Top 10 Movie Con Artists

“White Men Can’t Jump” (1992)
Two basketball hustlers, Billy and Sidney, join together in the hopes of doubling their chances to rack up the green. Sidney is black, Billy is white, and the title refers to one of Sidney’s erroneous beliefs about race and athletic ability. During the course of the movie, the two con artists take on each other as well as other basketball players to get by. The story goes beyond scheming and hustling, however, as it chronicles the development of a genuine friendship between the two men and the growth of the characters as they eventually reject racial stereotypes.

“The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999)
The title character is a restroom attendant and forger who becomes involved in a con based on mistaken identity. While wearing a borrowed Princeton blazer at a cocktail party, a wealthy attendee whose son, Dickie Greenleaf, graduated from the school, assumes Ripley is a Princeton grad and knows Dickie. Ripley doesn’t correct the misconception, and accepts an offer of $1,000 to go to Italy to talk the younger Greenleaf into returning to the U.S. In Italy, Ripley quickly learns he will need to stretch his talents as a con artist even further and that he must be willing to go to great lengths – including murder – to keep up appearances and the lifestyle he yearns for.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)
A con artist who practiced his deception in the real world, Jordan Belfort violated the trust of his company’s investors and misused their money to support his drug habit and decadent lifestyle. The movie was based on a memoir by the real-life Belfort, in which he detailed his limitless capacity for crooked business and personal conduct. Leonardo DiCaprio, who’s demonstrated his ability to flawlessly portray characters on both the right and wrong sides of the law, was cast in the leading role, which additionally helps Belfort earn a spot on this list.

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (1988)
Lawrence, a suave and sophisticated Brit, and Freddie, an uncouth American newcomer, are con artists attempting to scheme their way to riches in the French Riviera. They try to put aside their rivalry and competition for a limited number of potential victims by teaming up, but eventually decide the town isn’t big enough for the two of them. Jamieson and Benson make a “loser leaves” bet, which spirals hilariously out of control, and shows both men they have much to learn regarding the art of executing the perfect con.

“Matchstick Men” (2003)
Roy is a divorced and neurotic Los Angeles con artist running several illegal operations with Frank Mercer, his partner-in-crime. During a visit to a psychiatrist, Waller is told that he has a 14-year-old daughter he’s never met, even though he was aware his ex-wife was pregnant when their marriage ended. Roy’s eagerness to establish a relationship with his daughter and complete a scheme that promises big money reveals that he may not be as adept at the con game as he thought.

“American Hustle” (2013)
Although the characters are fictional, they, as well as the con depicted, are loosely based on a real-life case, most notably the ABSCAM operation of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Irving and Sydney are partners in a complicated romantic relationship—he’s married to another woman—as well as partners in crime. While involved in a scam, the couple is arrested by an FBI agent who coerces them into participating in a sting operation aimed at bringing down corrupt politicians. Irving and Sydney stand out especially among big screen con artists because they’re actually remorseful about some of the people hurt by their actions.

“The Hustler” (1961)
“Fast Eddie” is a small-time pool hustler longing to become a much bigger hustler. He twice challenges famous pool champion “Minnesota Fats” to high-stakes matches. After losing the first match, Eddie descends into a downward spiral of drinking, violence, and love gone horribly wrong before playing the second match. Twenty-five years later, actor Paul Newman would revisit the role of “Fast Eddie” in “The Color of Money.” In a turn that won him the Best Actor Oscar, Newman-as-Felson attempts to train a young protégé in pool hustling with unexpected results.

“The Sting” (1973)
Legendary actors Paul Newman and Robert Redford play the lead roles in this film about two con artists, Gondorff and Hooker, who team up to get revenge after a mutual friend is killed by a mob boss. They plan to do so by completing a big con on said mob boss. With two of the era’s most popular and charismatic actors, it’s nearly impossible for viewers not to root for these pro grifters and hope their scheme ultimately succeeds. Let’s not forget that the caper flick was nominated for 10 Oscars, including a win for Best Picture and a nod for Best Actor for Redford – so convincing was his turn as Kelly.

“The Usual Suspects” (1995)
Con artist Roger “Verbal” Kint is one of two survivors when the ship he’s on is attacked and destroyed. Rumor has it that mysterious Turkish criminal mastermind, Keyser Söze, is behind the boat attack as well as the deaths of various characters in the events leading up to it. Few people have ever seen Söze though, so it’s difficult to even get a description of him. The twists and turns to the story of this neo-noir crime thriller, plus the search for Söze, create a new standard for what defines a great con artist.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Professor Micky Rosa & Ben Campbell
“21” (2008)
- Moses Pray & Addie Loggins
“Paper Moon” (1973)
- Jack Teller
“The Score” (2001)
- Bret Maverick
“Maverick” (1994)
- George Thomason, Ken Pile, Wand Gershwitz & Otto West
“A Fish Called Wanda” (1988)

“Catch Me If You Can” (2002)
A master of disguise, Frank Abagnale is one of the most famous real-life impostors ever, and is definitely an overachiever in the world of con artists. Although he was mostly a forger, he also managed to assume at least eight fraudulent identities, including such high-risk impersonations as airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer. Even more astounding, Abagnale accomplished all of this as a teenager, a time when most people are worrying about dating and pimples. The role of this youthful con artist also represents DiCaprio’s second appearance on this list and one viewing of this biographical crime drama is enough to justify why.

Do you agree with our list? Who is your favorite movie con artist? For more fascinating Top 10s every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.