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Plot Summary

Capone (2020) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 103 min · English
Echo score 55
JustWatch #3,873 20
Directed by
Josh Trank
Starring
Linda Cardellini, Tom Hardy, Jack Lowden, Sue-Lynn Ansari, Edgar Arreola, Al Sapienza
Budget
$20.6M

Suffering from dementia, infamous gangster Alfonse Capone is haunted by memories of his violent past. As his mind deteriorates, the FBI investigates, and Capone struggles to distinguish reality from the fragmented recollections of his criminal empire. He must piece together his fading memories to uncover the location of a hidden fortune somewhere on his estate, all while confronting the consequences of his past deeds.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 How it ends
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Capone
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Capone (2020)

Where can you watch Capone? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Capone: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Capone (2020) 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.

As the crisp autumn of 1931 transitioned into the biting chill of winter, the infamous Alphonse "Al" Capone, portrayed by Tom Hardy, found himself imprisoned, his once fearsome reign diminishing under the relentless grip of neurosyphilis and dementia. It would take a decade for the world to finally deem him no longer a menace. It was in this frail condition that Capone, affectionately referred to as "Fonse," was released and retreated to a life of exile in Florida, surrounded by family members as he faced his twilight years.

As Fonse wandered through the dimly lit corridors of his new abode, armed with a fire poker, he stumbled across a hidden closet. Inside was a little girl who let out a piercing scream at the sight of the notorious gangster. Yet, she soon found herself swept into the joyous chaos of play with Fonse's grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, who were frolicking on the lawn outside. Their playful noise eventually gave way to the more sobering voices of their elders, leaving Fonse alone, his mind wrestling with the strange encounter.

Thanksgiving dinner later that day brought family together, but Fonse’s attempts to explain the holiday to one of his granddaughters were marred by the fog of his illness. A poignant dance with his wife, Mae, served as a bittersweet reminder of happier days, only to be interrupted by his sister Rosie, who delivered the grim news of an incoming phone call—one that would be disappointingly brief.

On the other end was Fonse's estranged son, Tony, whose fleeting desire for connection seemed paired with his father's fading memory. Struggling to comprehend the unexpected conversation, Fonse sought solace outside, joining sons Ralphie (Al Sapienza) and Junior (Noel Fisher), all while being surveilled by unseen agents. The once-mighty Capone now endured an undignified spiral into helplessness, coughing and soiling himself.

As dusk fell, Fonse's possessions were auctioned off to pay down debts, a sobering reminder of his fall from grace. An unsettling feeling enveloped him as he sensed another presence lurking in the shadows.

That evening, as a bizarre vision of a young boy invaded Fonse's thoughts, Mae awoke in horror to discover her husband’s distressing condition. In light of this decline, Dr. Karlock was called to evaluate Fonse's state, suggesting that his family remain by his side as an acknowledgment of his deteriorating health. The appearance of an old friend, Johnny, brought a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. Their angling expedition opened the door for Fonse to express his bewildering belief that he had buried a staggering $10 million somewhere, though his memory seemed as murky as the lake they fished upon.

As the day dragged on, Fonse's temper flared when an alligator snatched their catch—prompting him to retaliate in a fit of rage. The ensuing calm was short-lived, as he later sank into a Wizard of Oz marathon with Mae, but his brief escape was shattered by the arrival of an unwanted guest lurking nearby.

Disoriented, Fonse soon found himself engrossed in the past as Johnny questioned his relationship with Tony, which ignited a volatile response from Fonse, demanding more bourbon for his "friend." This chaos escalated until Mae intervened, helping him to bed just as Gino (Gino Cafarelli), his devoted bodyguard, arrived to check on the couple, advising Mae not to call Fonse "Al."

As his confusion deepened, Fonse mistakenly sought help from the authorities, unwittingly alerting listening agents surveilling him. His desperate wandering led him to the basement, where he encountered phantoms from his past who revealed hints of buried treasure just as darkness enveloped him in grisly scenes of violence.

