Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017) movie poster

Plot Summary

Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 94 min · English
Echo score 37
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Mark Cullen, Robb Cullen
Starring
Jason Momoa, Bruce Willis, Thomas Middleditch, John Goodman, Emily Robinson, Famke Janssen

In Los Angeles, private investigator Steve Ford faces a personal crisis when his cherished dog, Buddy, is stolen by dangerous gangsters. His search for Buddy quickly spirals into a perilous journey filled with deceit and unexpected threats. He finds himself pursued by a colorful cast of adversaries, including ruthless Samoans and menacing loan sharks, as he fights to recover what he holds dear and uncover the truth behind the theft.

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 Once Upon a Time in Venice
  6. 6 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Once Upon a Time in Venice: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017) 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 sun-drenched streets of Venice, Los Angeles, private investigator Steve Ford, portrayed by Jason Momoa, becomes ensnared in a web of deception when he engages his reliable assistant, John Goodman, to track down Nola, an alluring young woman. The quest for Nola leads Ford into a labyrinth of temptation, where he finds himself irresistibly drawn to her, only to come face-to-face with her wrathful brothers, who initially hired him for the job.

Desperate for safety, Ford seeks solace at his friend Tino's pizzeria, where he commits to helping Tino recover his stolen car from the clutches of the notorious gang leader, Spyder. Amidst this chaotic pursuit, Ford strives to navigate the complexities of his personal life, spending time with his loyal dog, his sister-in-law Katey, and her spirited daughter, while also being there for his best friend, Dave Phillips, who faces challenges in his own fractured marriage.

Adding to his overwhelming responsibilities, Ford takes on a new case from the shrewd real estate mogul, Lew the Jew, who enlists his help in tracking down a vandal wreaking havoc with provocative graffiti on his properties, promising the return of Ford's childhood home in exchange.

The plot thickens when Spyder's clients carry out a bold break-in at Katey's house, stealing Ford's cherished dog. In a desperate bid to recover his pet, Ford strikes a deal with Spyder, agreeing to compensate for damages caused by his past action, but in a startling twist, when Thomas Middleditch (John) uncovers Nola while observing the secretive graffiti artist, feelings of romance resurface.

As Ford endeavors to unweave this intricate network of bonds and duties, he finds himself in a thrilling cat-and-mouse game with Spyder, who pressures him to retrieve drugs stolen from him by Lupe, a shadowy figure connected to the criminal underworld. With John's assistance, Ford identifies the graffiti artist's true allegiances, revealing that they are linked to Lew's resentful competitors.

Rallying his friend Phillips, Ford gears up to confront their foes, striving to close Lew's case for good. As they dig deeper, they learn that Lupe had secretly sold Spyder's cocaine to Prince, the merciless leader of a rival gang. Determined to reclaim what was lost, Ford and Phillips stealthily enter Prince's nightclub, ready to retrieve the stolen goods.

Tensions reach a fever pitch as Ford and his allies find themselves in a high-stakes face-off against Spyder at his well-guarded hideout. In a surprising resolution, Spyder honors his word and parts with Ford amicably, concluding their transaction on a positive note. As a sign of familial love, Ford gifts the family home to his sibling and young relative, an act reflecting the deep bonds they share.

However, this benevolent gesture ignites unforeseen consequences, placing Ford's life at risk. Unbeknownst to him, Prince—a figure driven by a longstanding grudge—seizes the moment to take revenge by abducting John. In the ensuing chaos, as truths begin to surface, John finds himself ensnared and helpless, caught in a sinister plot. As news of Ford's location spreads, Prince and his gang embark on a mission to fulfill their deadly intentions, leaving John tied and at the mercy of fate.

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 16:31

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

Once Upon a Time in Venice Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017): 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

Why does Steve Ford agree to help Tino recover his stolen car?

Ford seeks refuge at Tino's pizzeria after facing Nola's wrathful brothers, and he promises to help his friend recover the car that was stolen by the gang leader Spyder. This commitment adds another layer to Ford's increasingly complicated web of responsibilities and debts.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Ford went to Tino's specifically to find safety after his confrontation with Nola's brothers.

  • tino
  • spyder
  • stolen car
  • venice los angeles
  • friendship
Q2

Why does Ford take on Lew the Jew's graffiti case?

Lew the Jew offers Ford his childhood home in exchange for finding the vandal who is spraying provocative graffiti on his properties. Ford has strong emotional motivation to reclaim his childhood home, making this offer difficult to refuse despite the risks involved.

Foreshadowing: Ford's personal life details, including his connection to his sister-in-law Katey and her daughter, establish his emotional ties to family and home.

  • lew the jew
  • graffiti
  • vandal
  • childhood home
  • real estate
Q3

Why do Spyder's clients steal Ford's dog from Katey's house?

Spyder's clients break into Katey's house specifically to steal Ford's cherished dog as leverage. This is a consequence of Ford's earlier actions that caused damages to Spyder's operations, and the theft forces Ford into a desperate deal with Spyder to recover his pet.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Ford had previously caused damages to Spyder's interests, creating this debt.

  • spyder
  • buddy
  • dog kidnapping
  • katey's house
  • leverage
Q4

What is the connection between the graffiti artist and Lew's competitors?

John helps Ford discover that the secretive graffiti artist is linked to Lew's resentful competitors, not random vandals. This reveals that Lew's case involves deeper criminal rivalries beyond simple property damage, connecting the graffiti subplot to the broader criminal underworld.

Foreshadowing: Ford takes on Lew's case assuming it's a straightforward investigation, but the complexity gradually emerges.

  • graffiti artist
  • lew competitors
  • criminal rivalry
  • john goodman
Q5

Why does Ford make a deal with Spyder to recover his dog?

