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Lupin the 3rd (2014) movie poster

Timeline

Lupin the 3rd (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 133 mins · Japanese
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Directed by
Ryûhei Kitamura
Starring
Tadanobu Asano, Vithaya Pansringarm, Shun Oguri, Jerry Yan, Go Ayano, Tetsuji Tamayama

A notorious thief, Arsène Lupin III, and his loyal companions embark on a daring mission to steal the "Crimson Heart of Cleopatra" from the heavily guarded "Ark of Navarone." Pursued relentlessly by Interpol Inspector Zenigata, Lupin must outwit authorities and navigate treacherous security measures to claim the world’s most beautiful prize. The chase spans the globe as Zenigata attempts to bring the infamous thief to justice.

Crime Action Comedy Adventure Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Lupin the 3rd Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Lupin the 3rd (2014) 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. Initial heist: Lupin steals the Olympic medal in Singapore

    Lupin outsmarts his rivals Fujiko Mine, Pierre and Jiro to seize the ancient Olympic medal in Singapore. He is forced to surrender the medal to the ruthless Michael Lee when Michael threatens to kill Lupin and Fujiko. The encounter sets Lupin on a collision course with a dangerous new rival.

    When
    early
    Where
    Singapore

  2. The Works meeting and the theft of the Crimson Heart

    During a Works meeting, Fujiko is hailed as the culprit behind the theft while Thomas Dawson unveils the Crimson Heart of Cleopatra. The ruby needed to complete the necklace is missing, and a trio of thugs led by Michael massacres Dawson and Jiro with the necklace in hand, leading to the disbanding of The Works. The betrayal shatters the organization and heightens the chase.

    When
    shortly after the initial theft
    Where
    The Works meeting

  3. Lupin and allies vow to recover the necklace

    With The Works dissolved, Lupin, Fujiko, Pierre, and Jigen vow to recover the Crimson Heart and the stolen ruby. They marshal their forces and plot to track Michael down and reclaim the necklace. The plan marks their first joint push as an informal alliance.

    When
    shortly after

  4. Lupin surrenders in Thailand and teams up with Zenigata

    Within a year, Lupin and Jigen have established themselves as seasoned thieves. Jigen grows weary of Fujiko's unreliable leads. Lupin turns himself in to the Thai police and meets Inspector Zenigata, who offers to erase his record if Lupin will help the police trap the sellers at a big auction; Lupin agrees and recruits Goemon.

    When
    within a year
    Where
    Thailand

  5. Fujiko and Michael's backstory; Lam, Dawson, and Pramuk

    Fujiko meets with Michael and he explains the backstory of Edward Lam and Dawson, including how Lam was killed and the ruby was stolen by Pramuk. Michael intends to buy the ruby to complete the Crimson Heart necklace. The interaction deepens their shared history and motivates their plans.

    When
    before auction
    Where
    Thailand

  6. Lupin tracks Michael and Pramuk and plans the heist

    From the shadows, Lupin watches Michael and Pramuk and vows to steal the necklace regardless of who wins the auction. He uses lip reading to monitor their exchanges and stay ahead of their efforts. The plan centers on diverting attention so the necklace can be reclaimed without triggering Zenigata.

    When
    before auction
    Where
    Auction site

  7. Auction confrontation and Pramuk's revelations

    During the auction, Michael and Pramuk prepare to swap their items. Pramuk reveals that he was a former member of The Works and that Lam was killed while Dawson was targeted. Michael attempts to kill Pramuk, but Pramuk reveals that Royal, Saber and Maria disarmed the explosives. Pramuk buys the ruby for 200 million dollars and Michael destroys his payout cheque in defeat, while Lupin lip-reads their exchange and aborts the theft.

    When
    during the auction
    Where
    Auction site

  8. Michael joins Lupin

    Disheartened by the failed auction, Michael offers to join Lupin's gang to reclaim the Crimson Heart and the ruby from Pramuk's Ark. Lupin accepts the offer and welcomes Michael into the plan.

    When
    after the auction
    Where
    Thailand

  9. Into the Ark: the infiltration begins

    Lupin and Michael infiltrate the Ark disguised as Zenigata and Narong, slipping past security and uploading a virus into the Ark networks as a calling card. Jigen, Goemon and Fujiko attack the Ark's defenses and bypass its main security.

