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The Con Is On (2018) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Con Is On (2018) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 90 min · English
Echo score 30
JustWatch #20,993
Directed by
James Oakley
Starring
Parker Posey, Tim Roth, Stephen Fry, Maggie Q, Uma Thurman, Crispin Glover
Budget
$13M

Two audacious hustlers find themselves in debt to a dangerous London gangster and flee to Los Angeles to devise a complex plan to steal precious jewels. Relying on their cunning and bending the rules, they attempt a daring heist, but must outsmart both the authorities and their relentless creditor if they hope to succeed.

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 The Con Is On
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Con Is On (2018)

Where can you watch The Con Is On? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Fandango at Home Free, Plex and YouTube Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Con Is On: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Con Is On (2018) 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.

Harriet "Harry" and Peter Fox are a dynamic duo of British con artists residing in London, plotting an elaborate jewel heist in Los Angeles while evading the wrath of a dangerous female gangster, Irina Solokov. Earlier, Harry had received a substantial sum from a nun after a questionable cocaine deal. However, both Harry and Peter squander their earnings on gambling and substances, leaving them broke and desperate. To escape their declining fortunes, they set their sights on Los Angeles, hoping to regroup and formulate their next plan.

Upon their arrival in the City of Angels, they reconnect with an old acquaintance, Sidney, a morally ambiguous priest who supplements his income with illegal activities. In a twist of fate, Harry and Peter strike a deal with Sidney, who offers them $40,000 to transport a shipment of opium. However, as tensions rise, Peter discovers that Irina is pursuing them not merely for financial reasons but also due to unanswered affections for Harry, harboring a deep disdain for Peter.

Sidney, ever the opportunist, covertly informs Irina about the bounty on Harry and Peter's heads, prompting her to enlist her henchman and head to L.A. Meanwhile, while hiding out in a plush Beverly Hills hotel, Peter encounters his ex-wife, Jackie, who is now married to Gabriel, a film director entangled in a secretive affair with both Gina, a family member of Jackie's, and Vivienne, a demanding Latina actress.

Obsessed with Jackie’s extravagant £5 million blue-stone ring, Harry and Peter concoct a plan to steal it as a means to repay Irina for their failed drug deal. They devise a clever scheme to create a counterfeit version of the ring that they would switch during a dinner party at Jackie and Gabriel's residence. Unfortunately, their plans are thwarted by the inebriated Gabriel and Vivienne, who create chaos just as they attempt to execute their heist.

When Irina tracks down their location, Harry and Peter, in a panic, seek refuge in Jackie's home, where Harry poses as a dog whisperer—but only succeeds in sending mixed signals to Jackie. Tensions boil over when Jackie and Gabriel attend an awards ceremony where Gabriel, despite winning the Best Director accolade, publicly disses Jackie by proclaiming his love for Vivienne during his acceptance speech. This betrayal ignites a furious conflict, culminating in Jackie tossing her ring into Harry's glass of wine, creating an unexpected turning point.

The situation escalates into a shootout as Harry and Peter make their escape from the mansion, racing to the airport to evade Irina and her henchmen. Amid the fray, Harry manages to wound Irina and hand her the fake ring they intended to swap out. However, when they arrive at LAX, the duo discovers a shocking reality: they mistakenly brought the counterfeit instead of the genuine article. With no recourse but to flee, Harry and Peter board a flight to Brazil, leaving behind their entanglements and any remaining wealth, but finally escaping the clutches of their gangster pursuer.

Last updated: November 08, 2024 at 06:12

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Plot questions answered

The Con Is On Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Con Is On (2018): 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 is Irina chasing Harry and Peter?

Irina is pursuing them primarily because they owe her money from a failed drug deal. However, Peter discovers that Irina's motives extend beyond finances, she harbors romantic feelings for Harry and harbors a deep resentment toward Peter. This combination of unpaid debt and unrequited affection drives her relentless pursuit across to Los Angeles.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in London, Harry and Peter's reckless spending after the cocaine deal set them on a path where they needed Irina's money, creating the debt that fuels her vengeance.

