Giovanni Ribisi, alongside two accomplices, embarks on a mission to steal a car under the orders of the ruthless Calitri (Christopher Eccleston). Their objective is ambitious—to pilfer 50 high-end vehicles for an international auto theft syndicate. Targeting a sleek Porsche, still displayed in a showroom, Ribisi nonchalantly retrieves a brick from his trunk before shattering the glass door of the dealership. This audacious act leads them to drive the stolen car right through the dealership’s glass wall. Although they manage to escape, the police trace the vehicle back to the gang's hideout, resulting in the impoundment of all previously stolen cars, including three luxurious Mercedes.
Enter Kip Raines, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, a former thief turned operator of a dilapidated go-kart track. When Kip is alerted that Calitri has taken his brother, Ribisi, hostage, he feels compelled to act. They track down Calitri at a junkyard where his brother is captured, handcuffed in a car that is about to be crushed. With time running out, Calitri gives Kip a dire ultimatum: steal 50 cars in three days, or face the death of his brother. Left with no choice, Kip agrees.
On Day 1, they assemble their crew, which includes the seasoned Robert Duvall, Angelina Jolie, and Ribisi, who has just been freed from his perilous situation. Memphis (Duvall) serves as Kip’s mentor, providing valuable insights from his past experiences.
By Day 2, the team selects their targets, meticulously planning out the cars to steal. On Day 3, they initiate the heist. However, the operation begins to unravel when a police detective (Delroy Lindo) recognizes the pattern used in the earlier Mercedes theft, leading law enforcement to keep a close eye on the dealership. During one of their planned key acquisitions, the police tail one of Kip's crew members, escalating the tension.
As Kip approaches one of the coveted Mercedes, he spots the police lurking nearby and promptly warns his team to disengage. Nevertheless, he is still determined to meet his quota. In a moment of inspiration, Kip digs out the original keys from their first attempt and devises a plan to reclaim the three Mercedes from the police impound lot.
With 49 cars successfully liberated, the group sets their sights on the last prize: a 1967 Mustang Shelby GT. Traditionally a troublesome acquisition for Kip, the stakes are high. Just as he prepares to leave the lot, police converge, igniting a heart-pounding chase that unfolds over 15 exhilarating minutes, culminating in a tense standoff on a jam-packed bridge. In a daring move, Kip accelerates onto a truck ramp and leaps over the stalled traffic, managing to evade capture.
Although he arrives at Calitri's lair 12 minutes behind schedule, Calitri toys with Kip's fate, suggesting he might spare his brother's life, but his intentions remain sinister. As the situation escalates, Kip's brother appears just in time to intervene, thwarting one of Calitri's henchmen. The climax erupts into a chaotic gunfight inside the warehouse, with Kip and Delroy squarely facing off against Calitri.
In a desperate bid to save Delroy, Kip launches himself at Calitri, resulting in the villain’s downfall from the catwalk. Ultimately, Delroy, originally there to arrest Kip for auto theft, chooses to let him go after witnessing this act of bravery. Kip reveals the whereabouts of the other vehicles, setting the stage for a new beginning.
The film closes on a triumphant note, featuring Kip and his crew enjoying a barbecue at Duvall's workshop. They surprise Kip with a gift: a restorable 1967 Mustang Shelby. The story wraps up as Kip and Jolie drive off into their bright future together, symbolizing hope and redemption.
