Year: 2012
Runtime: 110 min
Language: English
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Budget: $25M
A former smuggler, Chris Farraday, is pulled back into a dangerous life when his brother-in-law’s failed deal leaves him owing a powerful crime boss. To settle the debt, Farraday must orchestrate a risky operation to recover millions in counterfeit money within Panama’s perilous underworld. He assembles a skilled crew and races against time, attempting to evade ruthless drug lords, corrupt law enforcement, and deadly assassins while protecting his family from harm.
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Chris Farraday, portrayed by Mark Wahlberg, is a former smuggler who now leads a seemingly tranquil life as a security alarm installer in New Orleans with his dedicated wife, Kate, and their two young sons. However, their peaceful existence unravels when Kate’s brother, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), finds himself in dire straits after attempting to smuggle drugs on a cargo ship. During a surprise inspection by U.S. Customs, Andy’s illicit cargo is thrown overboard to avoid capture, enraging his vindictive boss, the ruthless mobster Tim Briggs.
Briggs threatens Chris with unimaginable consequences, demanding that Andy repay $700,000 in two weeks or face lethal repercussions for his family. Realizing he has no choice, Chris decides to resort to smuggling once more, connecting with his father Bud (William Lucking), who has dark ties to the criminal underworld. Together with old friend Danny Raymer, Chris plans an audacious scheme to procure $10 million in counterfeit bills from Panama.
Trouble escalates as Briggs and his henchmen invade Chris’s home, instilling terror in his wife and children. In the midst of this chaos, Chris contacts his best friend Sebastian Abney to ensure his family’s safety. Meanwhile, in Panama, Chris negotiates with a crime lord named Gonzalo after uncovering that the counterfeit bills he sought are useless.
As tensions rise, Kate faces her own peril when Briggs attacks her. With Sebastian’s duplicitous nature revealed, a twisted game of deception ensues, culminating in terrifying confrontations. Andy’s betrayal further complicates matters, leading Chris to orchestrate a deadly armored car heist alongside Danny to salvage their plight.
In a whirlwind of violence and desperation, Chris confronts betrayal from every angle. Armed with cunning and resilience, he cleverly navigates through the treacherous waters of smuggling, aiming to rescue his family from destruction while entangled in criminal plots far more dangerous than he anticipated. The chaos reaches a boiling point as Chris takes matters into his own hands, confronting Sebastian and the nefarious Briggs.
Ultimately, Chris’s remarkable ingenuity allows him to thwart both Briggs and the corrupt captain of the ship, paving the way for a confrontation that isn’t just about survival, but about reclaiming his family’s safety. With his final ploys to outsmart those who seek to harm him, Chris takes drastic actions to protect those he loves, culminating in a thrilling rescue that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
In the end, Chris strikes a lucrative deal for the counterfeit bills, alongside a surprising discovery—a priceless painting stolen during the heist. As Chris and Andy exit the criminal machinations behind them, they embark on a new chapter, shrouded in danger yet lined with the promise of fortune.
Last Updated: November 08, 2024 at 03:35
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.
Ordinary people forced into high-stakes criminal operations to save what they love.Fans of high-stakes thrillers like Contraband will find more movies featuring ordinary people who must execute daring criminal operations against their will. These stories share a tense, urgent energy where the protagonist is driven by a need to protect their family or survival, leading to intense confrontations with ruthless enemies.
The narrative typically follows a capable but reluctant protagonist who is pulled back into a life they left behind due to an immediate, external threat—often involving a debt or a loved one in danger. They must assemble a team and execute a complex, illegal plan under extreme pressure, facing constant setbacks, betrayals, and escalating violence, culminating in a final, desperate attempt to secure their freedom.
These films are grouped by their core premise of a high-pressure criminal undertaking born from desperation rather than ambition. They share a specific emotional mix of urgency, family-driven stakes, tense action, and the constant threat of catastrophic failure, creating a uniquely gripping and anxious viewing experience.
Tense thrillers that delve into the risky mechanics and dangers of illicit transport.If you enjoyed the tense smuggling operation and criminal underworld logistics in Contraband, explore more movies that dive deep into the dangerous world of moving contraband. These films feature detailed heist-like planning, double-crosses, and a gritty, realistic portrayal of the pressures faced by those operating outside the law.
Stories in this thread are driven by a central logistical challenge: moving valuable or dangerous goods through heavily monitored or hostile territory. The plot revolves around assembling a crew, navigating corrupt officials and rival criminals, and dealing with unforeseen complications that threaten to unravel the entire operation. The climax often hinges on a final, dangerous exchange or escape.
Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the mechanics and inherent tension of smuggling operations. They create a specific, claustrophobic mood where success depends on precision and nerve, and failure means fatal consequences, appealing to viewers who enjoy process-driven crime stories with a gritty, realistic edge.
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