The Color of Money

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The Color of Money

R

1986

1h 59m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Former pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman) decides he wants to return to the game by taking a pupil. He meets talented but green Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) and proposes a partnership. As they tour pool halls, Eddie teaches Vincent the tricks of scamming, but he eventually grows frustrated with Vincent's showboat antics, leading to an argument and a falling-out. Eddie takes up playing again and soon crosses paths with Vincent as an opponent.

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Critics Consensus

That it's inferior to the original goes without saying, but Paul Newman and Tom Cruise are a joy to watch, and Martin Scorsese's direction is typically superb.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Apr 8, 2017

Yes, sure, this is mid-level Scorsese. But it says something about the director that his mid-level work still beats the hell out of just about anyone else's best.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Feb 6, 2017

2.5/4

The premise might sound interesting, but the plotting is so utterly predictable that The Color of Money turns into a pool-room variation of The Karate Kid.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

Feb 6, 2017

3/4

It is a surprise, and a disappointment.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Oct 24, 2023

3.5/4

Has Martin Scorsese’s camera ever had as much fun as it does here?

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Aug 29, 2022

3/10

There are still a few surprises that have the potency to remain memorable, but, ultimately, when devious, dishonest people use one another for two hours, the end result is rarely satisfying.

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Alberto Abuín

Espinof

Aug 27, 2019

Everything, including a splendid cast, works like a clockwork mechanism in which Scorsese faces youth with experience. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 1, 2026

The Color of Money = a *4* star Movie!

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Lincoln L

@Linkolnbio2 Sep 24, 2026

It's solid, it is well-constructed, reliable, and does exactly what it sets out to do.

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Ryan R

@RT03720025 Mar 16, 2026

"Do I not speak your native language?" "What is the matter with you?" The class and wit of this movie makes you want another.

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E L.

@Blacklightrain Dec 22, 2025

Love the movie… The reason I love pool!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 8, 2025

Success in 1 hour and 59 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $52,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Blu B

@RT43513976 Jun 24, 2025

A Classic Sports Drama. It's crazy back in the 80's we were doing sequels 20+ years later even than. (And Cruise was involved in it to. How crazy is that.) But great news, it's really good and deserves to stand with the original. Newman is awesome and so cool in this returning to form as a seasoned Fast Eddie. This really shares almost no continuity with the original besides Newman returning. You can easily watch this and not know anything about the first. A testament also how well made it is. Everyone else is really good especially Mastrantonio. Dialouge is great too. Fantastic direction by Scorese as well. Cinematography is amazing and really immerses you in the world of Pool Halls and hustling. The music is the best thing...dear god it's so laid back, cool, 80's and memorable. Everything else is really well done. The first half of this is about Cruise's character and the film flips and becomes about Newman. Oddly enough though while Cruise can be a bit whiny, Newman carries it through and when it becomes more about Eddie it becomes even better. It can feel a little episodic but in general it flows pretty well. And thanks to such strong execution it's very easy to overlook. Anyone who is a fan of pool, sports movies, the director, any actors in this, or the first movie should check this out.

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Martin Scorsese

Director

Paul Newman

Fast Eddie Felson

Tom Cruise

Vincent

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Carmen

Helen Shaver

Janelle

John Turturro

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Synopsis

Former pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman) decides he wants to return to the game by taking a pupil. He meets talented but green Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) and proposes a partnership. As they tour pool halls, Eddie teaches Vincent the tricks of scamming, but he eventually grows frustrated with Vincent's showboat antics, leading to an argument and a falling-out. Eddie takes up playing again and soon crosses paths with Vincent as an opponent.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Producer: Irving Axelrod, Barbara De Fina
Screenwriter: Walter Tevis, Richard Price
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.3M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround

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