Pain Hustlers is a 2023 crime drama film directed by David Yates. The movie stars actors like Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy García, and more. It tells the story of a high school dropout who gets involved in a criminal conspiracy while working for a failing pharmaceutical company in Florida. The genre of Pain Hustlers is crime drama.
Quick Plot Summary
Pain Hustlers is a movie about a woman named Liza who is a single mom trying to take care of her daughter, Phoebe. Liza gets a job at a pharmaceutical company where she has to convince doctors to prescribe a new drug. She faces challenges but eventually becomes successful. However, she discovers that the drug is causing harm to people. Liza decides to speak up and expose the truth, even though it lands her in trouble. In the end, she starts her own company with her friends. It’s a story about standing up for what is right, even when it’s hard.
Ending Explanation
The ending of Pain Hustlers shows Liza Drake facing the consequences of her actions while also finding a new beginning. Despite her initial intentions to provide for her daughter, Liza becomes caught up in illegal activities at Zanna, a pharmaceutical company pushing a dangerous drug. When the drug leads to addiction and deaths, Liza decides to do the right thing by testifying against the company leaders involved in the scandal.
Liza’s decision to become a whistleblower leads to the arrest and sentencing of the key figures at Zanna, including herself. She is sentenced to 15 months in prison, highlighting that even though she tried to make amends, there are still consequences for her part in the harm caused by the drug.
After serving her time, Liza seeks redemption and a fresh start by co-founding a skin care company with her former colleagues. This new venture represents her effort to move on from the past and create a positive future for herself and her daughter. The ending emphasizes themes of responsibility, redemption, and the possibility of a new beginning after acknowledging and paying for one’s mistakes.
Similar Movies
If you’re looking for movies similar to “Pain Hustlers – Il business del dolore,” which combines elements of crime, drama, and a deep dive into the dark side of the pharmaceutical industry, here are a few recommendations that share thematic or stylistic connections:
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The Insider (1999) – Directed by Michael Mann, this film is based on the true story of a whistleblower in the tobacco industry. It shares with Pain Hustlers a focus on the ethical complexities and personal risks involved in exposing corporate malfeasance.
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The Big Short (2015) – Directed by Adam McKay, this film dives into the financial crisis of 2007–2008 caused by the housing bubble. While it focuses on finance rather than pharmaceuticals, it similarly explores a complex industry with a mix of drama and a critical look at greed and corruption.
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Dallas Buyers Club (2013) – Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, this film tells the story of Ron Woodroof, who smuggled unapproved pharmaceutical drugs into Texas when he found them effective in treating his AIDS symptoms. It shares a focus on the pharmaceutical industry, though from a different angle, highlighting the struggle for access to medication.
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Erin Brockovich (2000) – Directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Julia Roberts, this film is based on the true story of a legal assistant who helps fight against a corrupt energy company poisoning a city’s water supply. Like “Pain Hustlers,” it features an underdog protagonist fighting against corporate greed.
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The Informant! (2009) – Directed by Steven Soderbergh, this dark comedy stars Matt Damon as a biochemist who becomes an informant for the FBI in a price-fixing conspiracy case. It shares a blend of crime, drama, and a bit of humor in tackling corporate crime.
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Love & Other Drugs (2010) – Directed by Edward Zwick, this romantic drama/comedy takes a look at the pharmaceutical industry through the lens of a Pfizer sales rep in the late 90s. While more focused on romance, it provides an interesting commentary on the industry.
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Dopesick (2021) – This Hulu miniseries explores the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, spanning from the boardrooms of Purdue Pharma, to a distressed Virginia mining community, to the hallways of the DEA. While it is a series rather than a movie, it deeply investigates themes similar to those in “Pain Hustlers.”
These films and series offer a mix of critical examination of industries (pharmaceutical and others), ethical dilemmas, complex characters, and gripping narratives, which fans of Pain Hustlers might appreciate.
Reference: Wikipedia
