--- title: "Hustle: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/hustle/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/hustle" critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 20 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Hustle (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 70 from 20 reviews: 14 positive, 4 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics like Hustle, and they say the same two things: the story is standard sports-drama formula, and Adam Sandler is good in it. The praise settles on his performance, described as sincere, weary and free of comic mannerism, and on the basketball: the game sequences, the training montages, the professional players appearing as themselves. Several single out his easy rapport with Juancho Hernangómez. Jeremiah Zagar’s direction and Dan Deacon’s score also get credit. The reservations are shared even by admirers. Predictable plotting, thin characters and stock villains come up in most reviews. The spread is narrow, with most scores in the seventies and low eighties. Two outright dissenters, Slant and Consequence, find the clichés too heavy to carry, though even they credit the Sandler–Hernangómez chemistry and the slickly cut montages. The New Yorker sits between, praising the insider knowledge of the sport but faulting the direction’s lack of originality. ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Rating Critics Pick. 2 June 2022. Gleiberman finds the familiar sports-drama formula rousing and convincing, with Adam Sandler delivering an unusually authentic performance. He praises the film’s realism, credited both to Sandler’s weary, resilient portrayal and the many NBA players appearing as themselves. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/hustle-review-adam-sandler-bo-cruz-1235283083/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2022. Ebiri finds the film warmly affecting and says it works beautifully despite its standard-issue plot. He especially praises Adam Sandler’s sincere, unadorned performance and the lived-in feel of the family relationships. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-adam-sandler-in-netflixs-nba-drama-hustle.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2022. Rooney finds the film sweet, satisfying and sincere despite its familiar sports-drama formula. He especially praises Sandler’s nuanced performance and the believable friendship between the two leads. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/hustle-adam-sandler-netflix-1235157749/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2022. Chang finds Hustle formulaic but finely textured, with Sandler delivering a warm, winningly restrained performance. He praises the film’s energetic, authentic basketball sequences and rough-hewn style, while faulting its stock villains and familiar story beats. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-06-07/hustle-review-netflix-adam-sandler-basketball) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B. 2 June 2022. Ehrlich calls the film a rock-solid, affecting basketball drama, while noting its formulaic construction and predictable ending. He particularly praises Jeremiah Zagar’s direction and Adam Sandler’s likable, grounded performance. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/hustle-review-adam-sandler-netflix-1234730318/) ## The AV Club — Courtney Howard Rating B. 3 June 2022. Howard finds Hustle a familiar but satisfying sports drama, praising its artistry, emotional depth, and performances. She singles out the training montage’s propulsive sound and visuals, while noting that some plot turns feel clunky and overexplained. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/hustle-review-adam-sandler-jeremiah-zagar-juancho-herna-1849009550) ## Empire — Amon Warmann Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2022. Warmann finds the film enjoyable and heartfelt, though its familiar sports-drama formula keeps it from the genre’s upper tier. He praises Sandler’s performance and the film’s vivid portrayal of basketball and its culture. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/hustle/) ## Film Comment — Clinton Krute Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). The review is positive about Adam Sandler’s latest, finding it endearing. It singles out the surprising performances from professional basketball players. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/film-comment-recommends-hustle-adam-sandler-review/) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2022. Ide finds the film conventional but well made, with enough energy and distinction to appeal beyond basketball fans. She singles out Dan Deacon’s pulsing, panicky score as a jolt of energy. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/05/hustle-review-adam-sandler-scores-in-rags-to-riches-tale) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2022. The review presents the film as a likeable basketball drama. It singles out Adam Sandler’s effectively straight performance. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/hustle-review/5171371.article) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2022. Brody finds the film an earnest, sentimental sports drama whose thin character development and lack of directorial originality limit it. He praises its insider knowledge of basketball and the business around it, along with Sandler’s warm, convincing performance. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/hustle-reviewed-adam-sandlers-love-letter-to-basketball) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2022. The URL identifies this as a New York Times review of the matching film. The article text is inaccessible, so its verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be confirmed. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/movies/hustle-review.html) ## Slant Magazine — Keith Watson Rating 1.5/4. 6 June 2022. Watson finds the film bogged down by clichés and underdeveloped characters. He singles out the easy chemistry between Adam Sandler and Juancho Hernangómez for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/hustle-review-adam-sandler/) ## Paste — Jesse Hassenger Rating 7.0. 2 June 2022. Hassenger finds the film an involving, amiable sports drama that makes effective use of Sandler’s movie-star charm. He particularly praises the plain-spoken chemistry between Sandler and Juancho Hernangómez. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/adam-sandler/hustle-review) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B. 8 June 2022. The review finds Hustle charming and affecting despite familiar sports-film clichés and an imbalance in whose story gets attention. It praises Adam Sandler’s heartfelt performance and the supportive bond he builds with Juancho Hernangomez. [Read the review](https://collider.com/hustle-movie-review-adam-sandler/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2022. The critic finds it a smoothly predictable but warmly satisfying sports movie. They praise the energetic, immersive treatment of basketball action and Sandler’s performance. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/hustle-film-review-adam-sandler-basketball-nba-netflix/) ## Polygon — Robert Daniels Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2022. The critic finds Hustle effectively tender and ultimately satisfying, despite its familiar story and underdeveloped characters. Sandler and Hernangomez’s chemistry and the immersive, expertly edited basketball sequences stand out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/23158653/hustle-review-adam-sandler-netflix-basketball/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 6/10. 2 June 2022. The review finds the story predictable but charming, buoyed by its energy and style. It praises Jeremiah Zagar’s lively direction and basketball sequences, while noting that awkward cameos sometimes get in the way. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/883080/hustle-review-a-predictable-underdog-sports-story-that-still-manages-to-charm/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 2022. The headline suggests a mixed verdict: the basketball story is boilerplate, though Adam Sandler brings game. The accessible page provides no further details about what the critic praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/hustle-review-adam-sandlers-got-game-in-boilerplate-basketball-flick-20220602/?offset=0) ## Consequence — Sam Rosenberg Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 2022. The critic finds the film earnest but formulaic, undercooked, and ultimately forgettable. The slickly edited training montages are singled out as its most entertaining element. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2022/06/hustle-review-adam-sandler-netflix/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/hustle.md