  • Irina
  • Harry
  • Peter
  • gangster
  • chase
  • money
  • debt
  • feelings
Q2

Why did Jackie throw her ring into Harry's wine?

Jackie threw her £5 million blue-stone ring into Harry's wine glass during a moment of fury after Gabriel publicly humiliated her at the awards ceremony by declaring his love for Vivienne instead of her. Betrayed and enraged, Jackie vented her anger on the first person available, Harry, who was conveniently nearby. This act also conveniently helped Harry and Peter execute their escape plan.

Foreshadowing: Tensions had been building between Jackie and Gabriel throughout the film due to Gabriel's secret affairs.

  • Jackie
  • ring
  • wine
  • awards ceremony
  • Gabriel
  • betrayal
  • blue-stone
Q3

What happened at the airport - why did they have the fake ring?

When Harry and Peter arrived at LAX after escaping the mansion shootout, they realized they had mistakenly grabbed the counterfeit ring instead of the genuine £5 million blue-stone ring. This mix-up occurred during the chaotic escape from Jackie's mansion. The fake ring was the one they had intended to swap during the dinner party heist, meaning their entire plan had failed due to this critical error.

Foreshadowing: The dinner party heist had already gone wrong due to Gabriel and Vivienne's drunken interference, preventing them from successfully swapping the rings.

  • airport
  • LAX
  • ring
  • fake
  • counterfeit
  • escape
  • heist failed
Q4

Why did the dinner party heist go wrong?

Harry and Peter's plan to swap Jackie's ring with a counterfeit during a dinner party failed because Gabriel and Vivienne became extremely intoxicated and caused chaos at exactly the wrong moment. Their drunken antics created a diversion that prevented Harry and Peter from executing the ring switch, derailing the entire heist plan.

Foreshadowing: Gabriel was already established as someone who drinks heavily, which ultimately interfered with the con artists' carefully laid scheme.

  • dinner party
  • heist
  • ring swap
  • failed
  • Gabriel
  • Vivienne
  • chaos
Q5

Why did Sidney betray Harry and Peter to Irina?

Sidney, the morally ambiguous priest, betrayed Harry and Peter because he is an opportunist who always looks out for himself. When Irina offered a bounty on the con artists, Sidney saw an opportunity to earn money by informing her of their location. This betrayal aligns with his character as someone who supplements his priestly income with illegal activities and double-crossing.

Foreshadowing: Sidney was introduced as someone involved in illegal activities, establishing his willingness to engage in morally questionable deals.

  • Sidney
  • priest
  • betrayal
  • Irina
  • bounty
  • double-cross
Q6

Why did Gabriel publicly humiliate Jackie at the awards ceremony?

Gabriel publicly embarrassed Jackie during his Best Director acceptance speech by declaring his love for Vivienne instead of his wife. This was a calculated if drunken move that revealed his true priorities. Gabriel was having secret affairs with both Vivienne and Gina, and his public declaration essentially chose Vivienne over Jackie, causing Jackie's furious reaction.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, it was revealed that Gabriel was entangled in secretive affairs with both Vivienne and a family member of Jackie's named Gina.

  • Gabriel
  • Jackie
  • awards ceremony
  • Vivienne
  • humiliation
  • affair
  • Best Director
Q7

What was the $40,000 opium deal?

After arriving in Los Angeles, Harry and Peter struck a deal with Sidney the priest to transport a shipment of opium for $40,000. This was supposed to be their way to make quick money and repay Irina. However, the deal ultimately led to complications as Sidney betrayed them and informed Irina about their whereabouts.

Foreshadowing: The deal was proposed immediately after their arrival in Los Angeles, representing their first attempt to escape their financial troubles in America.

  • Sidney
  • opium
  • $40
  • 000
  • transport
  • drug deal
  • London
Q8

Why did Harry pose as a dog whisperer at Jackie's home?

After the disastrous awards ceremony, Harry and Peter sought refuge at Jackie's home. Harry attempted to charm Jackie by posing as a dog whisperer, hoping to gain her favor and potentially keep access to her valuable ring. However, his attempt only succeeded in sending mixed signals to Jackie, further complicating their already chaotic situation.

