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The Grifters

  • 1990
  • R
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
32K
YOUR RATING
John Cusack, Annette Bening, and Anjelica Huston in The Grifters (1990)
Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Play trailer1:41
2 Videos
71 Photos
TragedyCrimeDramaThriller

A small-time conman has torn loyalties between his estranged mother and new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.A small-time conman has torn loyalties between his estranged mother and new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.A small-time conman has torn loyalties between his estranged mother and new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.

  • Director
    • Stephen Frears
  • Writers
    • Jim Thompson
    • Donald E. Westlake
  • Stars
    • Anjelica Huston
    • John Cusack
    • Annette Bening
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    32K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stephen Frears
    • Writers
      • Jim Thompson
      • Donald E. Westlake
    • Stars
      • Anjelica Huston
      • John Cusack
      • Annette Bening
    • 124User reviews
    • 69Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 11 wins & 21 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Grifters
    Trailer 1:41
    The Grifters
    5 Forgotten Gems From 1990
    Clip 4:04
    5 Forgotten Gems From 1990
    5 Forgotten Gems From 1990
    Clip 4:04
    5 Forgotten Gems From 1990

    Photos71

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    Top cast41

    Edit
    Anjelica Huston
    Anjelica Huston
    • Lilly Dillon
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Roy Dillon
    Annette Bening
    Annette Bening
    • Myra Langtry
    Jan Munroe
    Jan Munroe
    • Guy at Bar
    Robert Weems
    • Racetrack Announcer
    • (voice)
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Jeweler
    Jimmy Noonan
    Jimmy Noonan
    • Bartender
    Richard Holden
    • Cop
    Henry Jones
    Henry Jones
    • Simms
    Michael Laskin
    Michael Laskin
    • Irv
    Eddie Jones
    Eddie Jones
    • Mintz
    Sandy Baron
    Sandy Baron
    • Doctor
    Lou Hancock
    Lou Hancock
    • Nurse
    Gailard Sartain
    Gailard Sartain
    • Joe
    Noelle Harling
    Noelle Harling
    • Nurse Carol Flynn
    Ivette Soler
    Ivette Soler
    • Maid
    Pat Hingle
    Pat Hingle
    • Bobo Justus
    Paul Adelstein
    Paul Adelstein
    • Sailor - Young Paul
    • Director
      • Stephen Frears
    • Writers
      • Jim Thompson
      • Donald E. Westlake
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In a late 2013 interview, Anjelica Huston described this role as the most challenging one of her career.
    • Goofs
      Lily unscrews both light bulbs in the hallway outside Roy's apartment. In a following cut, Roy is seen entering his apartment from a well-lit hallway.
    • Quotes

      Bobo Justus: [trying to get an explanation for Lilly's horse bet] You want to talk to me straight up?

      Lilly Dillon: My son.

      Bobo Justus: Your what?

      Lilly Dillon: My son was in the hospital.

      Bobo Justus: What the fuck are you doing with a son?

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Rookie/Berkeley in the Sixties/Edward Scissorhands/The Grifters (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Do Ya, Do Ya Love Me?
      Performed by Dream World

      Words & Music by Pete Theodore and Emilie A. Bernstein (as Emily Bernstein)

    User reviews124

    Featured review

    Juicy piece of neo-noir

    THE GRIFTERS (1990) ***1/2 John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening, Pat Hingle, J.T. Walsh, Charles Napier. Donald Westlake's slick, serpentine screenplay adaptation of noir author Jim Thompson's novel offers up a juicy, ripe slice of pulp fiction with hip Cusack a slick con artist strictly small time, Huston as his duplicitous, estranged Mobbed up mother on the take and Bening as his slinky gal pal with a few cards up her collective sleeve.

    Excellently executed in the rhythms of a perfectly coiled con game about to be sprung with slick precision thanks to fine acting all around and a jolting climax thanks to a steady helm by director Stephen Frears.
    • george.schmidt
    • Apr 23, 2003
    • Permalink

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    FAQ20

    • How long is The Grifters?Powered by Alexa
    • Is Lilly Roy's biological mother?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 25, 1991 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Miramax (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los tramposos
    • Filming locations
      • Bryson Hotel - 2701 Wilshire Boulevard, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(As Roy Dillon's hotel)
    • Production company
      • Cineplex Odeon Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,446,769
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $71,034
      • Dec 9, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,446,769
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    John Cusack, Annette Bening, and Anjelica Huston in The Grifters (1990)
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