly as it is unsettling. [25 Jan 1991]

100

Roger Ebert

The performances are all insidiously powerful. Read full review

Gene Siskel

Huston gives one of her very best performances as a strong lady who can con almost everyone but herself. Her manner on the screen in this picture and in Woody Allen's "Crimes and Misdemeanors'' marks Huston as the one contemporary actress who comes closest to having the power of classic female dramatic stars of years past. [25 Jan 1991]

Hal Hinson

[Huston] brings a vital conviction to her scenes; they're scorchingly immediate, and her ability to get in sync with what Lily's feeling is what gives the movie weight. She may be the best we have. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Best to savor The Grifters for its handsome design -- the picture looks as clean as a Hockney landscape -- and its juicy performances. [11 Feb 1991]

Jonathan Rosenbaum

While the filmmakers manage to keep things interesting (sexy, kinky, and ambiguous) much of the time, the self-conscious piety that Frears lavishes on this material places it in an uncertain netherworld that prevents it from ever becoming fully convincing, even as a stylistic exercise. Read full review

SEE ALL 18 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Sundowner71

Jan 9, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For that scene@The Del Mar Fairgrounds-A-LONE☀️… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NickTheCritick

Nov 22, 2022

Roy Dillon, petty crook, has managed to build a solid fortune over the years. Rushed to the hospital, he is visited by his mother, who is ready to do anything to separate him from his girlfriend who reveals to be way more cunning and smarter than him. This movie Is a great noir, easilyome ofRoy Dillon, petty crook, has managed to build a solid fortune over the years. Rushed to the hospital, he is visited by his mother, who is ready to do anything to separate him from his girlfriend who reveals to be way more cunning and smarter than him. This movie Is a great noir, easilyome of Frears bestmovoes. Directing Here Is no showy but Is at the service of the story in a subtle way. Good performance by the cast too, John Cusack and an extraordinary Annette Bening.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lasttimeisaw

Jun 20, 2012

An indie crime-drama fixes on a veiled Oedipus complex relationship between a mother and his son, which also involves another pivotal figure, the son's femme fatale girlfriend. One background consensus is that they are all grifters, while the mother is an old-hander, the girlfriend is aAn indie crime-drama fixes on a veiled Oedipus complex relationship between a mother and his son, which also involves another pivotal figure, the son's femme fatale girlfriend. One background consensus is that they are all grifters, while the mother is an old-hander, the girlfriend is a slutty self-seeker, they are pros, bar the son is just a small-time crook and being too righteous to go down with the swindle business, what… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jun 26, 2015

The Grifters ultimately left me feeling quite disappointed. The ending is quite intriguing and well done, but the first three quarters of the film are pretty terrible. Though John Cusack is strong and the premise is interesting, the premise winds up being the only interesting part for muchThe Grifters ultimately left me feeling quite disappointed. The ending is quite intriguing and well done, but the first three quarters of the film are pretty terrible. Though John Cusack is strong and the premise is interesting, the premise winds up being the only interesting part for much of the film as it winds up just dragging along and never really feeling like anything ever happens. Anjelica Huston is terrible here (seriously, her pronunciation of Los Angeles made me question my decision to watch this one at all) and Annette Benning is alright, but her character is so poorly written and sexist, it is appalling. Honestly, her character is resigned to being nothing more than an object to have sex with, in spite of showing some serious talents as a "grifter". Anyways, the last little bit does save this one from being worse because it is interesting and the film itself is well made, though the direction from Stephen Frears was quite disappointing to say the least. Overall, The Grifters is a sub-par film that should have been way better than it was.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 4 REVIEWS