Mortdecai (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Mortdecai agrees to help because he's desperate for money. He and his wife Johanna are burdened with a massive debt owed to UK tax authorities. By assisting Martland, he hopes to claim 10% of the insurance money from the recovered painting, which would help pay off their debts.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Mortdecai and Johanna return to London burdened by significant tax debt, establishing their financial desperation.

• mortdecai
• martland
• investigation
• money
• motivation
• debt

The stolen Goya painting is revealed to be connected to hidden Nazi gold. The art restorer discovered that the painting was linked to a Nazi general's hidden wealth. The Duke reveals to Johanna that the painting serves as a clue to a stash of Nazi gold, making it valuable to multiple dangerous parties including terrorists and Russian criminals.

Foreshadowing: Mortdecai deduces from crime scene photos that the restorer must have uncovered something significant while working on the Goya.

• goya
• painting
• nazi gold
• nazi
• treasure
• hidden wealth

Martland sends Mortdecai to America, ostensibly to give him time away from Johanna so Martland can pursue her. While trying to sell his cherished Rolls-Royce to raise money, Mortdecai discovers the stolen Goya hidden inside the car. It's never explicitly shown who planted it there, but the painting had been in transit through various hands during the chaos of the theft.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows the painting changing hands multiple times through thefts and deaths before this discovery.

• rolls-royce
• goya
• painting
• hidden
• america
• discovery

Romanov is a powerful figure involved in the illegal art world who ultimately wants the painting for himself. He sends Russian thugs to kidnap Mortdecai, believing he possesses the painting. At the auction, Romanov bids aggressively and wins the painting for $30 million, demonstrating his willingness to pay enormous sums to acquire it, likely because of its connection to the Nazi gold cache.

Foreshadowing: Dr. Graham contacts Romanov when Mortdecai won't reveal information about his client, establishing Romanov's early involvement.

• romanov
• goya
• painting
• auction
• nazi gold
• art collector

A high-stakes auction takes place where the Goya painting is sold. Despite Mortdecai's efforts to prevent it, bidding reaches $30 million and Romanov emerges as the winning bidder. Even though Mortdecai's debts are temporarily settled through Martland's help, they discover they've been duped again, the painting they acquired is another fake, leaving them still broke.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, it's revealed the painting previously thought to be genuine is actually a counterfeit, establishing the pattern of fakes.

• auction
• romanov
• biding
• 30 million
• goya
• fake painting

Despite winning $30 million from the auction (which settles their debts), Mortdecai and Johanna discover they've been tricked again. The painting they acquired is another fake, meaning they have no real assets. Their financial troubles continue as Romanov plots revenge, leaving them in a precarious situation with no money despite their apparent success.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that both paintings and situations are often fake, and the recurring theme of being duped.

• broke
• ending
• debts
• fake
• painting
• mortdecai
• johanna

Emil Strago is a notorious terrorist whom Inspector Martland suspects is involved in the art theft. He is dangerous and willing to kill to get what he wants, evidenced when he shoots Spinoza, the art smuggler, during a heated exchange with Mortdecai. Strago also attempts to kidnap Johanna and tries to steal the painting during the chaos at Krampf's party, making him a major antagonist throughout the film.

Foreshadowing: Martland's suspicion about Strago's involvement early in the investigation sets up his role as a primary threat.

• emil strago
• terrorist
• antagonist
• kidnapping
• painting

Dr. Graham, a respected art critic, becomes interested in the missing Goya related to the murder of the art restorer. When Mortdecai remains tight-lipped about his client and refuses to reveal information, Dr. Graham takes it upon himself to contact Romanov, a powerful figure in the illegal art world. This decision complicates the investigation and brings Romanov deeper into the plot.

Foreshadowing: Mortdecai's secrecy about his client directly triggers Dr. Graham's decision to reach out to other contacts.

• dr graham
• romanov
• art critic
• contact
• investigation

Martland sends Mortdecai to America under the pretense of the investigation, but his real motivation is personal, he wants time alone with Johanna, whom he's had feelings for since college. This selfish decision accidentally leads Mortdecai to discover the stolen Goya hidden in his Rolls-Royce, which becomes a turning point in the story.

Foreshadowing: It's established early on that Martland secretly harbors feelings for Johanna dating back to their college years.

• martland
• america
• johanna
• motivation
• jealousy
• rolls-royce

Johanna connects with The Duke, who provides crucial information about the painting's true value. He reveals the painting's connection to a stash of Nazi gold, explaining why so many dangerous parties are competing for it. This conversation adds another layer to the mystery and helps drive the plot forward.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Mortdecai deduces the connection between the painting and Nazi wealth based on crime scene evidence.

• johanna
• duke
• nazi gold
• painting
• revelation
• information