    When
    during infiltration
    Where
    Ark

  10. Vault breach: reaching the Crimson Heart

    Lupin, Michael, Pierre and Joseph, with Goemon's prior research, breach the defenses and reach the vault containing the Crimson Heart. Pramuk traps the pair inside the vault, intending to suffocate them.

    When
    vault sequence
    Where
    Ark vault

  11. Michael's sacrifice to save Lupin

    Michael sacrifices himself by placing Lupin inside the vault's safe and detonating the door to seal it. The blast kills Michael but leaves Lupin alive, turning the tide of the confrontation.

    When
    vault sequence
    Where
    Ark vault

  12. Pramuk captured; fakes exposed

    Pramuk tries to hand Lupin and his allies over to Zenigata and Narong, but Zenigata arrests Pramuk using the Crimson Heart as evidence. Zenigata later discovers that the necklace and ruby Lupin gave him were fakes.

    When
    post vault
    Where
    Ark facility

  13. Fujiko escapes with the necklace; Lupin and Jigen flee

    After the arrest, Lupin still tries to win over Fujiko by asking her to wear the Crimson Heart, but Fujiko escapes with the necklace. Zenigata continues pursuing them as Lupin and Jigen flee in their Fiat 500, leaving the chase open-ended.

    When
    ending
    Where
    City streets

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:04

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Timeline questions answered

Lupin the 3rd Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Lupin the 3rd (2014): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Fujiko suspected of stealing the Olympic medal?

Fujiko was suspected because she had a reputation for calculated scheming within The Works. Even though Lupin actually stole the medal in Singapore, the organization blamed Fujiko due to her manipulative history and the fact that she was present during the theft, making her an easy target for suspicion.

  • fujiko mine
  • olympic medal
  • the works
  • suspicion
Q2

Why did Michael kill Dawson and Jiro?

Michael led a trio of thugs, Royal, Saber, and Maria, to murder Thomas Dawson and Jiro as revenge for Dawson's perceived betrayal of their earlier ally Edward Lam in Egypt. They stole the Crimson Heart necklace during this attack, framing it as retaliation even though the ruby was already missing.

  • michael lee
  • thomas dawson
  • jiro
  • crimson heart
  • murder
Q3

Why did Michael join Lupin's crew after the auction?

Michael switched sides because his plan to buy the ruby from Pramuk failed. After discovering that Pramuk was the one who originally stole the ruby from Edward Lam, and having failed to retrieve it through the auction, Michael offered to help Lupin infiltrate the Ark to reclaim both the necklace and the ruby.

  • michael lee
  • auction
  • pramuk
  • ruby
  • alliance
Q4

How did Michael die saving Lupin in the vault?

When Pramuk trapped Lupin and Michael inside the vault intending to suffocate them, Michael placed Lupin inside the vault's safe and detonated the door mechanism. The blast killed Michael instantly but created enough space for Lupin to survive inside the safe.

  • michael lee
  • sacrifice
  • vault
  • ark
  • death
Q5

Why did Zenigata arrest Pramuk with the fake Crimson Heart?

Zenigata used the Crimson Heart that Lupin handed over as evidence to arrest Pramuk, not knowing it was a fake. The police believed they had recovered the stolen necklace, which was enough to charge Pramuk with the theft. Zenigata only discovered the necklace was a fake after the arrest.

  • zenigata
  • pramuk
  • arrest
  • fake
  • evidence
Q6

When did Lupin swap the real Crimson Heart with a fake?

Lupin likely switched the real Crimson Heart with a fake during the chaos inside the vault or during the transfer after Michael's sacrifice. He had already planned to steal the necklace regardless of who won the auction, and the fakes were convincing enough to fool both the criminals and Zenigata.

Foreshadowing: Lupin vowed to steal the necklace no matter who won the auction, indicating he had a backup plan.

  • crimson heart
  • fake
  • switch
  • heist
  • necklace
Q7

Why does Fujiko steal the Crimson Heart at the end?

Fujiko escapes with the Crimson Heart because that's her nature, she's a master thief who cannot resist valuable treasures. Despite working with Lupin, she always looks out for herself, and wearing the world's most beautiful necklace is exactly what she would do.

