13 Movie Con Artists We Can’t Help but Fall For Every Time

      Here are 13 movie con artists we find ourselves captivated by every time.

      Louis Winthorpe III and Billy Ray Valentine in Trading Places (1983)

      Dan Aykroyd, left, and Eddie Murphy feature in the Trading Places poster. Paramount.

      After a malicious bet leads them to swap lives, Dan Aykroyd’s affluent character Louis, now homeless, partners with Eddie Murphy’s Billy Ray, a homeless man who becomes a yuppie, to take revenge on Randolph and Mortimer Duke (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche), the wealthy brothers who toyed with them.

      Louis picks up street smarts while Billy Ray understands market manipulation, turning them both into skilled con artists from different ends of the social spectrum. Trading Places illustrates that luck holds as much weight in life as hard work — unless you can find a way to alter the odds.

      It’s hard not to cheer for Louis and Billy Ray, especially as they enlist the help of Jamie Lee Curtis’ Ophelia, a sex worker with a kind heart.

      Henry Gondorff and Johnny Hooker in The Sting (1973)

      Universal Pictures. – Credit: C/O

      Everything about George Roy Hill’s caper The Sting, set during the Depression, brings delight — from the Scott Joplin score to the reunion of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid stars, Robert Redford and Paul Newman, to the film's pacing — but the most enjoyable aspect is unraveling the film's complex scams.

      The various schemes culminate in a brilliant, reality-bending betting parlor scheme designed by Newman’s Henry and Redford’s Johnny, making them two of cinema's most iconic con artists.

      The movie rightfully received numerous Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

      Lawrence Jamieson and Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

      Orion Pictures. – Credit: C/O

      Steve Martin and Michael Caine shine as a duo of rival con artists who become partners in Frank Oz’s imaginative farce about two womanizers on the French Riviera. Caine’s Lawrence Jamieson exudes refinement and charisma, whereas Martin’s Freddy Benson is crass and opportunistic.

      When they join forces to swindle Janet Colgate (played excellently by Glenne Headly), the unsuspecting “United States Soap Queen,” unexpected complications arise. You’ll either enjoy this film or you can call me Dr. Dr. Emil Schaffhausen.

      This is a remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story, which featured Marlon Brando, David Niven, and Shirley Jones.

      ‘Fast Eddie Felson’ and Vincent Lauria in The Color of Money (1986)

      Tom Cruise and Paul Newman in The Color of Money. Buena Vista Distribution. – Credit: C/O

      This film marks Paul Newman’s second appearance on this list, following his return as “Fast Eddie” Felson in this sequel to 1961’s The Hustler, for which he won an Oscar. In the original, he faces defeat at the hands of Jackie Gleason’s Minnesota Fats. Now, he plays the seasoned veteran opposite Tom Cruise as Vincent, the young prodigy who believes he knows it all.

      One of the highlights of The Color of Money is its play on the fact that being a good pool hustler requires more than just being good at the game itself: Felson must constantly evaluate his skills compared to his rivals and deceive them accordingly.

      More on The Color of Money

      Buena Vista Distribution – Credit: C/O

      Much of The Color of Money, directed by Martin Scorsese, depicts the evolving dynamic between Newman’s Eddie and Cruise’s Vincent, as they shift from being partners to competitors, keeping viewers guessing about Eddie’s schemes. It’s utterly engrossing.

      While Tom Cruise was the youthful star when The Color of Money debuted, and Paul Newman was the Hollywood legend, audiences find themselves rooting for the more seasoned actor.

      Both The Hustler and The Color of Money are adaptations of novels by Walter Tevis, who also authored the book which inspired the Netflix hit The Queen’s Gambit.

      Kelly Van Ryan and Suzie Toller in Wild Things (1998)

      Columbia Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Kelly (Denise Richards, above right) and Suzie (Neve Campbell, above left) exploit their feigned innocence to orchestrate a complex and twisty scam in this gripping modern noir where appearances are deceiving.

      Both actresses deliver strong performances, and the film's seediness gives the impression of witnessing something illicit.

      Wild Things contains elements that might deter modern critics, yet its undeniable atmosphere and slow-burning tension are hard to resist. And if things feel exploitative, at least Kevin Bacon’s irrelevant shower scene offers a little equity.

      Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can (2002)

      Dreamworks Pictures – Credit: C/O

      It's often suggested that charm is the quality that leads you