Pain & Gain

The film opens with Daniel Lugo fleeing from heavily armed Miami police officers. As he attempts to escape, he is struck by a police cruiser, setting the stage for the chaotic events that follow.

In a flashback, we see Lugo, a recently released convict with a troubled past. He is hired by John Mese to help increase membership at the Sun Gym, where he quickly proves his resourcefulness by tripling the number of members in just six weeks.

During his time at the gym, Lugo forms a close bond with trainer Adrian Doorbal. Despite Doorbal's own struggles with impotence due to steroid use, their friendship solidifies as they embark on dubious ventures together.

Lugo becomes obsessed with the wealth and lifestyle of gym member Victor Kershaw. Drawing inspiration from motivational speaker Johnny Wu, he adopts the mentality of a 'doer' and begins plotting to extort Kershaw for his money.

To execute his scheme, Lugo enlists the help of Paul Doyle, a recent ex-convict dealing with addiction. After a pivotal encounter with his priest, Doyle joins the gang’s sinister plan despite initial hesitation.

The Sun Gym gang makes their first attempt to kidnap Kershaw at his home, which ultimately fails. They later manage to incapacitate him with a taser outside his deli, marking a turning point in their criminal endeavors.

Once in their custody, Kershaw is coerced into making deceitful calls regarding his disappearance. They manipulate him into signing documents that transfer his wealth to Lugo while using fabricated accounts to deceive a notary.

Lugo devises a deadly plan to make Kershaw's death look like an accident. He intends to drown him in a staged car crash, but when Kershaw survives, the gang escalates the situation, attempting to burn the evidence.

Miraculously, Kershaw escapes from the burning vehicle and is hospitalized. Despite his dire situation, he struggles to convince the police of his story due to their skepticism towards his demeanor.

Desperate for help, Kershaw hires retired private investigator Ed Du Bois after initially being turned down. Du Bois advises him on the impending danger, prompting Kershaw to go into hiding.

Learning that Du Bois is on Kershaw's case, Lugo and Doorbal seize an opportunity to kidnap Frank Griga, hoping to eliminate the loose ends. However, an encounter turns disastrous when Lugo's jealousy leads to Griga's accidental death.

In a panic to cover their tracks, Lugo and Doorbal attempt to dismember the bodies of Griga and his wife Krisztina. However, they are plagued by guilt and paranoia, leading to Doyle's mental unraveling.

With evidence gathered by Du Bois, the police begin preparations to apprehend the Sun Gym gang. As the net tightens, Lugo plots his escape, unaware of the imminent danger he faces.

On June 17, police apprehend Doyle, Doorbal, and Mese, but Lugo evades capture by fleeing on Kershaw's fast boat. His escape is short-lived as the authorities quickly mobilize to intercept him in the Bahamas.

Lugo's escape ends when he is caught by Du Bois, who incapacitates him before the police take him in. The movie concludes by revealing the fates of the gang members, with Lugo's ominous statement echoing what he perceives as the American dream.