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How to Steal 100 Million (2024) movie poster

Timeline

How to Steal 100 Million (2024) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2024 · 95 mins · Polish
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Directed by
Michał Węgrzyn
Starring
Bartłomiej Nowosielski, Małgorzata Socha, Antoni Królikowski, Sebastian Konrad, Mateusz Damięcki, Michał Żebrowski

In jail for swindling millions, a charming accountant tries to convince his fiancée that he’s working abroad - while outwitting his vengeful ex-boss.

Comedy Romance Crime Cast, crew & box office
On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 How it worked in How to Steal 100 Million
  4. 4 Timeline questions answered
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Categories
  7. 7 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

How to Steal 100 Million Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of How to Steal 100 Million (2024) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Late-night confrontation at the Bonnet mansion

    Nicole confronts the burglar Simon Dermott in the Bonnet mansion, threatening him with an antique pistol. A stray shot wounds his arm, but Nicole refuses to call the police. To avoid an investigation that could expose her father’s forgery operation, she instead escorts Simon to his hotel, forging a reluctant partnership.

    When
    late night
    Where
    Bonnet mansion

  2. Venus loan and looming forensic threat

    Charles Bonnet agrees to loan his Cellini Venus to the Kléber-Lafayette Museum for an exhibition. He knows the statuette is a fake, carved by his father, and fears scientific tests would expose the deception and ruin his reputation. He signs the museum's insurance policy, unaware it includes a forensic examination, and realizes that withdrawing the statue would raise suspicions.

    Where
    Kléber-Lafayette Museum

  3. Nicole seeks Simon to steal the Venus

    Nicole asks Simon to steal the Venus to prevent the forensic examination from revealing the forgery. He initially resists, believing the job impossible, but his growing feelings for Nicole persuade him to take the risk. The plan becomes a joint effort to protect the Bonnet name.

    Where
    Bonnet residence

  4. Leland initiates contact to purchase

    American tycoon Davis Leland arranges to meet Nicole to purchase the Venus, driven by his obsession with owning the statue. He is drawn to Nicole's charm, suggesting a potentially lucrative arrangement.

    Where
    Bonnet residence

  5. Second meeting and a marriage proposal

    At their second meeting, Leland proposes marriage to secure ownership of the Venus. Nicole rushes to coordinate the museum heist and, in a moment of haste, accepts his ring, keeping her options open.

    Where
    Meeting location

  6. Heist prep in the museum and alarm trick

    Nicole and Simon hide in the museum’s utility closet until closing, study the guards’ routine, and map out their moves. Simon uses a boomerang to repeatedly trigger a malfunctioning alarm until the system is effectively disabled.

    When
    closing time
    Where
    Kléber-Lafayette Museum

  7. The Venus theft and escape

    Simon steals the Venus while Nicole, disguised as a cleaning woman, hides it in a bucket. When the Venus is discovered missing, they slip into the chaos and make their escape.

    When
    immediately after the heist
    Where
    Kléber-Lafayette Museum

  8. The ring in the package and pursuit

    Leland pursues the statue, and Nicole tries to return her engagement ring to him. Simon secretly adds the ring to the Venus package to ensure it remains part of the deal.

    Where
    Museum vicinity

  9. Confidences and a safe plan

    Nicole and Simon celebrate the successful theft in a private location. Simon reveals the Venus was his first heist and that he’s an expert security consultant and investigator hired to tighten security for galleries. He vows not to expose Nicole or Charles and to keep the statue out of the country.

    When
    shortly after the theft
    Where
    Secure hideout

  10. Zero-price deal and retirement of forgery

    Simon tells Charles that the purchase price was zero dollars since the statue was never authenticated and carries no insurance. Charles feels relief but recognizes that someone must retire from forgery, setting the stage for an end to the grift.

    Where
    Charles's study

  11. Plan to marry and start anew

    Nicole and Simon prepare to marry and begin a new life together, solidified by their shared double-life. They drive off to start their life beyond the Bonnet forgeries.

    Where
    On the road

  12. Collector's arrival at the Bonnet residence

    A collector who admired Charles's new is Van Gogh arrives at the Bonnet residence and is warmly welcomed by the wily forger. Nicole calls him a cousin, hinting at the network they've leveraged. The couple departs to begin their life together.

    Where
    Bonnet residence

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:21

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heist · contains spoilers

How It Worked in How to Steal 100 Million

How the heist in How to Steal 100 Million really worked, step by step: what each move looked like at the time, what was actually going on and how one step made the next possible.

