What we flagged
View all categories
Netflix
BINGE
Foxtel Now
Netflix Standard with Ads
Rent or buy on
Apple TV Store
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fetch TV
Our take
The Sting is a clever con story with cards, bets and a few shootings, told with a light touch. The violence has little blood, but the gambling, cheating and a period racial slur are worth talking about. We would watch together from PG.
Uplifting themes
Friendship and loyalty drive the heroes, who punish a violent crook by outsmarting him. Lying and theft are the tools, so it is a fun heist more than a moral tale Smart, loyal friends work as a team and look after each other, but they cheat and steal to do it. A mentor and a young apprentice share a warm bond A glimpse of 1930s Chicago and the Great Depression, with period cars and fashion. It is entertainment first and not a history lesson
Story (may spoil tone)
A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.
What we flagged
Details
Violence A few shootings, slaps, and beatings occur in a period crime setting. A…
A few shootings, slaps, and beatings occur in a period crime setting. A man is killed in the street, and a gunfight in a betting room ends the con. The tone stays light and teasing
Language Hell, damn, the b-word and a few other mild insults come up in the peri…
Hell, damn, the b-word and a few other mild insults come up in the period dialogue. The s-word is heard once or twice
Sex / nudity A brothel is a key setting, with women in revealing period clothes and…
A brothel is a key setting, with women in revealing period clothes and flirty talk. A man and a woman share a kiss and a flirt, but nothing explicit is shown
Drugs / alcohol Heavy drinking at bars, a drunk con man, and cigars and cigarettes are…
Heavy drinking at bars, a drunk con man, and cigars and cigarettes are shown throughout. It reflects the era and is not played for laughs
Frightening A hired killer stalks the hero, and a few chases and quick threats rais…
A hired killer stalks the hero, and a few chases and quick threats raise tension. Most of the film is light and the scares are brief
Bullying / discrimination A racial slur and a few cruel comments appear early on, reflecting 1930…
A racial slur and a few cruel comments appear early on, reflecting 1930s attitudes. The heroes treat Black characters with respect and the crime boss's hate is shown as ugly
Gore / death / weapons Gun wounds are shown with little blood, and a few bodies lie on the gro…
Gun wounds are shown with little blood, and a few bodies lie on the ground after shootouts. The camera never dwells on injuries, in keeping with the older Hollywood style
Dangerous behaviour The film shows card-cheating tricks and disguises in detail. Children m…
The film shows card-cheating tricks and disguises in detail. Children may want to copy the tricks, though the larger con has consequences in the story
Gambling Poker, a rigged betting parlour, and big wagers drive the plot, and che…
Poker, a rigged betting parlour, and big wagers drive the plot, and cheating is the heroes' craft. It is played for clever fun and not as an addiction story
Grief / bereavement A mentor is killed early on, and the hero is driven by that loss. The m…
A mentor is killed early on, and the hero is driven by that loss. The mourning is brief and the story quickly turns to a plan for payback, with a lot of jokes in between
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
What other parents think.
Be the first family to leave a watch note.
Talk after watching
- The heroes lie, cheat, and steal, but the film wants us to cheer for them. Why does it work, and where does it feel wrong?
- A character uses a racist slur early on. How does the film show the heroes' attitude to it?
Ask ClearAge
The Sting
Ask about this guide, or name another film to open its ClearAge page.
