Year: 2021
Runtime: 118 min
Language: English
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
A renowned art thief and Interpol’s top profiler find themselves reluctantly teaming up to track down the world’s most wanted criminal, known only as "The Bishop." As they navigate a dangerous game of cat and mouse, Hartley and Booth must forge an uneasy partnership, facing thrilling heists and unexpected twists in their pursuit of the elusive mastermind.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Red Notice (2021), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Two millennia ago, Marcus Antonius presented Cleopatra with three jeweled eggs as a token of his unwavering devotion. Over the centuries, these treasures faded from memory until a farmer unearthed two of them in 1907, leaving the final egg shrouded in mystery. Fast forward to 2021, where Special Agent John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson), a criminal profiler for the FBI, collaborates with Inspector Urvashi Das (Ritu Arya) to probe the theft of one of these priceless eggs on display at the Museo Nazionale Di Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome. Hartley uncovers that the displayed egg is a clever forgery, realizing that the genuine artifact has been snatched away.
In a tense moment, as Das secures the exhibition room, international art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) manages to slip away just before the doors lock. This sets off a thrilling pursuit, where Booth skillfully evades Hartley’s grasp. Eventually escaping to his Bali residence, Booth is surprised to find Hartley, Das, and an Interpol strike team waiting for him. He is apprehended, and the egg is confiscated, but the true mastermind, Sarah Black, also known as The Bishop (Gal Gadot), covertly swaps the authentic egg for another forgery during the hustle.
The next day, Das confronts Hartley, suggesting his involvement in the egg’s theft is suspicious, especially after tracing a substantial payment made to him on the same day of the crime. This leads to Hartley’s imprisonment in a remote Russian facility, where he shares a cell with Booth. During their time together, Booth reveals a tantalizing opportunity: an Egyptian billionaire is willing to pay a staggering $300 million for the complete set of three eggs.
Not long after their arrival at the prison, they are brought before Black, who proposes an alliance with Booth to track down the elusive third egg, revealing that she is aware of its hidden location. Booth, however, declines her offer, prompting her to suggest that he will receive a diminished cut should she locate the second egg first. In a twist of fate, Hartley proposes a collaboration with Booth, aiming to capture Black and thus restore his reputation as the premier art thief in the world.
The duo stages an escape from prison and journeys to Valencia, where they intend to secure the second egg from the clutches of notorious arms dealer Sotto Voce (Chris Diamantopoulos), who is hosting an extravagant masquerade ball. At this event, they once again cross paths with Black, who has her own agenda for obtaining the egg. As their caper unfolds, Hartley and Booth navigate a series of challenges, including evading Das, who is also in attendance, intent on capturing them both.
Inside Voce’s vault, a chaotic showdown ensues as the three of them engage in a gripping battle using a variety of weapons on display. Things take a shocking turn when Voce’s security team arrives, and Black betrays her supposed allies, revealing that she had tipped Voce off about their heist plans. While enduring intense torture at the hands of Voce, Black betrays him as well, asserting her new advantage.
Hartley, convinced he must capture Black to vindicate himself, is forced to contemplate the irony of their choices as they race towards Egypt—the alleged resting place of the third egg. Amid the drama, Booth reveals the egg’s true location lies in Argentina, a secret encoded on a cherished watch belonging to his late father. With a shared resolve, they traverse the Argentinian jungles, unveiling a clandestine bunker filled with Nazi memorabilia, including the coveted egg.
Just as they claim victory, Black seemingly swoops in to seize the egg at gunpoint. Their escape is soon compromised by Inspector Das and her local police unit, culminating in a high-speed chase through a treacherous copper mine. The action-packed encounter peaks with a daring leap into a waterfall, where Booth swims ashore clutching the egg—only to discover Hartley and Black share deeper ties, both professionally and personally, each operating under the “Bishop” moniker.
In Cairo, Hartley and Black present the three eggs to their billionaire buyer during a wedding ceremony—echoing the legendary gift originally given to Cleopatra. Yet, the moment is dampened when the bride turns her attention to guest performer Ed Sheeran. Just as they celebrate, an Interpol raid disrupts the festivities, leaving Hartley and Black on edge. Meanwhile, Booth suddenly reappears in the picture, divulging that he tipped off Das about their substantial payout hidden in a Cayman Islands account. With authorities closing in, Booth extends an offer for a new heist that promises to require all three of their unique skills, steering them towards a thrilling escapade at The Louvre in Paris.
Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 18:30
Still wondering what the ending of Red Notice (2021) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
In the end, the three main characters—Nolan Booth, John Hartley, and Sarah Black—manage to outsmart the authorities and each other to keep all three of Cleopatra’s legendary eggs. After a series of twists and clever deceptions, Booth reveals that only two of the eggs are genuine, and the third is a fake he had prepared earlier. They then make a deal with the Egyptian billionaire, exchanging the eggs for a hefty reward. However, during the bishop’s betrayal at the wedding, Hartley and Sarah are framed and arrested, but Booth secretly tips off Interpol and escapes. Several months later, Booth visits Hartley and Sarah while they’re vacationing, revealing that he manipulated the law to tip off the authorities about Bishop’s large stolen fortune. He offers to team up with them for one last heist, promising riches and freedom. The trio then infiltrates the Louvre, where more thefts are planned, and as the story ends, they’re once again on the run, operating outside the law, with unresolved tensions and a sharply uncertain future. The ending leaves the audience questioning whether their criminal escapades will finally catch up with them or if they will continue their daring adventures, always one step ahead of the law.**
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44
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