Year: 2020
Runtime: 91 mins
Language: Italian
Director: Toni D’Angelo
In Milan, a criminal defense lawyer named Fernando struggles with his complicated family history. His father, Ugo Piazza, is a notorious gangster, while his mother, Nelly, has tried to raise Fernando away from that life. The film explores the tensions between Fernando's legal career and his father's criminal past, examining themes of family, loyalty, and redemption within the backdrop of modern-day Milan.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Caliber 9 (2020), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Ugo Piazza, Marco Bocci a small-time Milanese gangster just released from prison, finds himself immediately pulled back into trouble as old associates circle him. They suspect he stole 300,000 US dollars during a handover before his arrest, a claim he vehemently denies even under pressure from The Americano, a powerful American money launderer who wants the money back or for Piazza to resume his old loyalties. The Americano’s volatile right-hand man, Rocco Musco, Michele Placido, intensifies the pressure, and Piazza’s girlfriend, Nelly Bordon, Barbara Bouchet a go-go dancer, also believes the theft happened, pulling Piazza deeper into a web of suspicion and danger.
Piazza crosses paths with his former godfather Don Vincenzo and his sole remaining capo, Chino, symbols of a fading criminal order that still commands fear. The Americano sets an ultimatum: return the money and stay in his fold, or face the consequences. Tensions mount as paranoia grows—Rocco begins slaughtering money couriers, tightening the net around Piazza’s neck.
The conspirators set up a delicate exchange of $30,000 in a bowling alley, hoping to shake loose the truth. But a mysterious assailant in a white scarf, a figure who has stalked Piazza since his release, crashes the scene, kills their client, and absconds with the brown leather bag containing the money. The Americano orders Piazza and Rocco to hunt down the culprits, only to discover the targets are Chino and Don Vincenzo. Piazza refuses to kill his former godfather, but Rocco coldly shoots the old man, and Chino narrowly escapes. The Americano, infuriated by Piazza’s disobedience, is about to order his killing, yet Piazza manages to turn the tide by convincing him that Rocco and his crew were behind the theft.
The Americano retreats with his entourage to a rural estate, but he is ambushed and shot by a vengeful Chino. Piazza, in turn, turns his gun on the Americano’s men and finishes them off, while Chino dies of his injuries. With the immediate threat removed, Piazza travels to an abandoned church off Milan and retrieves a blue bag containing the $300,000—revelation dawning that he had stolen the money from the Americano years before and orchestrated everything to manipulate the crime lord into his own downfall. Yet fate has one more twist in store: police stop him for driving with an expired license and escort him to the station for interrogation.
In the waiting room, Piazza encounters Rocco, who is being questioned for the shootout at the Americano’s house. Seeing the bag, Rocco offers a partnership, but Piazza declines and is released. He makes his way to Nelly’s house, planning to flee with the money. Nelly, however, is entangled with Luca, one of Rocco’s crew and the man in the scarf who orchestrated the $30,000 heist. Nelly’s hidden lover Lucato had helped coerce Piazza, but the betrayal doesn’t stop with them. Luca shoots Piazza, though Piazza lands a decisive blow that kills Nelly. Rocco, who had followed Piazza home, bursts in and exacts revenge by killing Luca in a frenzy. The pursuing police ultimately drag Rocco away, leaving Piazza’s fate shrouded in the aftermath of a meticulously plotted revenge.
Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Gritty underworld tales where paranoia and betrayal are the only constants.If you liked the tense, paranoid atmosphere and moral complexity of Caliber 9, explore more movies like it. This collection features fast-paced, dark crime stories set in gritty underworlds, focusing on themes of betrayal, inescapable fate, and psychological pressure. Find similar thrillers with a heavy emotional weight and ambiguous endings.
The narrative pattern follows a character, often against their will, being pulled deeper into a criminal conspiracy. Trust is a liability, leading to a series of double-crosses that escalate the danger and paranoia. The journey is typically a downward spiral where the protagonist's morals are tested and their fate becomes increasingly uncertain.
These movies are grouped together for their shared dark, cynical tone, high-intensity pacing, and focus on the psychological toll of crime. They create a cohesive experience of being trapped in a web of deception, making them perfect for viewers seeking tense, morally complex thrillers.
Stories exploring the inescapable pull of a violent family history.For viewers who appreciated the family drama at the heart of Caliber 9, this list features movies with similar themes of legacy and loyalty. Discover stories where characters are torn between their family's criminal past and their own future, leading to heavy emotional choices and complex moral dilemmas, much like in Caliber 9.
The narrative centers on a character defined by their familial ties to crime, struggling to either escape that legacy or control it. The conflict is internal—a battle of identity—and external, as family loyalties clash with personal ambitions or the law. The journey is often tragic, questioning whether one can ever truly break free from their bloodline.
These films are united by their heavy emotional focus on family dynamics within a criminal context. They share themes of loyalty, legacy, and redemption, creating a specific vibe where personal drama is amplified by life-or-death stakes in a gritty, realistic world.
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Track the full timeline of Caliber 9 with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Caliber 9. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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