Foreshadowing: This desperate ploy came after their failed dinner party heist, showing their escalating desperation to find another way to obtain the ring.

  • Harry
  • dog whisperer
  • Jackie
  • charm
  • desperate
  • ring
Q9

Did Harry and Peter escape Irina successfully?

Harry and Peter did escape Irina in the end. After a chaotic shootout at Jackie's mansion and racing to LAX, they managed to flee to Brazil on a flight. While they didn't get the valuable ring and lost all their money, they escaped alive and evaded Irina's pursuit, though they were left broke.

Foreshadowing: Irina was wounded during the escape when Harry managed to hand her the fake ring while also injuring her.

  • Harry
  • Peter
  • escape
  • Irina
  • Brazil
  • LAX
  • alive
  • evade
Q10

What was the relationship between Peter and his ex-wife Jackie?

Peter's ex-wife Jackie is now married to film director Gabriel. Their encounter at the Beverly Hills hotel was unexpected and emotionally charged. Jackie was entangled in a complicated marriage with Gabriel, who was having affairs behind her back. Peter found himself in the awkward position of hiding out in her home while plotting to steal her valuable ring.

Foreshadowing: Peter's past relationship with Jackie was revealed when they randomly met at the Beverly Hills hotel, adding personal stakes to their heist plans.

  • Peter
  • Jackie
  • ex-wife
  • Gabriel
  • relationship
  • Beverly Hills
  • complicated

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Con Is On, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Con Is On tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Chaotic Con Artist Movies like The Con Is On

Fast-paced comedies where impulsive hustlers chase a big score through escalating chaos. If you enjoyed the frantic, comedic energy of The Con Is On, explore more movies featuring impulsive hustlers chasing a big score. These films blend fast-paced heist antics with chaotic, farcical mishaps, often involving double-crosses, desperate escapes, and a lighthearted tone despite the criminal pursuits.

  • fast-paced
  • comic chaos
  • fraudulent
  • desperate
  • unserious
  • high-energy
  • Tone: light, irreverent
  • Pacing: fast and chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a flawed but charismatic protagonist or duo in a financial bind, prompting them to devise a risky scheme. The plan immediately goes awry due to overconfidence, bad luck, or unforeseen complications (like a vengeful creditor), leading to a series of frantic, often humorous, attempts to stay one step ahead of both the authorities and other criminals. The journey is more about the chaotic ride than the ultimate success of the con.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared vibe of frantic, comedic energy driven by impulsive characters. They prioritize witty dialogue, farcical situations, and a sense of chaotic fun over deep emotional stakes or serious crime drama, making them perfect for viewers seeking a brisk, entertaining escapade.

Botched Heist Comedies Similar to The Con Is On

Plans unravel comically as amateur criminals face escalating problems and unexpected foes. Fans of The Con Is On will enjoy these films where a poorly planned heist spirals into comedic disaster. These stories feature amateur criminals, relentless pursuers, and a series of farcical errors that make the journey more entertaining than the goal, capturing a similar vibe of chaotic escape and lighthearted failure.

  • heist gone wrong
  • desperate
  • chaotic
  • farcical errors
  • impulsive
  • pursuit
  • Tone: light, chaotic
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The core pattern involves a group, often underqualified, assembling a plan that is flawed from the outset. The execution immediately hits snags, revealing hidden agendas, unlucky coincidences, or simply the protagonists' own ineptitude. This forces them into a reactive mode, scrambling to outsmart both their original target and new enemies (like a pursuing gangster) in a hectic, often improvisational struggle just to get out alive, usually with nothing to show for it.

Why they belong together: They share the specific narrative beat of a plan failing catastrophically and humorously. The similarity lies in the structure: a botched job leads to a chase, creating a fast-paced plot driven by mishaps and the dynamic between desperate protagonists and their relentless pursuers, all delivered with a comedic tone.

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Every angle

The Con Is On (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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