Elevator

Nine people board the elevator in a New York skyscraper, heading to a party on the top floor. The group includes security guard Mohammed, TV reporter Maureen and her fiancé Don, comedian George, newly widowed Jane, overweight Martin, pregnant Celine, and building owner Henry Barton with his granddaughter Madeline. The ride begins with cautious banter and a growing sense of unease as they realize they are trapped together.

On the 49th floor, Madeline torments George by hitting the emergency stop button. Henry presses the lobby floor button, but the car descends only a few feet and then stalls between floors. Security and maintenance begin to scramble as the passengers realize help may take a while.

Security contacts maintenance after the elevator fails to move, and everyone braces for a long wait. The stalled car amplifies fear and frustration as passengers speculate about the crisis and their odds of survival. Tension within the group continues to build while they await an external solution.

Jane suddenly collapses from a heart attack, dying in the cramped space. Before she passes away she reveals she has a bomb attached to her body. Celine checks Jane and discovers the bomb strapped around her waist with a bike lock securing it.

Don explains that he might be the father of Celine’s unborn child, triggering a heated confrontation with Maureen. Maureen demands an explanation and the tension in the car escalates as personal lives are dragged into the crisis. The revelation further complicates morale among the trapped passengers.

Maureen starts documenting the crisis with her phone and uploads the footage to her television station. Viewers begin to follow the unfolding drama as the passengers cope with fear, anger, and unexpected revelations. The confined space becomes a stage for personal and collective tension.

Don tries to climb toward the ceiling using improvised tools, while Madeline repeatedly presses buttons on the control panel. The brakes deactivate and the elevator drops several floors, severing Don's arm. Mohammed quickly fashions a tourniquet from a necktie to slow the bleeding.

The group discovers the car is stuck between floors, preventing a clean alignment with any level. Martin's phone streams a live interview with the bomber, who claims the timer will trigger the bomb in ten minutes, and the countdown intensifies the group's desperation.

George proposes dismembering Jane to separate the bomb from her body, but he loses his nerve under pressure. Henry asserts control and promises each survivor a million dollars if they make it out alive, a vow that hardens the stakes and fuels mistrust.

The bomb squad arrives and the elevator is lowered toward safety. They manage to pry open a small opening to free all but Martin, who remains trapped by the insufficient clearance. The plan shifts to rescuing the remaining passenger as time continues to run out.

With a limited opening, Martin realizes there is no easy escape for him. He remains calm, recognizing that his actions helped everyone else survive, and steels himself for the approaching explosion. The countdown to detonation closes in as Martin accepts his fate.

Don is taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. George asks Henry about the promised one million dollars for each survivor, but Henry ignores the question and remains noncommittal, leaving the financial dispute unresolved. The crisis leaves lingering tensions behind.

George and Mohammed discuss what lies ahead in a world after the ordeal. A television reporter asks George how he managed to stay brave during the crisis; he fabricates an answer to protect his image and fears the fallout.

George receives a phone call from his wife, who has no idea what happened. He rushes off to pick something up at a nearby store, trying to return to normal life as the chaos behind him sinks in. Mohammed watches on, contemplating the uncertain road ahead.