In one haunting moment, he stumbled upon the corpse of a former acquaintance, which directed him toward a spectral vision of Tony, whose calm demeanor sent a shiver down his spine. The chase turned into a macabre race against despair, where his reality splintered, and he found himself paralyzed by a stroke, leaving his family frantically attempting to revive him.

Meanwhile, Mae once more summoned Karlock, now depicted by Jack Lowden, who, alongside Agent Crawford ([Crawford]), sought to extract crucial information from Fonse regarding his hidden fortunes. In a bizarre attempt to jog his memory, Karlock directed Fonse to grasp a carrot as if it were a cigar, to unearth cryptic musings about his wealth.

Ralphie's growing suspicions fed into Fonse's mounting paranoia, culminating in a dinner table explosion where he fixated on Gino’s steak, its disturbing appearance spiraling him deeper into madness. As the evening unfolded, Johnny's reappearance loomed ominously over Fonse's health, heightening the tension in an already fraught atmosphere.

The eerie echoes of a radio broadcast shook Fonse awake to the grim realities of his life, as it resurrected tales of betrayal and violence from his past. In the midst of this turmoil, Mae and the nurse rushed in to save Fonse, whose scream of terror sliced through the room.

Despite Agent Crawford's relentless attempts to find evidence against Fonse, he found himself in a peculiar dance of delay and frustration. In a bewildering turn of events, Fonse vanished until he erupted in a manic fit, armed with a Tommy gun, firing recklessly at everything in sight, ultimately killing Gino.

As he drifted between violent rampage and lucidity, Fonse recalled a cryptic hint that urged him to "Dig where it's wet," leading him to plunge into a lake, only to awaken on Italian shores, where the whispers of a bygone era converged. Roused from this strange reverie by Mae, Junior, Ralphie, Rosie, and Gino, he felt the passage of time embrace him once more.

With the seasons flowing, the family gathered for Thanksgiving again, this time with Tony finally present after weeks of ghosting phone calls. Although the pair sat in silence, their unspoken understanding spoke volumes against the beautiful backdrop around them.

In the aftermath of Capone's death, his family hastily reinvented themselves under new names, seeking refuge from their dark legacy while the enigma of his lost fortune lingered on, forever eluding discovery.

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 13:18

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Plot questions answered

Capone Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Capone (2020): 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 Capone shoot and kill Gino?

During a manic episode fueled by his dementia and hallucinations, Capone grabs a Tommy gun and fires recklessly around the house, accidentally killing his loyal bodyguard Gino. This violent outburst represents the tragic collapse of his mind, he is no longer capable of distinguishing reality from memory, and his body's violent impulses override any rational thought.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Capone's growing paranoia and violent flashbacks to his criminal past, building toward this explosive moment.

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  • gino
  • death
  • tommy gun
  • shooting
  • murder
  • dementia
Q2

Where did Capone bury his hidden $10 million?

The location of Capone's buried fortune remains a mystery throughout the film and is never actually found. While Capone believes he buried $10 million somewhere on his Florida estate and receives cryptic clues like "Dig where it's wet," his deteriorating mind prevents him from piecing together the location. The fortune eludes both him and the FBI agents desperately trying to recover it.

Foreshadowing: Johnny's fishing trip with Capone triggers the first concrete mention of buried treasure, with Capone insisting he buried a staggering sum.

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  • money
  • fortune
  • buried treasure
  • hidden wealth
  • 10 million
Q3

What disease causes Capone's mental decline?

Capone suffers from neurosyphilis, a complication of untreated syphilis that attacks the brain and nervous system. This condition, combined with dementia, causes his memory loss, confusion, hallucinations, and eventual physical collapse. The disease was already progressing during his prison sentence in 1931, and by the time he reaches Florida, his mind is severely deteriorated.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Capone imprisoned in 1931, already showing signs of the debilitating effects of neurosyphilis.

