8 Best Con Artist and Caper Movies

By Vlad Zakh · February 11, 2026

Nothing beats watching a brilliant grifter run a flawless con, and these films turn deception itself into pure cinematic pleasure. In The Sting (1973): Two con artists team up to run an elaborate scheme against a ruthless crime boss. Don’t overlook Catch Me If You Can (2002): A brilliant young con artist impersonates various professionals while evaded by a determined FBI agent.

Focus (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A veteran con artist takes on a talented rookie, until their partnership becomes personal.

Directed by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra · 1h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

American Hustle (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 92% Metacritic 90

Two con artists are forced by an FBI agent to help pull off an elaborate corruption sting.

Directed by David O. Russell · 2h 18m · Rated R

Nominated for 10 Oscars70 wins & 229 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Brothers Bloom (2008)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Two con-artist brothers pull one last elaborate scheme on a wealthy, eccentric heiress.

Directed by Rian Johnson · 1h 54m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 96% Metacritic 75

A brilliant young con artist impersonates various professionals while evaded by a determined FBI agent.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 21m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 2 Oscars16 wins & 46 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Matchstick Men (2003)

TMDB ★ 7.2

An obsessive-compulsive con artist's carefully controlled life is upended by the sudden appearance of his teenage daughter.

Directed by Ridley Scott · 1h 56m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Grifters (1990)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A small-time con man is caught between his manipulative mother and his scheming girlfriend, both grifters themselves.

Directed by Stephen Frears · 1h 50m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Two rival con men compete to see who can swindle a naive American heiress first.

Directed by Frank Oz · 1h 50m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Sting (1973)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 93% Metacritic 83

Two con artists team up to run an elaborate scheme against a ruthless crime boss.

Directed by George Roy Hill · 2h 09m · Rated PG

Won 7 Oscars18 wins & 6 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

8 Best Con Artist and Caper Movies

Focus (2015)

American Hustle (2013)

The Brothers Bloom (2008)

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Matchstick Men (2003)

The Grifters (1990)

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

The Sting (1973)

You might also like

6 Best Used Car Dealer Movies of All Time

6 Best Con Artist Romance Movies

250 Best Movies of All Time

6 Best Airport Movies

6 Best Double Life and Secret Identity Drama Movies

6 Best Pickpocket and Con Artist Movies