Is Hustlers based on a True Story? Ending Explained and More
by Rubaditsha | Updated Apr 20, 2023
Is Hustlers based on a True Story?
Yes, "Hustlers" is based on a true story. The movie is inspired by a New York Magazine article titled "The Hustlers at Scores," which was published in 2015. The article, written by Jessica Pressler, detailed the real-life experiences of a group of strippers who conned their wealthy Wall Street clients out of thousands of dollars.
The article is based on the story of Samantha Barbash, a former stripper who was the ringleader of the group, and Roselyn Keo, another former stripper who worked with Barbash to scam their clients. The two women, along with a group of other strippers, drugged their clients and ran up their credit card bills while they were unconscious.
The group was eventually caught and charged with multiple crimes, including grand larceny and conspiracy to commit assault. Barbash was sentenced to five years of probation, while Keo received five years of probation and 100 hours of community service.
The movie "Hustlers" stars Jennifer Lopez as Ramona Vega, a character based on Samantha Barbash, and Constance Wu as Destiny, a character based on Roselyn Keo. While the movie takes some liberties with the true story, it is largely based on the events detailed in the original New York Magazine article.
Hustlers Plot
In 2014, journalist Elizabeth investigates the story of Destiny, a former stripper from New York City, and her former friend and mentor, Ramona Vega. Seven years earlier, Destiny is struggling to make ends meet at Moves, a strip club, until she meets Ramona, who takes her under her wing. Together, they form a successful team until the 2008 financial crisis leaves them both jobless. Destiny becomes a single parent and struggles to find work, eventually returning to stripping, where she meets up with Ramona again. Ramona introduces Destiny to a new hustle targeting wealthy men, which involves drugging and stealing from them. The group's success attracts the attention of other strippers, causing Ramona to sever ties with Moves and take their business elsewhere. As Ramona becomes more reckless, Destiny becomes increasingly uneasy, culminating in a near-fatal accident with one of their clients. Destiny eventually separates from the group and takes a plea deal to avoid jail time. In 2014, Elizabeth interviews Destiny about her friendship with Ramona and their criminal activities. Destiny reveals that she ended the friendship when she could no longer justify their crimes, and that Ramona's callousness drove them apart. However, Elizabeth encourages Destiny to reach out to Ramona after learning that she still holds a cherished photo of her.
Hustlers Ending Explained
The movie Hustlers is based on a true story about a group of strippers who, in 2008, lured wealthy men into handing over their wallets using a cocktail of MDMA and ketamine. They robbed the men blind and lived in luxury until their arrest in 2014. The film centers around Ramona, played by Jennifer Lopez, and Destiny, played by Constance Wu, who have a mentor/student relationship but begin to have disagreements about the tactics they use to fleece their clients. Ramona invites Dawn, played by Madeline Brewer, into their fold, but her cocaine addiction removes any sense of subtlety from her tactics, which ultimately leads to the group's downfall. Most of the facts behind the movie are aligned with a New York magazine expose by Jessica Pressler, but the names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved. Samantha Barbash, who goes by Samantha Foxx in the film, was the ringleader of the gang and the inspiration for Ramona's character. Roselyn Keo, who goes by Destiny in the film, was involved in the scheme, but their relationship did not align with the cinematic BFFs. After their arrest, Destiny is the first to plead guilty, and Ramona is understanding but upset. Barbash and Keo have not spoken to each other since their arrest, and there is no love lost between them.
Hustlers Review
In the movie "Hustlers," Jennifer Lopez gives her best performance since "Selena" and "Out of Sight." She plays Ramona, a veteran exotic dancer who works at a strip club where she teaches Constance Wu's character, Destiny, the art of pole spinning and lap dancing. Ramona comes up with a scheme to drug and rob wealthy Wall Street clients, which the other dancers, including Cardi B's character, agree to participate in. The film is based on a true story and adapted from Jessica Pressler's New York magazine article. Although the director, Lorene Scafaria, borrows heavily from classic Scorsese tactics, the film is still a blast to watch, thanks to Lopez's charismatic performance and the ensemble's chemistry. Scafaria doesn't delve into the morality of the women's crimes but makes a persuasive argument in favor of these hard-working ladies who bask in the glory of their ill-gotten gains.
Is Hustlers based on a True Story: FAQs
Yes, Hustlers is based on a true story. The movie is inspired by a New York Magazine article titled "The Hustlers at Scores," which was published in 2015.
The New York Magazine article that inspired the movie Hustlers was written by Jessica Pressler.
The true story behind Hustlers is about a group of strippers who conned their wealthy Wall Street clients out of thousands of dollars. The group drugged their clients and ran up their credit card bills while they were unconscious.
The ringleaders of the group that inspired Hustlers were Samantha Barbash, a former stripper who was the leader of the group, and Roselyn Keo, another former stripper who worked with Barbash to scam their clients.