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Comedy drama

The Sting (1973): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Sting (1973) movie poster

The Sting is a 1973 comedy drama directed by George Roy Hill, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. It runs 2 hours 9 minutes and earned $156 million worldwide. It won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Art Direction, and 8 awards in all. Critics gave it 83 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$156M
Oscars won
7
Metascore
83
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The Sting (1973) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 9m (129 min)
Director
George Roy Hill
Genres
Drama , Comedy , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Sting About?

The premise of The Sting without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Two seasoned con men, Fargo Gondorff and Jake Hooker, plan one last elaborate scheme. They join forces for a final heist, but their plans are complicated by Doyle Lonnegan, a formidable adversary and their longtime nemesis. The pair must use all their cunning and skill to navigate a dangerous world of deception and outwit their opponent in this thrilling sequel.

The Sting Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • con artist
  • caper
  • famous score
  • revenge
  • cheating at cards
  • great depression
  • organized crime
  • joliet illinois
  • con game
  • mob hit
  • train
  • chicago illinois
+38 more
  • chapter headings
  • surprise ending
  • robbery
  • surveillance
  • limping
  • fbi agent
  • femme fatale
  • faked death
  • long con
  • murder
  • corrupt cop
  • police detective
  • chase
  • gambling
  • sting operation
  • two word title
  • title spoken by character
  • national film registry
  • burlesque dancer
  • elevator
  • warehouse
  • blood
  • bathroom
  • dunking head in ice water
  • train station
  • secret signal
  • photograph
  • basement
  • nickname
  • hiding in a toilet stall
  • blackmail
  • taxi
  • fake beard
  • fbi raid
  • fake blood
  • theft
  • pretending to be drunk
  • implied sex
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Cast & crew

The Sting Cast

Paul Newman leads the cast, with Robert Redford. Directed by George Roy Hill.

From the director

More from George Roy Hill

More films directed by George Roy Hill, best-rated first: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Period of Adjustment, Slap Shot and Slaughterhouse-Five.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Sting Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Sting 83 on Metacritic.

Plot

The Sting Plot Summary

What happens in The Sting from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As the shadows of the Great Depression begin to recede, the threat of World War II casts a looming shadow over 1940. Enter Fargo Gondorff, a skilled con artist with a sharp mind and a thirst for revenge, who emerges from prison driven by the desire to avenge the brutal murder of his long-time partner, Kid Colors. The circumstances surrounding Kid’s untimely death are cloaked in mystery, yet Gondorff’s instincts lead him to suspect that one or both of his greatest adversaries - the infamous banker and gangster Lonnegan, along with the affluent local racketeer Gus Macalinski - hold the key to this heinous crime.

Full summary

The whole story of The Sting, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Sting Box Office

The Sting grossed $156 million worldwide.

1973 box office

Worldwide gross

$156M

US & Canada
$156M
Awards

The Sting Awards & Nominations

The Sting won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Art Direction, and 8 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1974, with 7 wins from 10 nominations.

8 wins12 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

The Sting Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 clips.

Trailer #1
  • Clip Paul Newman Cons a Con Man in a High-Stakes Poker Game in 4K HDR
  • Clip Easiest 5k Ever
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Sting?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What year is the setting of 'The Sting'?

Cars

Cars in The Sting

39 cars on screen, including the 1930 Buick Series 40 and the 1936 Ford V8 De Luxe.

All 39 cars
  • 1930 Buick Series 40 in The Sting 1930 Buick Series 40 Important role
  • 1936 Ford V8 De Luxe in The Sting 1936 Ford V8 De Luxe Important role
  • 1935 Pierce-Arrow Model 845 in The Sting 1935 Pierce-Arrow Model 845 Important role
  • 1929 Buick Silver Anniversary in The Sting 1929 Buick Silver Anniversary Minor role
Details

The Sting Also Known As

33 alternative titles, including “Blåsningen” and “Афера”.

Also known as
  • Blåsningen
  • Афера
  • Golpe de Mestre
  • 刺激
  • 骗中骗
  • El golpe
  • De strik
  • Ужилването
  • L'arnaque
  • 스팅
  • スティング
  • Żądło
+21 more
  • Жаока
  • La stangata
  • Der Clou
  • Podraz
  • A Golpada
  • A nagy balhé
  • Belalılar
  • Sidste stik
  • Το Κεντρί
  • העוקץ
  • Аферисти
  • Puhallus
  • Cacealmaua
  • Apgaulė
  • نیش, აფერა
  • 老千計狀元才
  • Lừa Bịp
  • Žalac
  • El cop
  • 2 ผู้ยิ่งใหญ่
  • Stikket

Seen The Sting?

FAQ

The Sting FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Sting, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Sting?

The Sting runs 2 hours 9 minutes (129 minutes).

When was The Sting released?

The Sting was released on December 25, 1973.

Who directed The Sting?

The Sting was directed by George Roy Hill.

More films by George Roy Hill

Who is in the cast of The Sting?

The Sting stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

How much did The Sting make at the box office?

The Sting grossed $156 million worldwide.

How is The Sting rated?

The Sting has 83 on Metacritic and 80% on TMDB.

What awards did The Sting win?

The Sting won 8 awards from 12 nominations, including Art Direction at the Oscars 1974.

Does The Sting have a post-credit scene?

No. The Sting has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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