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Plot Summary

Lupin III: The First (2020) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 93 min · Japanese
Echo score 85
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Directed by
Takashi Yamazaki
Starring
Suzu Hirose, Doug Erholtz, Alessandro D'Errico, J. David Brimmer, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Laurie Hymes

Suave thief Lupin III and his crew are on a dangerous mission to find the Bresson Diary, pursued by a shadowy organization attempting to resurrect the Third Reich's ideology. The adventure takes them across the globe, involving perilous tomb explorations, thrilling aerial chases, and daring escapes. Combining wit, cunning, and action, this pulse-pounding escapade offers excitement for both longtime fans and those new to Lupin’s world.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Lupin III: The First
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Lupin III: The First: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Lupin III: The First (2020) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In the midst of German-occupied France, a dedicated archaeologist, Professor Bresson, faces grave danger as he entrusts his heavily booby-trapped diary and a mystical amulet—integral to unlocking the secrets of the fabled treasure known as the "Eclipse"—to his family. This invaluable diary holds the potential to lead its readers to untold riches, coveted by a nefarious group of Nazis aligned with the Ahnenerbe organization. Unfortunately, the sinister forces arrive just in time, leading to Bresson's untimely death at the hands of German soldiers. Although his family manages to escape, they find themselves pursued by the relentless Professor Lambert, resulting in a catastrophic car crash that leaves only Bresson's infant daughter as the lone survivor. In a cruel twist of fate, Lambert seizes the amulet but fails to locate the diary, which has been misplaced during their harrowing escape.

Fast forward to the 1960s, when the diary miraculously resurfaces during a memorial exhibition dedicated to Bresson. The renowned thief, Lupin III, makes a bold attempt to steal the diary, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who had tried to achieve the same goal many years earlier. However, his efforts are thwarted first by a clever young woman posing as a security guard and then by the cunning Fujiko, ultimately leading to his arrest by the vigilant Inspector Zenigata.

As Lupin is being transported to prison, he is rescued by his loyal friends, Jigen and Goemon, and makes the startling decision to infiltrate the home of his earlier adversary, the aspiring archaeology student Laetitia Lambert. During this encounter, Lupin reveals a medal identical to the one taken by Lambert—a precious heirloom left to him by his grandfather. This connection prompts Laetitia to reach out to Lambert, her adoptive grandfather, and the very man who orchestrated her theft of the diary, under the false pretext of assisting her education at Boston University.

In an unexpected twist, Fujiko delivers the diary to a group of Ahnenerbe fugitives, including Lambert and the merciless leader, Geralt. However, Geralt soon uncovers Fujiko's betrayal, leading to her unexpected capture. Undeterred, Laetitia guides Lupin to Lambert's secret hideout—a customized transport plane, where they secure the prized diary along with the complementary amulet that Lupin possesses. Upon examining the diary, they discover that the Eclipse is an advanced power generator left behind by a long-lost civilization, hidden within the depths of the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan. Aware that he’s been led into a clever trap, Lupin surrenders to Geralt and Lambert. Meanwhile, Fujiko cleverly uses Lupin as a diversion, managing to escape to safety.

Utilizing a radio, Lupin taunts Zenigata to find him, ultimately stealing his Interpol helicopter amidst the chaos. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Zenigata reluctantly teams up with Lupin, Laetitia, and Jigen to thwart the malevolent plans of Geralt and Lambert. During a critical moment of revelation, Lupin discloses to Laetitia that he deduced her true identity as Bresson's granddaughter and exposes Lambert's intentions of adapting her for his own profit. He also learns that his own grandfather had once aided Bresson in discovering the Eclipse, but had deliberately concealed the diary to protect the treasure from falling into perilous hands.

As events unfold, Geralt and Lambert locate the hidden Eclipse, yet they find themselves hindered by the necessary diary. Seizing the opportunity, Lupin and his team strive to advance through the perilous obstacles, only to learn that their foes’ retreat was a strategic ruse. Unfortunately, the malevolent duo of Lambert and Geralt successfully activate the Eclipse, taking Laetitia along with them. However, Lupin and his allies are quick to intercept the plane before they can escape, resulting in intense confrontation. In a critical flash of brilliance, Laetitia seizes control of the powerful device just as Geralt attempts to eliminate her, fatally injuring Lambert in the process.