Heist 4 steps

Stealing the Cellini Venus: Alarm Faults and a Cleaning Bucket

Simon and Nicole steal the Venus by hiding in the museum until after hours, then using a boomerang-triggered alarm 'fault' as cover for Simon to take the statue, which Nicole conceals in a cleaning worker's bucket. The engineered confusion keeps the theft undetected while the couple escapes.

1Hide in the utilitycloset2Looked like something else at the timeTrigger the alarmwith a boomerang3Simon takes the Venus4Nicole hides thestatue in a bucket
WhoLooked like something else
Read the 4 steps as text
  1. 1

    Hide in the utility closet

    Simon Dermott · Nicole Bonnet

    On the night of the heist, Nicole and Simon hide in the museum's utility closet until after hours, observing the guards from concealment.

  2. 2

    Trigger the alarm with a boomerang

    Simon Dermott · Museum guards

    What it looked like: The repeated alarms appear to be a fault in the security system rather than deliberate triggering by an intruder.

    Simon repeatedly triggers the security alarm with a boomerang, engineering a supposed 'fault' in the system that allows them to move.

  3. 3

    Simon takes the Venus

    Simon Dermott

    Under cover of the supposed alarm fault, Simon steals the Venus statue from the museum.

  4. 4

    Nicole hides the statue in a bucket

    Nicole Bonnet

    Nicole, masquerading as a cleaning worker, slips the stolen Venus into a bucket to conceal it.

Timeline questions answered

How to Steal 100 Million Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of How to Steal 100 Million (2024): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why didn't Nicole call the police after Simon broke into the mansion?

Nicole refused to alert the authorities because calling the police would have triggered an investigation that could expose her father Charles's entire forgery operation. Instead, she drove Simon to his hotel to keep the incident quiet and prevent any scrutiny of her family's illegal art business.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Nicole is established as anxious about the day her father's schemes will be uncovered, explaining her desperate choice.

  • nicole bonnet
  • simon dermott
  • break-in
  • police
  • forgery operation
Q2

Why did Charles agree to loan the Cellini Venus to the museum?

Charles agreed to loan the Venus to the Kléber-Lafayette Museum because refusing would have aroused suspicion about why he didn't want the statue examined. He believed he could manage the situation by signing the insurance policy, not realizing it included a forensic examination that would expose the forgery.

  • charles bonnet
  • cellini venus
  • museum loan
  • forgery exposure
Q3

Why did Simon agree to help steal the Cellini Venus?

Simon initially doubted the heist was possible, but his growing romantic feelings for Nicole convinced him to take on the challenge. He was drawn to her and wanted to help protect her family from the embarrassment and consequences of exposure.

Foreshadowing: During their first meeting, Nicole's fear and vulnerability create an unusual connection with Simon.

  • simon dermott
  • nicole bonnet
  • venus heist
  • motivation
  • romance
Q4

Who is Simon Dermott really?

Simon Dermott is revealed to be a seasoned security consultant and investigator hired by major galleries to detect forgeries and strengthen security. He had been tracking Charles Bonnet's collection from the start, but chose not to expose Nicole or her father after falling in love with her.

  • simon dermott
  • investigator
  • security consultant
  • true identity
  • forgery expert
Q5

What was the Cellini Venus and why was it called worthless?

The Cellini Venus was a statue carved by Nicole's grandfather, with her grandmother serving as the model. It was considered worthless because it was a counterfeit, not an authentic Cellini piece. Simon already knew this from his investigation but participated in the heist anyway for Nicole's sake.

  • cellini venus
  • counterfeit
  • forgery
  • nicole grandfather
  • worthless
Q6

Why was the sale price of the Venus zero dollars?

Simon explained to Charles that the purchase price was zero because the Venus had never been authenticated for insurance purposes. Since it was never officially valued or insured as an authentic piece, there was no legitimate claim or cost associated with selling it.

  • sale price
  • zero
  • venus
  • insurance
  • authentication
Q7

Why did Nicole accept Davis Leland's marriage proposal?

Nicole agreed to marry Davis Leland primarily to secure ownership of the Cellini Venus for him, which was part of the overall heist plan. She was swept up in the whirlwind of events and kept her options open, accepting his ring while simultaneously coordinating the theft with Simon.

  • davis leland
  • nicole bonnet
  • marriage proposal
  • engagement ring
  • venus
Q8

How did Simon disable the museum's security alarm?