  • fujiko
  • crimson heart
  • escape
  • thief
  • ending
Q8

Who stole the ruby from the Crimson Heart?

Momrachiao Pramuk, the Thai crime lord and chairman of Navarone Security, was the thief who stole the ruby from the Crimson Heart. He was a former member of The Works who took the ruby during the chaos surrounding Edward Lam's death in Egypt, keeping it for himself.

  • ruby
  • pramuk
  • crimson heart
  • stolen
  • egypt
Q9

Why did Zenigata make a deal with Lupin?

Zenigata proposed the deal because he needed Lupin's help to catch Michael Lee (alias Georgio Zhang) and Momrachiao Pramuk at their major auction. In exchange for Lupin's assistance in trapping the criminals, Zenigata offered to erase Lupin's criminal record.

  • zenigata
  • deal
  • auction
  • police
  • michael lee
Q10

How did Lupin's team infiltrate the Ark of Navarone?

Lupin and Michael entered disguised as Zenigata and Narong, using fake identities to slip past security. Meanwhile, Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko attacked the Ark's defenses from another angle. Pierre and Joseph provided support from the shadows, and Goemon's prior research helped them breach the vault containing the Crimson Heart.

  • ark
  • infiltration
  • heist
  • goemon
  • security
Q11

Who was Edward Lam and why was his death important?

Edward Lam was a father figure to both Michael Lee and Fujiko Mine. He was killed while Dawson was targeted, and his death led to the original loss of the Crimson Heart's ruby. This backstory motivated Michael's quest to reclaim the necklace and complete it in honor of Lam's memory.

  • edward lam
  • michael lee
  • fujiko
  • backstory
  • father figure
Q12

Why was The Works disbanded?

The Works disbanded after Michael's trio of thugs, Royal, Saber, and Maria, massacred Dawson and Jiro while stealing the Crimson Heart. This brutal attack, framed as revenge for Edward Lam's betrayal, shattered the organization's trust and structure, forcing its dissolution.

  • the works
  • disbanded
  • massacre
  • crimson heart

Movie threads

More Movies Like Lupin the 3rd, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Lupin the 3rd tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Playful Heist Adventures like Lupin the 3rd

Charming thieves execute elaborate capers in a globe-trotting cat-and-mouse game. If you enjoyed the clever capers and charming antics in Lupin the 3rd, you'll love these movies. Discover similar stories of gentleman thieves, elaborate heists, and fun-filled chases that blend action and comedy in a high-energy, globe-trotting package.

  • action-packed
  • playful
  • suspenseful
  • adventurous
  • clever
  • thrilling
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a clear goal—stealing a prized object—but the journey is filled with twists, betrayals, and complex security measures to overcome. The central dynamic is a cat-and-mouse chase between the thief and their foil, often building to a climax where the plan goes awry, requiring quick wit and teamwork to succeed.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared core of a lighthearted tone mixed with high-stakes action. They balance thrilling heist mechanics with the charismatic appeal of their protagonists, creating an experience that is more about the joyful execution of the crime than its moral weight.

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2014
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1999
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1991
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1993
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1964
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1989
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Movies about a Found Family Crew like in Lupin the 3rd

A quirky team of specialists bands together for an impossible mission, forming a tight-knit bond. Fans of the Lupin crew's dynamic will enjoy these movies about teams on a mission. Explore similar films where a group of specialists with distinct personalities bands together, featuring playful teamwork, high-stakes action, and a strong sense of camaraderie amidst adventure.

  • adventurous
  • lighthearted
  • teamwork
  • loyalty
  • banter
  • competent crew
  • Tone: lighthearted, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative revolves around assembling a team and leveraging their combined talents to overcome obstacles. Conflict arises both from external threats and internal friction within the group, but the story ultimately reinforces the strength and necessity of their unity, often ending with the crew intact and ready for the next adventure.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific emotional core: the joy of collaboration. The focus is on the chemistry between characters, the trust they build, and the theme that a chosen family can achieve the impossible, making the experience as much about relationships as it is about the plot.

Snatched movie poster

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2017
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines movie poster

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2006
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Skiptrace movie poster

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2020
Trouble Maker movie poster

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1995
The Mitchells vs. The Machines movie poster

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1934

Every angle

Lupin the 3rd (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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