Inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, "Hustlers" follows a crew of savvy former strip-club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients....
Inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, "Hustlers" follows a crew of savvy former strip-club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients....
The film's central thesis explicitly promotes a progressive critique of systemic economic injustice, portraying the protagonists' illegal actions as a desperate, yet narratively justified, response to the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis and the perceived impunity of the wealthy.
The movie features a highly diverse leading cast, predominantly women of color, which is central to its narrative. It also strongly critiques traditional male power structures and wealth, portraying these identities negatively as the women navigate and retaliate against a system they perceive as exploitative.
Hustlers portrays a deeply intimate and loyal bond between its central female characters, Destiny and Ramona, which functions as a chosen family. This relationship, while not explicitly labeled, is strongly queer-coded and depicted with dignity, complexity, and as a source of profound emotional support, contributing to a net positive portrayal of non-traditional female love and solidarity.
The film is based on real historical figures. At least two characters, based on real-life white individuals (Samantha Barbash and Marsi Rosen), are portrayed by actresses of different races (Jennifer Lopez as Latina and Keke Palmer as Black).
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The film is based on a true story, adapting a magazine article about real individuals. All characters based on these real-life people maintain their documented historical gender in the film. No established character's gender was altered for the screen adaptation.
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