  • capone
  • neurosyphilis
  • dementia
  • mental decline
  • disease
  • syphilis
Q4

What does the clue "Dig where it's wet" mean in Capone?

"Dig where it's wet" refers to the lake on Capone's Florida property. During a moment of clarity amid his hallucinations, Capone recalls this cryptic hint and dives into the lake, believing the money is submerged. However, he awakens back on shore, and whether he actually found anything remains ambiguous, the scene shifts to him being surrounded by family, suggesting the treasure hunt was another delusion.

Foreshadowing: The clue emerges during one of Capone's more lucid moments while fishing with Johnny, who helps jog his memory about the burial location.

  • dig where it's wet
  • clue
  • lake
  • money
  • buried
  • treasure
Q5

Why does Capone have a violent outburst over the steak at dinner?

Capone's explosive reaction at the dinner table stems from paranoia induced by his dementia. When he sees Gino's steak, he becomes convinced it's something sinister rather than food. His damaged mind cannot process everyday objects correctly, and this triggers a violent outburst that terrifies his family. The scene demonstrates how his declining mental state turns ordinary situations into sources of terror.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes already show Capone struggling to distinguish reality, with visions of past associates haunting him.

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  • steak
  • dinner
  • outburst
  • paranoia
  • violence
  • dementia
Q6

Why is the FBI still watching Capone in Florida?

The FBI continues surveilling Capone even in Florida because they believe he still possesses knowledge of or access to his hidden criminal fortune. Agent Crawford is determined to find evidence of Capone's remaining wealth and ties to organized crime. Despite Capone's frail and confused state, authorities suspect he may be hiding assets or at least knows where they are buried.

Foreshadowing: Capone is shown being observed by agents throughout the film, particularly when he ventures outside with his sons.

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  • surveillance
  • agent
  • capone
  • money
  • investigation
  • fortune
Q7

Why does Capone mistakenly call the authorities for help?

In his confused state, Capone attempts to call what he believes are helpful authorities, but he is actually reaching the FBI agents who are already surveilling him. This desperate act shows how disconnected he has become from reality, he cannot distinguish between those who want to help him and those investigating him. The call inadvertently alerts the agents to his vulnerability.

Foreshadowing: His growing confusion and paranoia about people around him have been building throughout the film.

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  • police
  • call
  • dementia
  • confusion
  • fbi
Q8

Why is Tony absent from Capone's life?

Tony, Capone's estranged son, has distanced himself from his father, largely due to the shame and complexity of Capone's criminal legacy. When Tony finally calls during Thanksgiving, the conversation is brief and emotionally distant, Capone struggles to even recognize the significance of hearing from his son. By the following Thanksgiving, Tony finally visits in person, but the two sit in silent understanding rather than exchanging words, reflecting their fractured relationship.

Foreshadowing: The first Thanksgiving phone call establishes the tense, distant nature of their relationship early in the film.

  • tony
  • capone
  • son
  • family
  • estranged
  • absence
  • relationship
Q9

Who is the little girl Capone finds in the closet?

The little girl Capone discovers hiding in a closet is one of his granddaughters or niece. When he startles her with his intimidating appearance, she screams, but the situation quickly resolves as she joins the other children playing outside. This moment briefly brings Capone joy as he watches the grandchildren play, though it also triggers confusing memories from his violent past.

Foreshadowing: This encounter happens early in the film as Capone explores his Florida home, establishing his connection to family despite his illness.

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  • girl
  • closet
  • grandchildren
  • family
  • home
Q10

What happens to Capone's family after he dies?

After Capone's death, his family immediately reinvents themselves under new names, desperately trying to escape the dark legacy of the Capone name. They seek to distance themselves from the criminal empire and the notoriety that came with it. Despite their efforts to start fresh, the mystery of Capone's lost fortune continues to haunt them, remaining undiscovered.

Foreshadowing: The final Thanksgiving scene shows the family together, but the unresolved money mystery looms over their future.

