Headhunters

Headhunters

Year: 2012

Runtime: 100 min

Language: Norwegian

Director: Morten Tyldum

ActionThrillerCrime

Roger, a successful headhunter living a lavish lifestyle funded by illicit activities, becomes entangled in a dangerous game when he learns of a valuable painting owned by one of his clients. Driven by the allure of wealth, he attempts to steal the artwork, unaware that he’s become the target of a vengeful and formidable adversary. His life is turned upside down as he finds himself hunted and forced to confront the consequences of his choices.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Headhunters (2012)

Trace every key event in Headhunters (2012) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Roger's Deceptive Career

Roger Brown, Norway's leading headhunter, supplements his income by stealing valuable artwork from clients. He has a partner, Ove, who works at a surveillance company and deactivates security systems to facilitate these crimes.

Norway
2

Ending the Affair

During a dinner invitation from his mistress Lotte, Roger decides to end their relationship, opting to focus on his marriage instead. This decision sets the stage for his later struggles with jealousy and personal conflict.

3

Meeting Clas Greve

Roger's wife, Diana, introduces him to Clas Greve, an executive at HOTE. Roger sees an opportunity to recruit Clas for Pathfinder, but Clas proves to be elusive, making Roger even more determined.

4

Diana's Aspirations

Diana expresses her desire to have children, creating tension in their relationship as Roger hides the fact that his sperm count is low. This secret leads to increasing frustration between the couple.

5

The Rubens Painting

Diana reveals that Clas possesses a rare Rubens painting, which she believes may be worth millions. This insight ignites a plan within Roger to steal the painting as an opportunity for enormous profit.

6

Plans of Betrayal

Roger carefully strategizes with Ove to steal the Rubens painting during his next meeting with Clas. The meeting also uncovers Clas's military background and his involvement in advanced tracking technology, heightening Roger's paranoia.

7

The Theft

Amidst a meticulously crafted plan, Roger successfully steals the Rubens painting from Clas's residence. However, he uncovers Diana's cellphone there, leading him to suspect an affair between them, which fuels his anger.

Clas's home
8

A Deadly Encounter

Upon discovering Ove apparently dead in his car with a syringe, Roger panics and disposes of the body in a lake. To his disbelief, Ove revives from the near-fatal poison, and a subsequent confrontation leads to Roger inadvertently killing Ove.

Roger's Garage
9

Escaping from Clas

After the deadly confrontation with Ove, Roger encounters Clas, leading to a tense scuffle that forces him to flee. He believes that Clas is tracking him, prompting him to disguise himself by swapping clothes.

Farm
10

Hospitalization and Revelation

In the hospital, Roger learns he is mistaken for Ove and is arrested for murder. Meanwhile, he suspects that Clas is working against him to cover up the truth, realizing his life spirals out of control.

Hospital
11

The Truck Incident

While being transported by police, Roger spots Clas driving a stolen truck, which leads to a terrifying confrontation. Clas rams the police car off a cliff, putting Roger's life in jeopardy once again.

12

Faking His Death

Roger cleverly fakes his own death by hiding from Clas and altering evidence. He shaves his head and changes clothes with a deceased officer, making it look like he was killed in the chaos.

13

A Dangerous Revelation

When Roger seeks Lotte's help, he discovers she is working for Clas all along. This betrayal adds another layer of complexity to his situation, leading to a deadly confrontation between them.

14

Revenge and Resolution

In a final showdown, Roger confronts Clas, who is tracking him with the GPS gel. Roger was able to turn the tables, fatally wounding Clas in self-defense, thereby eliminating his rival.

Ove's Cabin
15

Moving On

With the threat of Clas eliminated, Roger manipulates evidence to shift blame and starts a new chapter with Diana. They are shown preparing to sell their house and have a baby, indicating a fresh start amidst the chaos.

Last Updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

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Thrillers with relentless cat-and-mouse survival like Headhunters

Ordinary people thrown into desperate, life-or-death chases by their own mistakes.If you enjoyed the desperate chase and high-stakes survival in Headhunters, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This list features crime thrillers and action stories where an ordinary person becomes the prey in a dangerous game, leading to a frantic fight for their life against a formidable foe.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically begin with a protagonist committing a consequential mistake, often a crime or deception, which awakens a powerful and vengeful antagonist. The story then unfolds as a series of escalating confrontations and narrow escapes, stripping the protagonist of their resources and safety, forcing them to rely on primal instinct to survive.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared core experience: a fast-paced, tense, and high-intensity vibe centered on survival. They feature a clear hunter-hunted dynamic, a protagonist whose life unravels rapidly, and a sense of paranoia and desperation that drives the plot forward.

Movies about crimes spiraling out of control like Headhunters

Criminals who escape consequences but are forever changed by their actions.Fans of Headhunters who appreciated its theme of a heist leading to catastrophic consequences will enjoy these films. This selection focuses on crime thrillers and dramas where a protagonist's ambitious plan backfires spectacularly, resulting in a violent spiral and a bittersweet resolution that questions the cost of survival.

cynicaldouble crossconsequencesbetrayaldesperatemorally ambiguousbittersweet

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a character, often motivated by greed or status, who initiates a complex crime. The plan inevitably fails due to betrayal, bad luck, or an unforeseen opponent, plunging the character into a world of violence and chaos. The journey forces a confrontation with their own morality, culminating in an ending where physical survival is secured, but psychological peace or a clean conscience is lost.

Why These Movies?

These films share a heavy emotional weight and a focus on the consequences of ambition. They blend crime thrills with a character study, resulting in a tone that is both tense and morally ambiguous, often ending on a note that is more thoughtful and bittersweet than triumphant.

Unlock the Full Story of Headhunters

Don't stop at just watching — explore Headhunters in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Headhunters is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Headhunters Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Headhunters, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Headhunters Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Headhunters

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Headhunters. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Headhunters

Headhunters Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Headhunters that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Headhunters Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Headhunters

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Headhunters: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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