The Hustle: Making an Exit from Netflix
In what can only be described as a cinematic metaphor for running away from bad choices, Anne Hathaway’s 2019 flop, The Hustle, is set to vanish from Netflix’s streaming library next month. Yes, Netflix, the digital purgatory where films go to die, is finally ushering this female-centric remake of the much-loved 1988 comedy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, out the door. Remember that charming Steve Martin and Michael Caine film? Well, it turns out that was just a facelift for the 1964 gem, Bedtime Story. Spoiler alert: even with a facelift, not everything stays pretty.
Hustle Packs Its Bags
Mark your calendars, folks! The Hustle is taking its final bow on Thursday, March 12, 2026. That’s right, according to our trusted source, What’s on Netflix, you’ll soon be able to forget all about this escapade involving con artists. You know, because nothing screams “I want to waste some time” quite like a movie filled with predictable plots and inane rivalries.
The plot revolves around two female con artists: Josephine and Penny, who sound like they could be the leads in a sitcom about bad decisions. They team up to pull off elaborate scams in the glamorous French Riviera—a luxurious backdrop that makes the film’s failings even harder to swallow. But alas! When Josephine finds out that Penny has out-conned her, she pulls a classic plot twist worthy of the lowest-budget daytime soap. Goodbye, Penny! Hello, jail time.
But fear not! Josephine, with all the grace of a royal drama queen, pays Penny’s bail, and together they embark on a journey to outsmart a young tech billionaire, Thomas Westerburg. The rivalry heats up, and they employ more schemes than a poorly written heist movie. Because nothing says ‘sharp wit’ like a game of one-upmanship that’s been done to death.
Starring the dynamic duo of Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, The Hustle also features a supporting cast that includes the likes of Dean Norris from Breaking Bad. Just when you thought your cringe levels couldn’t rise any higher, along come Alex Sharp, Timothy Simons, Ingrid Oliver, Nicholas Woodeson, and Rob Delaney, all adding their fair share of confusion to the mix. Talk about a casting decision worthy of a collective facepalm!
Originally toying with the title “Nasty Women” (believe it or not), the movie underwent a much-needed makeover, courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. Chris Addison stepped in to direct, while Jac Schaeffer updated the screenplay. The result? A cinematic experience that’s regrettably reminiscent of stepping on a Lego.
Sadly, The Hustle did not woo audiences or critics alike. With a dismal Tomatometer score of 13% from 171 critics and a Popcornmeter score of 45% from over 2,500 users on Rotten Tomatoes, one can only wonder if the filmmakers had a secret bet going on just how poorly this could do. It did manage to pull in approximately $97 million at the global box office off a meager $21 million budget, making it a financial success in the twisted world of Hollywood math—where failing upward is not just an option, but a way of life.
