Nine Queens

Two small-time con artists team up in Buenos Aires to separate a gullible stamp collector from a sheet of faked rarity known as the nine queens. Marcos, the quick-witted veteran, and Juan, his resourceful partner, plot a careful sequence of misdirection and counterfeit paperwork to lend the sheet an air of legitimacy. What begins as a simple scam spirals into a tense cat-and-mouse game as each move reveals the other’s skill and appetite for risk. The film follows their escalating schemes through crowded markets, smoky offices and backroom deals, where trust is as valuable as any stamp and danger hides behind every handshake, every smile. As the con unfolds, trust becomes fragile and each choice raises the stakes for both.

Directed by Fabián Bielinsky, Nine Queens comes from his own screenplay and debuted in 2000 as a sharply written Argentine crime drama that launched his career. The film blends slick dialogue with stylish visuals and a taut, economical setup globally.

Worldwide the movie earned about $12,413,888 on a budget of $1.3 million, offering a strong return for a compact Argentine thriller that found audiences across Latin America and parts of Europe, aided by word of mouth and festival attention globally.

Nine Queens helped anchor Argentine thrillers on the world stage by proving a lean street level approach could carry a film with international appeal. Critics and audiences alike praised its clean setup, sharp turns, and the way it blends urban texture with clever con artistry and lasting influence on cinema.

Critics widely praised the film for its crisp direction and for performances by Ricardo Darín and Gastón Pauls, while noting its themes of trust and deceit under pressure. The story uses timing over explosions to build suspense, inviting viewers to read the room and spot the ruses on future films.