After Spyder's clients steal his beloved dog Buddy, Ford has no choice but to negotiate with Spyder directly. He agrees to compensate for damages caused by his previous actions in exchange for his dog's safe return, pulling him deeper into Spyder's criminal operations.

Foreshadowing: The break-in at Katey's house happens specifically because Ford owed a debt to Spyder's operation.

  • spyder deal
  • dog recovery
  • criminal debt
  • buddy
Q6

How does John discover Nola's identity while investigating the graffiti artist?

While observing the secretive graffiti artist connected to Lew's vandalism case, John uncovers Nola's identity. This discovery reignites Ford's romantic feelings for Nola, making his situation even more complicated since her brothers had originally hired him to find her.

Foreshadowing: Ford's initial involvement with Nola was through the investigation, and his attraction to her was established early.

  • john
  • nola
  • graffiti artist
  • identity discovery
  • romance
Q7

Why does Prince have a grudge against Steve Ford?

Prince harbors a longstanding grudge against Ford, though the exact origin isn't detailed in the summary. This personal vendetta motivates Prince to abduct John and plan revenge against Ford after the Spyder situation is resolved, using John's kidnapping as leverage for his attack.

Foreshadowing: The grudge is established when Prince first appears as a rival gang leader who acquired Spyder's cocaine.

  • prince
  • grudge
  • kidnapping
  • john
  • revenge
Q8

Why does Ford gift his childhood home to his sister and niece?

Ford gives his childhood home to his sister-in-law Katey and her daughter as a gesture of familial love, symbolizing the deep bonds he cherishes. However, this benevolent act inadvertently creates consequences by making his location and assets known, contributing to the dangerous situation that follows.

Foreshadowing: Ford's emotional connection to family and home is established through his relationships with Katey and her daughter throughout the story.

  • family home
  • gift
  • katey
  • niece
  • childhood home
Q9

What happens with Lupe and the stolen cocaine?

Lupe, a shadowy figure connected to the criminal underworld, secretly sells Spyder's cocaine to Prince, the leader of a rival gang. This theft drives the cat-and-mouse game between Ford and Spyder, as Spyder pressures Ford to recover the drugs stolen by Lupe.

Foreshadowing: Spyder's demand for Ford to retrieve stolen drugs creates the central conflict that leads to the nightclub confrontation.

  • lupe
  • cocaine
  • spyder
  • prince
  • drugs stolen
Q10

Why does Spyder let Ford go at the end of their confrontation?

In the climactic showdown at Spyder's hideout, Spyder surprisingly honors his word and releases Ford amicably, concluding their transaction positively. This resolution allows Ford to temporarily exit the criminal complications with Spyder, though the bigger threat from Prince emerges immediately after.

Foreshadowing: Spyder is portrayed as a criminal who maintains a code of honor in his dealings, which is established through his negotiations with Ford.

  • spyder
  • resolution
  • confrontation
  • hideout
  • honor
Q11

Why do Nola's brothers confront Ford after hiring him?

Nola's brothers initially hired Ford to find their sister, but when Ford becomes entranced by Nola and pursues a romantic relationship with her, they view this as a betrayal. Their wrathful confrontation forces Ford to reassess his involvement and seek safety at Tino's pizzeria.

Foreshadowing: Ford's attraction to Nola is established early, creating the conflict that leads to this confrontation.

  • nola brothers
  • confrontation
  • romance
  • betrayal
  • vengeance

Movie threads

More Movies Like Once Upon a Time in Venice, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Once Upon a Time in Venice tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Chaotic Crime Capes like Once Upon a Time in Venice

Fast-paced, tense journeys through the criminal underworld, punctuated by dark humor. If you liked the tense, fast-paced, and darkly funny vibe of Once Upon a Time in Venice, you'll enjoy these movies. This selection features stories of characters spiraling through the criminal underworld in movies that balance peril with a sense of chaotic fun.

  • chaotic
  • sun-drenched
  • tense
  • fast-paced
  • darkly comedic
  • gritty
  • Tone: tense, darkly comedic
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a single, often flawed, protagonist who gets pulled into a high-stakes situation that rapidly escalates beyond their control. Simple initial goals—like retrieving a stolen possession—snowball into complex webs of deception and conflict with multiple antagonistic factions, leading to a series of chaotic confrontations.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their distinct tonal mix of gritty crime thriller tension and dark comedy, combined with a fast pace and a sun-baked, atmospheric setting. They share a feeling of anxious momentum and a protagonist perpetually on the back foot.

Movies where a small problem becomes a big crisis, like Once Upon a Time in Venice

Where a seemingly ridiculous initial problem erupts into a genuinely dangerous conspiracy. Fans of Once Upon a Time in Venice who enjoyed the plot of a dog kidnapping leading to a major criminal conspiracy will find similar stories here. These movies explore how a simple, personal mission can spiral into a complex and dangerous adventure in movies like Once Upon a Time in Venice.

  • absurd premise
  • escalating danger
  • personal mission
  • unexpected threats
  • darkly funny
  • high-stakes
  • Tone: tense, seriocomic
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a deceptively simple start that masks a deeper, more dangerous reality. The protagonist's personal investment in a trivial-seeming goal leads them to uncover a much larger web of crime or corruption, forcing them to adapt and fight against odds they never anticipated.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their unique plot structure that juxtaposes an absurd or mundane beginning with a serious, high-intensity thriller plot. The emotional journey mixes personal dedication with the shock of escalating danger, creating a specific type of engaging suspense.

If you liked this

Movies Like Once Upon a Time in Venice

Similar movies to Once Upon a Time in Venice: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Once Upon a Time in Venice 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app