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  • family
  • death
  • new names
  • legacy
  • fortune
  • reinvent

Ending explained

What Happens at the End of Capone?

How Capone (2020) ends, in short: the final scene, the last twist and what it means for the characters. The full ending explained, with every spoiler, lives on its own page.

Read the full ending explained

Capone's ending is a fragmented and surreal glimpse into the mind of an aging and mentally deteriorating Al Capone, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination. Throughout the film, we see Capone in the throes of dementia, experiencing vivid and disturbing visions that reflect his fractured memory and sense of guilt. Many of the events, including encounters with his supposed son Tony or violent outbursts, are likely hallucinations or memories warped by his declining mental state. In the final scene, Capone is seen reaching out to an adult version of Tony, holding hands with him in a gesture that signifies a moment of emotional connection—possibly the only real or meaningful moment left to him. Given that Capone had no official son named Tony and that his mental condition was worsening, this scene is probably another hallucination, symbolizing his desire for reconciliation or at least a final connection with his past.

As the movie concludes, Capone’s fantasies are intertwined with his reality, emphasizing his sense of loss, guilt, and nostalgia for a life of power and violence. His final act of grabbing his golden Tommy gun and imagining a massacre is symbolic of his futile attempt to reclaim control and confront his inner demons. However, the arrival of a tidal wave—an overwhelming visual that appears both in the hallucinations and in reality—serves as a metaphor for the unstoppable force of time and death that he cannot escape. The movie ends with Capone lost in his delusions, viewing his life as a chaotic montage of memories and fantasies, ultimately highlighting his tragic descent into madness and the inescapable end facing everyone with such a legacy. The narrative’s ambiguity and surreal visuals leave viewers contemplating the true nature of his final moments—whether they are real, hallucinated, or a mixture of both—making the ending a powerful reflection on mortality, memory, and the ruins of a once formidable life.

Capone ending explained in full

Movie threads

More Movies Like Capone, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about psychological deterioration like Capone

Unflinching portrayals of a character's mind unraveling under the weight of their past. If you appreciated the psychological depth of Capone, explore these movies that delve into fractured minds and unraveling realities. This section features similar films about mental illness, dementia, and the haunting nature of memory, perfect for viewers who like heavy, introspective character studies.

  • disorienting
  • oppressive
  • psychological
  • haunting
  • sad
  • paranoid
  • Tone: dark, melancholic, oppressive
  • Pacing: slow, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often unfold from a single, unreliable perspective, using non-linear structures to mirror a character's disintegrating mental state. The central journey is one of internal collapse, where protagonists confront forgotten traumas and struggle to maintain a grip on reality against a rising tide of confusion and fear.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their intense, psychological focus on a protagonist's mental deterioration. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark or bleak tone, and often a slow, deliberate pacing that allows the audience to feel the suffocating weight of the character's internal struggle.

Crime dramas about a gangster's demise like Capone

A dark, slow-burn look at the grim and lonely end of a once-powerful criminal. For viewers who liked the bleak, introspective take on a gangster's end in Capone, this section collects similar crime dramas. Discover movies about the downfall of crime figures, focusing on regret, legacy, and the heavy price of a life of violence, rather than the action-packed rise to power.

  • melancholic
  • lonely
  • oppressive
  • sad
  • haunting
  • regretful
  • Tone: dark, bittersweet, melancholic
  • Pacing: slow, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow a fall-from-grace arc, but the emphasis is on the aftermath—the physical and moral decay. The conflict shifts from external power struggles to an internal battle with regret, paranoia, and the consequences of past actions, often set against a backdrop of surveillance or betrayal.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are connected by their focus on the grim, unglamorous end of a criminal's life. They share a bittersweet or bleak ending feel, a dark tone, and a mood that is deeply melancholic and lonely, prioritizing character reflection over fast-paced action.

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Movies Like Capone

Similar movies to Capone: 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

Capone (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

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

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