Imagine two aces of swindling, a devilishly ingenious plan, and a swinging soundtrack: “The Sting” makes its grand return on Netflix just in time for fans of timeless cinema. This classic from 1973, which pits Paul Newman and Robert Redford against a formidable gangster, deserves a top spot on your watchlist.
In Chicago, during the Depression, a young con artist sees his partner murdered by a ruthless mobster. To retaliate, he teams up with an old fox of trickery, a master in the art of deception. Together, they plot a smoking hot scam: trapping their enemy with a fake horse race, in a whirlwind of deceit and sleight of hand. Directed by George Roy Hill, the film delicately depicts the era, from the underworld to clandestine clubs, blending tension and lightness. David S. Ward’s script unfolds with impeccable mechanics, every twist delighting the audience.
Released over 50 years ago, this film was a hit: with a modest budget of $5.5 million, it raked in nearly $160 million at the American box office, an impressive ratio that makes it one of the most profitable in history. At the Oscars, the harvest was plentiful – seven statuettes, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. The ragtime score adapted by Marvin Hamlisch from Scott Joplin’s works also triumphed, revitalizing a forgotten musical genre and earning a Grammy.
“The Sting” redefined the heist movie genre, inspiring successes like “Ocean’s Eleven” with its layered structure and dry humor. The explosive chemistry between Newman and Redford, previously seen in “Butch Cassidy,” culminates here in a legendary duo – their final on-screen collaboration. In 2026, as it reemerges on Netflix in France on April 21, this gem revives the interest in Hollywood classics amid the influx of new streaming content. Its recent presence on the platform in the United States, where it even became the oldest available title for a time, proves its eternal allure.
Dive into this perfect scam and let yourself be carried away by its irresistible rhythm: a piece of cinema that transcends decades without aging a day.
