The Sting 3 (2025)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Studio: Universal Pictures
Genre: Crime | Thriller | Drama
Release Date: December 12, 2025
More than fifty years after George Roy Hill’s The Sting (1973) redefined the con-artist genre, The Sting 3 (2025) brings together three of Hollywood’s biggest icons in a slick, high-stakes modern heist thriller.
Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Ward, a master illusionist-turned-con man who has spent years manipulating billionaires and corrupt CEOs. Angelina Jolie plays Elena Cross, a former MI6 operative with a history of infiltrating criminal organizations. Denzel Washington joins as Marcus Hale, a seasoned FBI agent who, instead of chasing them, becomes an unlikely ally when the three discover a common enemy: a global banking magnate funding international crime syndicates.
The story unfolds in the bustling streets of New York, the casinos of Monaco, and the hidden alleys of Istanbul. Cruise’s Ethan recruits Elena and Marcus to help pull off “the con of the century”—not just to steal billions, but to expose a dark network threatening world stability. Like the original, the narrative is layered with deception, double-crosses, and a “sting within the sting.”
Fans of the 1973 classic will recognize clever homages—title cards dividing the film into “The Set-Up,” “The Hook,” and “The Sting.” Michael Giacchino’s jazzy score even reinterprets Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer, blending nostalgia with modern cinematic energy.
The climax builds to a high-tension gala in Dubai where the team seemingly betrays each other. Ethan appears to se
ll Elena out, while Marcus looks ready to arrest him. But in true Sting fashion, it’s all part of a master plan. Their ruse tricks the magnate into revealing his crimes live to the world media. The reveal mirrors the 1973 ending, proving the greatest cons are those hiding in plain sight.
In the end, the trio walks away not as fugitives, but as legends who outsmarted the system. Ethan quips, “The game was never about the money—it was about the players.”
The Sting 3 was produced with a budget of $140 million, largely due to international filming, complex stunt choreography, and lavish set designs across multiple countries. Cruise performed many of his own stunt sequences, while Jolie and Washington’s performances anchor the film in gravitas.
Projected Global Box Office: $600M+
Rotten Tomatoes Prediction: 82%
IMDb Prediction: 7.5/10
Like the original The Sting (1973), the 2025 sequel ends with one final twist—what seemed like betrayal was part of the ultimate con, a legacy that comes full circle after more than five decades.
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