Netflix's "Pain Hustlers" Offers Fictionalized Account of Real-Life Opioid Profiteering Scandal

"Pain Hustlers," Starring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans, Traces Dark Comedy from a 2018 NYT Exposé on Pharma Startup Insys, Aiming to Entertain and Educate on Opioid Crisis.

Netflix's 'Pain Hustlers' is a fictionalized retelling of the opioid profiteering scandal revealed in the 2018 New York Times exposé on pharmaceutical startup Insys. The film blends comedy with a serious exploration of the opioid crisis.
The film does not specifically detail the Insys story, but is inspired by the outrageous practices and exploitation within that industry. Central themes include bribery, racketeering, and the unethical promotion of addictive painkillers to patients.
Starring Emily Blunt as Liza Drake and Chris Evans as Pete Brenner, 'Pain Hustlers' uses humor and exaggerated characters to entertain while addressing serious issues.
The movie is set in Florida for streamlined character development, although the real-life Insys scandal covered a much larger operation across the US.
Despite its entertaining tone and approach, some critics argue that 'Pain Hustlers' undersells the true human cost of the opioid crisis, focusing more on the individual characters than the broader community impact.