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Plot Summary

The Take (2016) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 92 min · English
JustWatch #6,075 9
Directed by
James Watkins

In the shadowy backstreets of Paris, American pickpocket Michael Mason unwittingly becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy involving the CIA. Field agent Sean Briar investigates the mystery and realizes Michael holds the key to exposing a vast corruption ring. Disobeying direct orders, Briar forms an uneasy alliance with Michael, utilizing his skills to navigate a thrilling chase and uncover the truth behind the escalating threat.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Take
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Take (2016)

Where can you watch The Take? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Philo, Starz and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Take: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Take (2016) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

On the eve of Bastille Day in Paris, an American conman, Michael Mason, makes a fateful decision to steal a woman's handbag that unknowingly contains a teddy bear rigged with explosives. After he carelessly discards the bag, it detonates, tragically killing four innocent people. This explosive device was supposed to go off in an empty office, but the presence of employees changed everything. As a result, Mason becomes a target of the French authorities and is placed under surveillance by the CIA.

Determined to uncover the truth, CIA agent Sean Briar embarks on a mission to track down Mason, leading to a tense chase across rooftops. Once captured, Mason tries to explain that he had no idea the bag contained dangerous materials and reveals that he obtained the woman's name, Zoe—found in the bag’s call log—just before everything went wrong. Meanwhile, Zoe, feeling immense guilt over the calamity, is under duress from a man known as Jean (whose real identity remains a mystery). This Jean facilitates her escape after realizing she is in grave danger from a mercenary group led by Rafi Bernard, who orchestrated the deadly plot.

As events unfold, Zoe discovers that the group intends to recover her phone's location which leads them closer to her. During a heated confrontation, Briar finds himself outmatched by the mercenaries while Mason manages to evade them. Compounding their predicament, Rafi's group attempts to frame innocent individuals by planting evidence at a mosque to further their chaotic scheme, with Victor Gamieux, the French Interior Minister, revealed as their mastermind.

After a nail-biting series of encounters, Mason and Briar find refuge at the safe house of Zoe's friend Paul, but they are not safe for long as Zoe and her associates hatch an escape plan. The tension heightens when Mason employs clever tactics to acquire Paul's ID card, which reveals Zoe's address. This leads them straight to her apartment, where Zoe holds Mason at knife-point, demanding answers about the next bomb's location. Through interrogation, she divulges Jean's address, guiding them to a shocking discovery: Jean is actually undercover officer Fibbert Pascal, found dead.

Despite the burgeoning chaos, help is on the way, with Briar attempting to relay this pivotal information to CIA colleague Karen Dacre. Unfortunately, she meets a tragic fate at the hands of Gamieux, who asserts his control by eliminating threats. In a frantic twist, Zoe and Mason narrowly evade death from Gamieux's henchmen in a grueling fight, eventually heading towards their intended target—the bank.

At the bank, Briar realizes the depths of Gamieux's corruption and orchestrates a clever ruse using the chaos outside to gain access. Inside, Rafi finalizes his nefarious transfer of $500 million with Briar in hot pursuit. In an explosive showdown, Mason and Zoe join the fray, desperately trying to assist Briar. Mason cleverly secures the hard drive while Rafi takes Zoe hostage, threatening dire consequences if his demands are not met. As the climax unfolds, Briar bravely intervenes, leading to a confrontation with Rafi that results in Gamieux's men mistakenly opening fire.

Finally, Mason confronts Gamieux under the pretense of negotiating for his freedom, leading to a dramatic twist. Just as he’s about to be betrayed, Briar appears, and a standoff ensues, revealing Mason's brilliance as he walks away unscathed and clear of any accusations. As a new chapter unfolds, Briar assures Mason of a promising future.

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 14:52

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Plot questions answered

The Take Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Take (2016): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Michael Mason steal the woman's bag?

Mason is a professional pickpocket operating in Paris. He steals the woman's handbag as part of his criminal livelihood, completely unaware that it contains a teddy bear rigged with explosives. He has no knowledge of the bomb or any involvement in the conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes establish Mason as a skilled pickpocket who works the streets of Paris to make a living.

  • michael mason
  • pickpocket
  • steals bag
  • paris
Q2

Who is Jean in The Take?

Jean is revealed to be undercover French police officer Fibbert Pascal, who was secretly monitoring the conspiracy. He helps Zoe escape from the mercenaries holding her, but is later found dead at his address after Mason and Briar discover the truth.

Foreshadowing: Jean mysteriously helps Zoe escape despite apparently holding her under duress, hinting at a hidden agenda.

  • jean
  • fibbert pascal
  • undercover officer
Q3

Who is the real villain in The Take?

The mastermind behind the entire conspiracy is Victor Gamieux, the French Interior Minister. He orchestrates the bomb plot, the framing of innocent people at the mosque, and orders the killing of anyone who gets close to the truth, including CIA agent Karen Dacre.

Foreshadowing: The film reveals Gamieux as the power-hungry politician controlling Rafi's mercenary group from behind the scenes.

  • victor gamieux
  • interior minister
  • villain
  • mastermind
Q4

Why does the teddy bear bomb explode early?