Simon used a clever ruse by repeatedly triggering the security alarm with a boomerang. This engineered a supposed fault in the system, effectively disabling it and allowing him and Nicole to move through the museum undetected during the heist.

  • museum heist
  • alarm
  • boomerang
  • security
  • kléber-lafayette
Q9

What happened to the Bonnet family's forgery business at the end?

The ending suggests the Bonnet family is retiring from the forgery business. With the Venus safely out of the country and no longer a threat to expose their operations, Charles recognizes that someone must leave the criminal lifestyle behind. The couple (Nicole and Simon) drives off to start a new life together, free from forgery.

  • forgery business
  • retirement
  • charles bonnet
  • nicole
  • simon
  • new life
Q10

Who was the collector Nicole called a cousin at the end?

The collector who arrives admiring Charles's newly dubbed 'Van Gogh' appears to be part of the Bonnet family's network of contacts in the art world. Nicole calls him a cousin, hinting at the extensive underground connections they've leveraged for their forgery business, suggesting the operation may continue through other means.

  • cousin
  • collector
  • van gogh
  • ending
  • network

Movie threads

More Movies Like How to Steal 100 Million, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes How to Steal 100 Million tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with clever heists and romantic deceptions like How to Steal 100 Million

Clever criminals pull off a high-stakes heist while navigating a fragile web of lies. If you liked the blend of a sophisticated heist and romantic intrigue in How to Steal 100 Million, you'll enjoy these films. This list features movies where charming con artists execute clever plans while outwitting their marks and falling in love, creating a fun and suspenseful watch.

  • clever
  • charming
  • suspenseful
  • romantic
  • playful
  • sophisticated
  • Tone: light, playful, romantic
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow charismatic protagonists as they devise and execute a complex scam or heist. The central tension often comes from maintaining their cover, especially in a new romantic relationship that is built on deception. The plots unfold methodically, balancing the thrill of the con with the emotional stakes of the romance, leading to a triumphant resolution where the lovers succeed together.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on witty, high-society crime, the delicate balance between love and lies, and a tone that is more playful than grim. They deliver a specific mix of intellectual satisfaction from the clever plot and emotional payoff from the central relationship.

How to Steal 100 Million movie poster

How to Steal 100 Million

2024
How to Steal a Million movie poster

How to Steal a Million

1966
A Touch of Larceny movie poster

A Touch of Larceny

1960
Raffles movie poster

Raffles

1930
If You Could Only Cook movie poster

If You Could Only Cook

1935
Thieves Fall Out movie poster

Thieves Fall Out

1941
To Rob a Thief movie poster

To Rob a Thief

2007
The Lovable Cheat movie poster

The Lovable Cheat

1949

Witty comedies of errors and deception similar to How to Steal 100 Million

A web of lies and mistaken identities creates humorous and suspenseful situations for clever characters. Fans of the clever lies and humorous suspense in How to Steal 100 Million will appreciate these movies. This collection focuses on films where characters juggle multiple identities and deceptions, leading to a sophisticated and playful comedy full of close calls and witty dialogue.

  • witty
  • playful
  • suspenseful
  • clever
  • sophisticated
  • charming
  • Tone: light, witty, suspenseful
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist living a double life, where their invented persona is constantly threatened by exposure. The plot is driven by the need to sustain the deception against increasingly skeptical or vengeful adversaries. The story unfolds at a steady pace, building suspense through a series of escalating complications that are resolved through the protagonist's quick thinking and charm.

Why they belong together: This thread unites movies based on their shared DNA of mistaken identity, sophisticated humor, and a suspense that stems from the risk of a lie unraveling. The experience is defined by intellectual cleverness, playful tension, and a generally lighthearted atmosphere despite the high stakes of exposure.

False Confessions movie poster

False Confessions

2017
Indiscreet movie poster

Indiscreet

1958
Trial and Error movie poster

Trial and Error

1997
The Importance of Being Earnest movie poster

The Importance of Being Earnest

2011
Bride by Mistake movie poster

Bride by Mistake

1944
Miss Tatlock’s Millions movie poster

Miss Tatlock’s Millions

1948
The Bigamist movie poster

The Bigamist

1956
They All Laughed movie poster

They All Laughed

1981

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring How to Steal 100 Million

How to Steal 100 Million appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories
Elderly Crew Heist Comedies movies

Elderly Crew Heist Comedies

Heist movies with elderly characters

Every angle

How to Steal 100 Million (2024) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about How to Steal 100 Million in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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