The screenplay was developed by Ficarra and Requa, who previously collaborated on Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011). Filming took place in New Orleans, Buenos Aires, and New York City between September and December 2013. The film features themes of deception, trust, and manipulation within the world of high-stakes con artistry.
Focus premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre on February 24, 2015, and was theatrically released in the United States on February 27 by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the chemistry between Smith and Robbie but criticism for its plot. It emerged as a box office success, grossing $158.8 million worldwide against a production budget of $50 million.
Plot
Veteran con artist Nicky encounters novice grifter Jess, who tries to con him by seducing him and then threatening him with a fake jealous husband. After exposing the ruse, Nicky offers her guidance and later recruits her into his crew. In New Orleans, Jess proves herself by successfully executing several pickpocket operations. The two begin a romantic relationship, unsettling Nicky; his estranged father, Bucky, taught him to never become emotionally involved with colleagues.
At the Super Bowl, Nicky engages in a series of escalating bets with wealthy gambler Liyuan Tse, eventually losing all of the money the crew has earned. To win it back, Nicky tells Tse to pick any player on or off the field and has Jess guess the player's jersey number. Distraught, Jess scans the field, sees a member of Nicky's crew wearing number 55, and realizes it is another con. They take Tse for millions. Nicky later explains how Tse had been influenced to pick 55 from his arrival in New Orleans, with subtle, subliminal prompts throughout his stay.
Afterward, Nicky abruptly parts ways with Jess, leaving her a share of the money and sending her away without explanation.
Three years later, Nicky resurfaces in Buenos Aires, hired by motorsport team owner Rafael Garriga to sabotage a rival team by selling them a faulty fuel-burning algorithm. There, he unexpectedly reunites with Jess, who is now romantically involved with Garriga. Nicky resumes pursuing her while secretly orchestrating a scheme to sell the real algorithm to multiple teams, including Garriga’s top competitor, McEwen, for a large profit.
Nicky and Jess are eventually captured with the money by Garriga’s security team. To save Jess, Nicky claims he manipulated her to gain access to Garriga’s computer. However, Jess reveals she was also running her own con to steal Garriga’s watch. As tensions escalate, Garriga’s head of security, Owens, shoots Nicky, causing a horrified Garriga to flee. It is revealed that Owens is actually Nicky’s father, Bucky, and the shooting was a staged version of the "Toledo Panic Button"—a misdirection tactic.
Bucky drives Nicky and Jess to the hospital to treat Nicky's wound. After warning that love is dangerous in their line of work, Bucky departs with all the money. Nicky and Jess reconcile, sharing a laugh over Jess having successfully stolen Garriga’s $200,000 watch. They walk toward the hospital together.
Editor Neil Smith noted at a 2013 Digital Cinema Society event that a major studio film was being edited entirely on Final Cut Pro X, later identified as Focus, making it one of the largest productions completed using the software.[citation needed]
Principal photography began on September 14, 2013, in New Orleans. Production then moved to Buenos Aires on November 19, 2013, where it continued for three weeks before wrapping on December 10.[7] The final leg of filming took place in New York City, concluding on December 17, 2013.[8]
Release
Theatrical release
Focus was theatrically released in the United States and Germany on February 27, 2015.[9] On January 29, 2015, Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX Corporation announced that the film would also be released in IMAX theaters, digitally remastered using IMAX DMR technology.[10]
Focus grossed $53.9 million in North America and $104.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $158.8 million against a production budget of $50.1 million.[5]
In the United States and Canada, the film earned $6.4 million on its opening day, $7.6 million on its second, and $4.6 million on its third, bringing its opening weekend total to $18.7 million from 3,323 theaters, with a per-theater average of $5,623. It debuted at number one at the box office.[13] Internationally, the film was released in 39 markets during its opening weekend and grossed $12.2 million. Its top international markets included the United Kingdom ($13 million), Russia ($3.1 million), and the Netherlands ($1.8 million).[14][15]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Focus holds an approval rating of 56% based on 228 reviews, with an average rating of 5.80/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, "Focus may have a few too many twists and turns, but it nearly skates by on its glamorous setting and the charm of its stars."[16] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 56 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[17] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[18]
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times described the film as "sheer, escapist entertainment from start to finish."[19]The Free Press Journal called the film "smart, slick, but shallow."[20] Nick De Semlyen of Empire wrote, "This is maximum-gloss entertainment with its fair share of tricksy rug pulls. But, like one of the neon-colored cocktails Smith drinks in it, it’s more of an immediate rush than something you’ll remember in a year."[21]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album was released on February 24, 2015, by WaterTower Music.[22]
"La Espada de Cadorna" – Mauro Alberelli, Fernando Diego, Barreyro, Maria Carla Flores, Fermin Echeveste, Manuel Gonzalez Aguilar, Mateo Gonzalez Aguilar and Carlos Maximiliano Russo
"Gerli Hood" – Ivan Diaz Mathe, Jorge Estenbenet, Sebastian Martinez, Francisco Olivero, Daniel Michel, Juan Manuel Meyer and Gala Iglesias Brickles featuring Camilo Costaldi Lira and Alberto Manuel Rodriguez
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