The bomb was originally intended to detonate in an empty office building, but Mason's careless disposal of the bag in a populated area meant it exploded near four innocent employees who were present at the time. This tragic mistake turns Mason into a target and sets the entire plot in motion.

Foreshadowing: The timeline establishes that the explosion was supposed to happen in an empty office, making the casualties a critical plot twist.

  • teddy bear bomb
  • explosion
  • paris
  • bastille day
Q5

Why is Zoe being chased by the mercenaries?

Zoe's bag contained the explosive teddy bear and her phone, which the mercenaries need to recover because it holds location data that could lead authorities to them. Rafi Bernard's group pursues her to silence her and retrieve the phone before she can expose their operation.

Foreshadowing: Zoe learns early that the group wants her phone's location, making her a target throughout the film.

  • zoe
  • mercenaries
  • chased
  • phone location
Q6

How do Mason and Briar escape at the end?

Mason confronts Gamieux under the pretense of negotiating his freedom, creating a standoff. When Gamieux's men open fire during the chaos with Rafi, Briar arrives in time to help Mason escape unharmed. Mason walks away completely clear of any accusations, with Briar promising him a better future.

Foreshadowing: Mason's cleverness with identities and documents throughout the film prepares for his final bluff.

  • mason
  • briar
  • escape
  • confrontation
  • gamieux
Q7

Who kills Karen Dacre?

Karen Dacre, Briar's CIA colleague, is killed by Victor Gamieux himself. He eliminates her to prevent her from relaying crucial information about the conspiracy to other agents, demonstrating his willingness to murder anyone who threatens his operation.

Foreshadowing: Gamieux is established as a ruthless political figure who will eliminate any obstacle.

  • karen dacre
  • killed
  • gamieux
  • cia
Q8

How does Mason find Zoe's apartment?

Mason cleverly obtains Paul s ID card while at the safe house, using his conman skills to access personal information. The ID reveals Zoe's address, allowing Mason and Briar to locate her apartment where she later holds Mason at knife-point demanding answers about the next bomb.

Foreshadowing: Mason's pickpocketing skills prove useful again when he lifts Paul's ID card.

  • zoe address
  • paul id
  • mason
  • apartment
Q9

Why does Rafi plant evidence at the mosque?

Rafi Bernard's mercenary group plants evidence at a mosque as part of a larger scheme to create chaos and frame innocent people. This operation is controlled by Gamieux, who uses political corruption to manipulate the situation and draw attention away from the real conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: The framing operation connects the mercenary plot to high-level political corruption.

  • mosque
  • framing
  • rafi bernard
  • evidence
Q10

How does Zoe escape from the mercenaries?

Jean, who is secretly undercover officer Fibbert Pascal, facilitates Zoe's escape after realizing she is in grave danger from Rafi's group. Jean helps her flee despite appearing to hold her under duress, setting up the chain of events that leads to her eventual meeting with Mason and Briar.

Foreshadowing: Jean's true identity as an undercover officer explains his sudden change of heart about helping Zoe.

  • zoe
  • escape
  • jean
  • mercenaries

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Take, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Take tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Relentless Action and Chases like The Take

Unstoppable heroes race against time through city streets amidst high-stakes conspiracies. If you liked the fast-paced urgency and non-stop chases of The Take, you'll enjoy these movies. This section gathers high-energy thrillers where heroes are on the run, racing against time through urban landscapes to uncover conspiracies and stop imminent threats.

  • urgent
  • adrenaline-fueled
  • relentless
  • suspenseful
  • high-stakes
  • on the run
  • Tone: tense, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, unrelenting
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with an inciting incident that immediately propels the protagonist into a high-stakes conflict. The plot unfolds in real-time or over a short period, driven by a series of escalating action sequences like foot chases, car pursuits, and close-quarters combat. The goal is often clear and urgent, such as preventing an attack or exposing a hidden enemy.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared commitment to a fast-paced, action-forward experience. They prioritize adrenaline and forward momentum over deep character study, creating a cohesive vibe of urgency and physical tension that appeals to fans of high-octane storytelling.

Movies with Unlikely Alliances and Conspiracies like The Take

A rule-bound professional and an unconventional outsider join forces to expose a powerful conspiracy. For viewers who enjoyed the dynamic between the CIA agent and the pickpocket in The Take, this section highlights movies about mismatched partners. These stories focus on duos who must overcome their differences to uncover a high-level conspiracy, blending action with compelling character interaction.

  • unlikely duo
  • corruption
  • conspiracy
  • tense
  • gritty
  • redemption
  • Tone: tense, gritty
  • Pacing: steady, fast
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot centers on a vast conspiracy that a by-the-book official (cop, agent, soldier) cannot solve alone. They are forced to partner with a skilled but unorthodox outsider (criminal, hacker, civilian) who holds a key piece of the puzzle. The journey involves navigating mutual distrust, leveraging their contrasting abilities, and ultimately working as a cohesive unit to achieve a common goal against a formidable enemy.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core narrative structure of an 'odd couple' partnership formed under duress. The appeal lies in the character chemistry, the fusion of different skill sets, and the shared theme of challenging institutional corruption from the inside and out.

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Movies Like The Take

Similar movies to The Take: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

The Take (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Take in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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