This 2019 drama may look like a film about being a glamorous dancer in a strip club, but it’s so much more. Although we don’t condone drugging and scamming Wall Street businessmen, this electrifying portrayal had us firmly on the side of the women at the heart of this fishing scheme.

It’s Jennifer Lopez’s performance as Ramona that really stands out. She’s the maternal figure that you can’t help but be in awe of – in her fur coat and heels, she’s a presence to be feared and admired in equal measure. But it’s also her fiery determination to protect the women around her, provide financial stability for her family and afford a better life that underpins the emotional side of hustle culture (especially for exotic dancers and women of colour) that is rarely depicted.

At the heart of the film is the desire to make money in less than conventional ways, as JLo’s character says: “The game is rigged, and it doesn’t reward people who play by the rules.”

Hustlers is available to stream on Netflix now.

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