As the stakes elevate dramatically, Geralt receives a shocking update revealing that Hitler has been located, leading him to commandeer the Eclipse, Laetitia in tow. Meanwhile, as tensions rise, Laetitia discovers that Lupin’s team, with the backing of Zenigata and Interpol, have arrived at the Ahnenerbe base ahead of Geralt and have prepared for a final showdown. In a daring maneuver, Lupin disguises himself as Hitler aboard the Eclipse, only to reveal his true identity when cornered by Geralt. In the ensuing chaos, Lupin sabotages the Eclipse's controls, unleashing a devastating micro black hole that claims Geralt's life.

In the aftermath, Lupin makes a quick escape, ensuring Laetitia receives a gravity device as a parting gift, along with her enrollment in Boston University as promised. With a final goodbye, he and his crew hastily evade the pursuit of Zenigata, leaving behind a trail of adventure and intrigue.

Last updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

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Plot questions answered

Lupin III: The First Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Lupin III: The First (2020): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

What is the Eclipse and why is it so important?

The Eclipse is an advanced power generator left behind by a long-lost civilization, hidden in the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan. The diary contains the knowledge needed to locate and activate it. The Nazis want it because it's an incredibly powerful weapon that could give them control over massive destructive capability.

Foreshadowing: The diary describes the Eclipse as an ancient treasure capable of granting immense power.

  • eclipse
  • bresson diary
  • teotihuacan
  • power generator
  • weapon
Q2

Why does Professor Lambert want the Eclipse?

Lambert seeks the Eclipse to gain immense power and profit from it. Though he works with the Ahnenerbe neo-Nazis, he appears to have his own agenda. His adoptive granddaughter Laetitia was originally meant to help him locate the Eclipse so he could claim its power for himself.

Foreshadowing: Lambert orchestrated Laetitia's theft of the diary under the false pretense of helping her education.

  • lambert
  • eclipse
  • profit
  • power
  • professor lambert
Q3

Who is Laetitia and what is her connection to the diary?

Laetitia Lambert is the infant daughter of Professor Bresson's family and his true granddaughter. During the Nazi pursuit in WWII, her family fled with the diary and amulet but died in a car crash caused by Lambert's pursuit. Lambert adopted her without knowing she was Bresson's granddaughter, using her to help steal the diary years later.

Foreshadowing: The infant daughter was the only survivor of the car crash that killed Bresson's family.

  • laetitia
  • bresson
  • granddaughter
  • lambert
  • adoption
Q4

Why does Lupin surrender to Geralt and Lambert?

Lupin surrenders deliberately as part of a strategic plan. Knowing he'd been led into a trap, he allowed himself to be captured so he could gather information while his team worked to rescue Laetitia. His surrender also created a distraction that allowed Fujiko to escape from captivity.

Foreshadowing: Lupin reveals he's aware of the trap while examining the diary on the transport plane.

  • lupin surrender
  • strategy
  • geralt
  • lambert
  • trap
Q5

How does Fujiko escape after being captured by the Nazis?

After delivering the diary to the Ahnenerbe hideout, Fujiko is discovered and captured by Geralt. However, when Lupin surrenders to Geralt and Lambert, he creates a distraction that allows Fujiko to slip away and escape to safety while the villains are focused on their new prisoner.

Foreshadowing: Fujiko's betrayal is discovered shortly after she delivers the diary.

  • fujiko
  • escape
  • capture
  • betrayal
  • ahnenerbe
Q6

Why does Inspector Zenigata team up with Lupin?

Zenigata reluctantly teams with Lupin because the situation has grown far beyond a simple theft. The neo-Nazi threat posed by Geralt and Lambert, who are attempting to acquire a devastating weapon, creates circumstances where Lupin's skills are necessary. Lupin also taunts Zenigata via radio to draw him into the conflict.

Foreshadowing: Lupin steals Interpol's helicopter and uses it to contact Zenigata.

  • zenigata
  • alliance
  • interpol
  • neo-nazis
  • geralt
Q7

How does Lupin defeat Geralt at the end?

