The Grifters (1990): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Grifters is a 1990 drama thriller directed by Stephen Frears, starring Anjelica Huston, John Cusack and Annette Bening. It is based on The Grifters by Jim Thompson and Andre Dubus III. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $13.4 million worldwide. It won 2 awards from 8 nominations, among them 4 Oscar nominations. Critics gave it 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Stephen Frears
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Miramax Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Grifters About?
The premise of The Grifters without spoilers, adapted from The Grifters by Jim Thompson and Andre Dubus III. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A small-time crook, Roy Dillon, finds himself recovering from a failed scam in the hospital. There, he's confronted by his manipulative mother, Lilly, and alluring girlfriend, Myra, both skilled con artists who rely on charm and deception. As their complicated relationships deepen, Roy is drawn into a dangerous game of deceit where he must uncover who is controlling the elaborate scheme and navigate the shifting loyalties of those closest to him.
The Grifters Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- hidden money
- mother son relationship
- con artist
- older woman younger man relationship
- fake jewelry
- train ride
- neo noir
- female nudity
- female frontal nudity
- female full frontal nudity
- female criminal
- nudity
+38 more Show fewer
- female rear nudity
- betrayal
- revenge
- attempted murder
- con man
- motel
- accidental death
- racket
- horse racing
- cigar smoking
- cigar burn
- internal bleeding
- hit in the stomach
- hit with a baseball bat
- bad mother
- torture
- flashback
- smoking
- rich oil man
- horse race bet
- sex scene
- insanity
- shot in the mouth
- faked death
- split screen
- internal hemorrhage
- hit with a briefcase
- sailor
- orange
- throat slashed
- elevator
- diner
- sting operation
- based on novel
- independent film
- towel
- phoenix arizona
- ring of keys
The Grifters Cast
Anjelica Huston leads the cast, with John Cusack and Annette Bening. Directed by Stephen Frears.
-
Director Stephen Frears
More from Stephen Frears
More films directed by Stephen Frears, best-rated first: The Queen, Victoria and Abdul, The Snapper and Philomena.
The Grifters Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Grifters 86 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
-
IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 86 Metascore
User score 6.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB
The Grifters Plot Summary
What happens in The Grifters from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film commences with a captivating voice-over by producer Martin Scorsese, explaining the tactics employed by bettors at racetracks who deliberately place substantial wagers on specific horses to manipulate the odds and maximize their profits. We are introduced to Lily Dillon, portrayed by Anjelica Huston, a seasoned con artist in her 40s, who is firmly in the grasp of Baltimore gangster, Bobo Justus. Lily’s primary task involves making these high-stakes bets on horse races. After accumulating significant earnings, she cleverly opens a concealed compartment in her car’s trunk, where she pilfers several thousand dollars from the payoffs—secretly blending this with the other funds she has illicitly taken from Bobo.
Full summary
The whole story of The Grifters, scene by scene
The Grifters Box Office
The Grifters grossed $13.4 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$13.4M
- US & Canada
- $13.4M
The Grifters Awards & Nominations
The Grifters won 2 awards from 8 nominations, among them 4 Oscar nominations. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 1991, with 2 wins from 2 nominations.
2 wins8 nominations4 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1992 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Annette Bening
-
Spirit Awards 1991 2 wins · 2 nominations- Won Best Feature
- Won Best Female Lead – Anjelica Huston
-
Oscars 1991 4 nominations- Nominated Actress in a Leading Role – Anjelica Huston
- Nominated Actress in a Supporting Role – Annette Bening
- Nominated Directing – Stephen Frears
- Nominated Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium)
-
Golden Globes 1991 1 nomination- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Anjelica Huston
The Grifters Trailers & Videos
6 videos: 1 trailer and 5 clips.
- Clip Eating Alone
- Clip The Oranges
- Clip ‘I Am in School’
- Clip Train Tricks
How Well Do You Know The Grifters?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the role of Lily Dillon in 'The Grifters'?
Cars in The Grifters
31 cars on screen, including the 1981 Cadillac Seville and the 1982 Dodge Aries K.
-
1981 Cadillac Seville Main role -
1982 Dodge Aries K Important role -
1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V Important role -
1981 Chevrolet Impala Minor role
The Grifters Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “그리프터스” and “千网危情”.
- Also known as
-
- 그리프터스
- 千网危情
- 致命赌徒
- Rischiose abitudini
- Les Arnaqueurs
- Los timadores
- Anatomia do Golpe
- Yasak İlişkiler
- 致命赌局
- Кидалы
- Svindlerek
- Švindlíři
+11 more Show fewer
- Οι Κλέφτες
- הנוכלים
- Os Imorais
- Naciągacze
- Кидали
- グリフターズ/詐欺師たち
- Escrocii
- Huijarit, გადამგდებები
- Els estafadors
- ขบวนตุ๋นไม่นับญาติ
- Varalice
Seen The Grifters?
Movies Like The Grifters
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Great Swindle, The Bribe and Heist.
The Grifters FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Grifters, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Grifters?
The Grifters runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was The Grifters released?
The Grifters was released on December 5, 1990.
Who directed The Grifters?
The Grifters was directed by Stephen Frears.
More films by Stephen Frears Who is in the cast of The Grifters?
The Grifters stars Anjelica Huston, John Cusack and Annette Bening.
How much did The Grifters make at the box office?
The Grifters grossed $13.4 million worldwide.
How is The Grifters rated?
The Grifters has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 86 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Is The Grifters based on a book?
Yes. The Grifters is adapted from The Grifters by Jim Thompson and Andre Dubus III.
What awards did The Grifters win?
The Grifters won 2 awards from 8 nominations, including Best Feature at the Spirit Awards 1991.
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