The film stars Paul Newman reprising his role as "Fast Eddie" Felson, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

However, he partners with pool players, including a hustler named Julian, who is outmatched at nine-ball by the young and charismatic Vincent.

Recognizing Vincent's skill, and his girlfriend Carmen's inexperience at luring players to lose money, Eddie tells the couple of their excellent potential for hustling.

Finding him working at Child World, Eddie invites Vincent to leave the next day for six weeks of hustling on the road, culminating in a nine-ball tournament in Atlantic City.

Manipulating Vincent's insecurities about Carmen and giving him a valuable Balabushka cue stick, Eddie persuades him to accept his offer.

Eddie returns to find Vincent grandstanding, beating the pool hall's best player but scaring off a wealthier mark.

Paul Newman called Martin Scorsese in September 1984 and asked him if he was interested in directing a sequel to The Hustler.

Walter Tevis wrote a sequel to his novel The Hustler, called The Color of Money, and died the same day producer Irving Axelrad received galley proofs of the book.

[11] He cited the influence of techniques and lighting in the 1947 Powell-Pressburger film, Black Narcissus, when making The Color of Money.

Cruise mentioned that, to prepare for the role, he bought a pool table for his apartment and practiced for hours on end.

According to Scorsese, Gleason apparently agreed with Newman's opinion that Minnesota Fats was not essential to the film's story.

Based on 48 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an 88% approval rating from critics, with an average score of 7.10/10.

The site's consensus reads: "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.

Vincent Canby, writing for The New York Times, commented on the "three fully realized" main characters, and that the journey with them throughout the film is "most satisfying".

[22] Sheila Benson of the Los Angeles Times called these characters an "electrifying unholy trio", and praised the metaphors between hustling and pool.

[38] The 1996 nine-ball challenge match between Efren Reyes and Earl Strickland was named "The Color of Money" in honor of the film.