Lupin infiltrates the Eclipse disguised as Hitler to get close to Geralt. When cornered, he reveals his identity and sabotages the Eclipse's controls, causing the device to unleash a micro black hole that consumes Geralt. This destroys the Eclipse but allows Lupin and his team to escape.

Foreshadowing: The Eclipse is described as a powerful device capable of dangerous energy release.

  • geralt
  • micro black hole
  • eclipse
  • defeat
  • lupin
Q8

What is the amulet's role in finding the Eclipse?

The amulet is a mystical artifact given to Bresson's family along with the diary. Together, the diary and amulet provide the key to unlocking the secrets of the Eclipse's location in Teotihuacan. Lambert seized the amulet during the WWII escape but couldn't find the diary, and later Lupin acquires the complementary amulet that matches Lambert's.

Foreshadowing: Bresson entrusts both the diary and amulet to his family before his death.

  • amulet
  • bresson
  • eclipse
  • teotihuacan
  • key
Q9

What was Lupin's grandfather's connection to Bresson?

Lupin's grandfather was a thief who attempted to steal the Bresson Diary years ago, just as Lupin does in the film. He actually helped Bresson discover the Eclipse but deliberately hid the diary to protect the treasure from falling into dangerous hands. He passed his medal down to Lupin as an heirloom.

Foreshadowing: Lupin carries a medal identical to the one taken by Lambert.

  • lupin grandfather
  • bresson
  • medal
  • eclipse
  • legacy
Q10

Why does Laetitia take control of the Eclipse?

When Geralt attempts to kill Laetitia, she instinctively grabs the Eclipse's controls and activates it, which inadvertently causes Lambert to be fatally injured in the process. This moment marks her transition from a pawn in Lambert's scheme to an active participant who helps determine the outcome of the conflict.

Foreshadowing: Lambert planned to use Laetitia to access the Eclipse's power.

  • laetitia
  • eclipse
  • control
  • lambert
  • activation

Movie threads

More Movies Like Lupin III: The First, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Lupin III: The First tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Globe-Trotting Treasure Hunts like Lupin III: The First

High-stakes animated quests for legendary artifacts, filled with daring escapes and ancient mysteries. If you enjoyed the high-flying adventure and archaeological mystery of Lupin III: The First, explore more movies like it. This section features animated films with similar high-stakes treasure hunts, daring heists, and thrilling chases across exotic locales.

  • thrilling
  • adventurous
  • daring
  • suspenseful
  • escapist
  • pulse-pounding
  • Tone: tense, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, action-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow a clear objective: find the treasure before the villains do. The narrative is propelled by a series of action-packed sequences and puzzles, unfolding across multiple international locations. Character dynamics often involve a skilled team with complementary talents, facing off against a powerful antagonist with world-altering ambitions.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared core experience: a fast-paced, visually dynamic animated adventure built around a historical MacGuffin. They share a specific blend of high-intensity action, a tense but ultimately adventurous tone, and the excitement of a grand-scale quest.

Movies with Charming Outlaws like the Crew in Lupin III: The First

Witty anti-heroes pull off impossible heists while thwarting dangerous conspiracies with global reach. Fans of Lupin III: The First who loved the dynamic of suave thieves battling a neo-Nazi conspiracy will find similar stories here. Discover movies featuring clever anti-heroes, intricate heists, and tense confrontations with powerful, evil organizations.

  • cunning
  • stylish
  • tense
  • high-stakes
  • suspenseful
  • witty
  • Tone: tense, cunning
  • Pacing: fast, stylish
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a skilled but morally grey protagonist or team taking on a job that unexpectedly pits them against a formidable foe—often a cult, corporation, or ideological group seeking power. The story is a cat-and-mouse game, with the outlaws using their wits and unique skills to survive and expose the conspiracy, often uncovering a dark historical secret in the process.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by a specific character dynamic and conflict type. The central draw is the clash between the nimble, charismatic outlaw and the slow, powerful, and ideologically driven antagonist. This creates a consistent vibe of stylish tension, clever problem-solving, and high-stakes action.

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Every angle

Lupin III: The First (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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