Ranking the 5 Best Con Movies of All Time

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Ranking the 5 Best Con Movies of All Time

We are used to the idea of a good protagonist in movies, who embodies positive values like courage, kindness, and a penchant for justice. We often support these protagonists, thus upholding good ideals. However, every once in a while comes a movie with a main character with questionable values whom we nonetheless admire and root for. This kind of character is called the anti-hero.

One such character type is the con artist, which has fascinated audiences for decades. Movies about con artists (called ‘con movies’) have become increasingly popular since Trouble in Paradise introduced the genre. 

Con movies are fun and engaging, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Below, we rank the five best con movies of all time. If you’ve not seen any of these, you should consider changing that fact as soon as possible.

Ocean’s Eleven

Ocean’s Eleven is certainly at the top of the list. This classic American con movie has captivated hearts for decades.

In the film, we meet Danny Ocean, fresh out of prison and planning the heist of a lifetime. He means to simultaneously rob three casinos of $150 million. For this, he sets up a group of con artists and specialists. 

Of course, there is a woman at the center of such a movie. Ocean has planned the heist to revenge on Terry Benedict, the owner of the casinos, who is now dating Ocean’s wife. Though we are fully aware of the criminal lives and activities of the group, we find ourselves rooting for them.

The film captivates the viewers with its numerous glamorous depictions of casinos, taking us into the throbbing, mesmerizing heart of Las Vegas casinos. 

Though these days, thanks to the internet, people generally prefer to play online casino games, it is thrilling to observe the tension around a table during a high-stakes poker game. Ocean’s Eleven is definitely one con movie that defines the genre. It’s certainly worth multiple watches, whether the 1960 original or the more popular 2002 remake.

The Sting

American director George Roy Hills blew us away in 1973 with the release of his con film, The Sting. Set in 1936 Chicago, it features Paul Newman and Robert Redford as a pair of professional con artists, Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff. These two men compose an elaborate plan to swindle crime boss Lonnegan out of millions of dollars as revenge for the murder of their friend. 

Inspired by real-life cons carried out by brothers, Fred and Charley Gondorff, earlier in the century, the film enjoyed wide acclaim following its release. Today, it is regarded one of the greatest films ever made.

Catch Me If You Can

Only a teenager, Frank leaves a broken home to start a life as a con man. He has a successful run until FBI fraud agent Carl Hanratty finally arrests him. They strike a deal to have Frank’s sentence shortened if he agrees to help Hanratty arrest other fraudsters—which Frank does. Together they begin their quest, developing a father-son relationship along the line. 

In only its opening weekend, Catch Me If You Can earned over $30 million, going on to reimburse its original budget over 7 times. This underscores how popular it was. There was also much positive critical response, with many critics praising actor Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as Frank. This is a classic American con movie. 

American Hustle

Loosely based on a late 1970s FBI operation, American Hustle is a 2013 crime comedy-drama directed by David Q Russell. It stars beloved actors like Christian Bale, Bradly Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and others who played in some of the best Hollywood movies.

We meet Irving and Sydney, two con artists working together. They are forced to work for an FBI agent, Richie DiMaso after he catches them in a loan scam. The plan is to help Richie make four high-profile arrests, including the town’s mayor Carmine Polito, whom Richie suspects of corruption though with no evidence. The daunting world of powerbrokers and mafia is more dangerous than anything Sydney and Irving have ever pulled off.

The film was celebrated upon release for its splendid performances and production design. It received several Academy Award nominations.

The Brothers Bloom

Finally, there is the 2008 film The Brother Bloom. Stephen Bloom and Bloom Bloom are orphan brothers who have been raised to be highly skilled con men. But as they grow older, the more sensitive Bloom begins to want a normal life away from crime. The brothers agree on one last con before parting ways.

For this, they target New Jersey heiress Penelope Stamp, an eccentric, adventurous young woman. Bloom pretends to fall in love with her at first but eventually begins to develop real feelings for her. When it is revealed that she has always known he was trying to con her, he disappears, only to be tracked down 3 years later by Penelope.