Netflix has added the 1973 cinematic classic 'The Sting' to its streaming library, bringing a multi-Academy Award-winning masterpiece back to a wider digital audience, according to xataka.com.mx.
The film serves as a rare addition of a 20th-century heavyweight to the platform's current catalog. It marks the final collaboration between screen legends Paul Newman and Robert Redford following their success in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' the outlet reported.
Directed by George Roy Hill, the film follows con artists Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff as they attempt to avenge the death of a friend by targeting mobster Doyle Lonnegan. The plot centers on an intricate, improvised scheme set against the backdrop of the Great Depression.
A critical and commercial powerhouse
'The Sting' achieved massive commercial success during its original run, earning $257 million at the global box office, according to xataka.com.mx. The film's enduring quality is reflected in its 8.2 IMDb rating and a 93% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Industry critics have long praised the film's execution. Variety described the movie as "a superbly crafted story of multiple deceits, with a twist ending that will delight both the masses and the most demanding [audiences]."
Empire magazine called the production "one of those moments when all the good in Hollywood falls into just the right place at the right time... something magnificent and timeless." Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times labeled it "one of the most enduring and exquisitely crafted blockbusters of all time."
The film's impact was cemented at the Academy Awards, where it secured seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. The film remains available for subscribers to stream on Netflix.
