Hustle

Name: Hustle
Director: Jeremiah Zagar
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2022-01-01
Duration: 1h 57m
Rating: 7.7
Cast: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangómez, Queen Latifah, Anthony Edwards, Kenny Smith

R 2022 Comedy · Nearly two hours that moves at a deliberate training montage pace, building genuine investment in the characters.

Solid crowd-pleaser

7.3/10

IMDb

94%

Fresh

68/100

Metacritic

★

3.57/5

Letterboxd

🎬

7.7/10

TMDB

Rewatch

warm comfort

Attention

half watch ok

Phone-check

medium

Ages

holds up

The brief

Adam Sandler delivers his most grounded performance since Uncut Gems, playing a weary basketball scout with the desperation of a man running out of second chances. The film moves at the steady rhythm of a training montage, building genuine tension around whether pure talent can overcome institutional politics and personal baggage. Sandler's chemistry with real-life NBA player Juancho Hernangómez feels authentic rather than forced, and the basketball sequences have weight because you actually care about the stakes. Perfect for anyone who loved The Way Back or wants to see Sandler remind everyone he can actually act when the material demands it.

underdog triumph gritty sports drama second chances mentor-protégé bond grounded performance authentic basketball heartfelt determination

The verdict

If you appreciate grounded sports dramas and want to see Adam Sandler deliver a genuinely committed dramatic performance, this is a satisfying underdog story with authentic basketball action and real emotional stakes. If you're expecting Sandler's typical comedy antics or get impatient with slower character-driven narratives, you'll find this surprisingly serious and deliberately paced at nearly two hours.