Emily Blunt and Chris Evans Star as Pharmaceutical Reps in 'Pain Hustlers' Trailer

"Pain Hustlers" is in select theaters Oct. 20 and streaming on Netflix Oct. 27

Emily Blunt is hustling her way to the top in her latest film. 

On Wednesday, Netflix debuted the first trailer for Pain Hustlers, which stars Blunt and Chris Evans as pharmaceutical sales employees pushing opioids in a story based on real events. 

Blunt plays Liza Drake, a single mom "at the end of her rope" after losing her job, per a synopsis. "A chance meeting with pharmaceutical sales rep Pete Brenner (Evans) puts her on an upwards trajectory economically but dubious path ethically as she becomes entangled in a dangerous racketeering scheme."

The film's trailer teases Liza and Pete's high-earning, hard-partying lifestyle as title cards read that Pain Hustlers "may cause increased energy, elevated mood, ecstasy, paranoia, aggression [and] greed."

Emily Blunt Pain Hustlers Movie Poster
Poster for Netflix's 'Pain Hustlers' movie.

Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023

As Liza deals with "her increasingly unhinged boss, the worsening medical condition of her daughter, and a growing awareness of the devastation the company is causing," she begins to re-examine her career choices.

Netflix described the film as a "sharp and revealing look at what some people do out of desperation and others do out of greed."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Chris Evans as Brenner in Pain Hustlers
Chris Evans as Brenner in Pain Hustlers.

Betina La Plante/Netflix © 2023

Pain Hustlers is directed by David Yates, who directed the final four Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts spinoffs.

It's written by Wells Tower, adapted from Evan Hughes's 2018 article published in The New York Times Magazine and the subsequent book Pain Hustlers: Crime and Punishment at an Opioid Startup. Netflix secured worldwide distribution rights to the film at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

Yates told Entertainment Weekly, "I've always been fascinated by salespeople and what they do and the moral side of the pharma industry when they're hustling to make money."

Emily Blunt as Liza and Chris Evans as Brenner in Pain Hustlers
(L to R) Emily Blunt as Liza and Chris Evans as Brenner in Pain Hustlers.

Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023

"Elements of the story are obviously consistent to what Evan Hughes documented in his book, but we created Liza Drake, we created the relationship she has with her daughter, Phoebe, just as a way of allowing the audience to connect with a single character and carry us through the story," he added.

Along with Blunt and Evans, the movie also features Catherine O’Hara, Chloe Coleman, Jay Duplass, Brian d’Arcy James, Amit Shah, Aubrey Dollar, Willie Raysor and Andy Garcia.

Pain Hustlers is in select theaters Oct. 20 and streaming on Netflix Oct. 27.

Related Articles