Year: 1980
Runtime: 112 min
Language: English
Directors: Peter R. Hunt, Robert Ellis Miller
Two aspiring filmmakers plot revenge against a producer who dismissed their script by orchestrating a daring heist and documenting the entire operation. As they delve deeper into their plan, unexpected challenges arise, exposing hidden secrets and escalating the danger. They find themselves caught in a complex web of deceit and must fight to survive while attempting to prove a point about judging potential.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Rough Cut yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Rough Cut (1980), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Jack Rhodes, a wealthy American living in London, attends a glamorous party where fate brings him face to face with Gillian Bromley, a striking woman who also happens to be a thief. Jack quietly observes Gillian slipping a diamond necklace from the house, and the moment leaves him intrigued as she later takes refuge in his apartment. What begins as curiosity soon blooms into a growing attraction, and the two start a romance built on a mix of danger and undeniable chemistry. Gillian’s confession drops a key detail about her life of crime: she steals for the thrill, and she also demonstrates her flair behind the wheel, speeding through streets with astonishing mastery.
Behind their budding relationship looms the long shadow of Chief Inspector Willis, a veteran Scotland Yard detective who knows that Jack Rhodes is not just an ordinary partygoer but a diamond thief with a retirement on the horizon looming over him. Willis puppeteers Gillian to feed Jack information about a shipment of uncut diamonds slated to move from London to Antwerp, crafting a baited hook meant to draw Jack into a perfect robbery and to trap him in the act. Jack, sharp and perceptive, quickly discerns that Gillian’s source isn’t what she claims, and he presses her for the truth. Gillian, in turn, unthreads Willis’s scheme and reveals the detective’s broader plan to ensnare him.
Even with the knowledge of the setup, Jack does not back away. Instead, he assembles a crew for the caper, a plan that tests his loyalties and his nerves. He struggles with his initial choice of a getaway driver—a mercenary based in Amsterdam—and ultimately replaces him with Gillian, a move that deepens the dangerous bond between them. On the eve of the robbery, Jack and Gillian share a reveal of their true feelings, a moment that blur lines between trust and treachery and bind them as allies in the high-stakes game ahead.
The heist unfolds with precision and audacity. Jack’s team diverts the private jet carrying the diamonds to Amsterdam, and in the ensuing sequence he and Gillian intercept the shipment themselves, setting off a high-speed car chase that tests nerve and skill to the limit. Willis, who has traveled to Antwerp, discovers a cruel twist: a duplicate plane has delivered a package of worthless quartz instead of real diamonds, a ruse that leaves him disgraced in retirement.
Celebration aboard a yacht signals a temporary victory, but the true graft of the plot emerges in the final moments. Jack discloses that the so-called diamonds they stolen were nothing but quartz, a deft switch orchestrated by Willis. Willis himself then arrives, not to face punishment, but to negotiate the sale of the diamonds to Jack. In a startling reversal, Jack reveals a long-buried truth: he and Willis had been working together all along, using Gillian as the intermediary to execute a carefully calibrated scheme. The layers of deception, romance, and professional ambition intertwine, leaving the characters to navigate the aftermath of a plan that revealed more than just a treasure—and more than a few loyalties misplaced.
Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 10:30
Don't stop at just watching — explore Rough Cut in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Rough Cut is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Rough Cut with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover movies like Rough Cut that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Rough Cut (1980) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Rough Cut (1980) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Rough Cut (1980) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Rough Cut – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Rough Night (2017) Detailed Story Recap
Heist (2001) Film Overview & Timeline
In the Cut (2003) Story Summary & Characters
Murder Mystery (2019) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Coup de Chance (2024) Ending Explained & Film Insights
After the Sunset (2004) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
How to Rob a Bank (2008) Complete Plot Breakdown
Skiptrace (2016) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Uncut Gems (2019) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Wild Card (2015) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Revolver (2007) Full Summary & Key Details
The Adventurers (2017) Full Summary & Key Details
Cutthroat Island (1995) Detailed Story Recap
Fool's Gold (2008) Complete Plot Breakdown
Hot Pursuit (1987) Ending Explained & Film Insights