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The Last Days of American Crime (2020) movie poster

Spoiler-Free Summary

The Last Days of American Crime (2020) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 148 min · English
Echo score 10
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Directed by
Olivier Megaton
Starring
Sharlto Copley, Édgar Ramírez, Nathan Lynn, Anna Brewster, Brandon Auret, Carel Nel

In an attempt to combat widespread terrorism and lawlessness, the U.S. government initiates a groundbreaking program that eliminates criminal intent. With the implementation of this radical measure rapidly approaching, Graham Bricke, a skilled but down-on-his-luck thief, unexpectedly teams up with a gangster's son and a resourceful hacker. Together, they plan a daring, unprecedented heist, hoping to pull off one last major score before crime as they know it ceases to exist.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What it is about
  3. 3 Is it worth watching?
  4. 4 After you watch
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like The Last Days of American Crime
  7. 7 Every angle
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Spoiler-free summary · safe to read

What Is The Last Days of American Crime About? (No Spoilers)

The plot of The Last Days of American Crime (2020) without spoilers: what it is about, who it follows and where it takes place, told without the twists or the ending. Enough to decide whether it is your next watch, not enough to ruin it.

In a near‑future America teetering on the edge of order and chaos, the federal government has rolled out a radical, neural‑based program designed to erase the very impulse to commit violence. The promise of a world without criminal intent hangs over the nation like a looming eclipse, casting a cold, sterile light on streets that have long thrummed with danger. This uneasy peace fuels a restless undercurrent, as citizens and outlaws alike wonder what will remain of a society built on the shadows of transgression.

Into this charged atmosphere steps Graham Bricke, a once‑renowned thief whose luck has run dry. Haunted by a reputation that still echoes in the underground, he finds himself at a crossroads when the impending activation of the program threatens to render his entire trade obsolete. An unexpected partnership forms with Kevin, the charismatic son of a powerful crime family who is eager to rewrite his own legacy, and Shelby, a brilliant hacker whose technical savvy offers a glimmer of possibility in a world about to be stripped of its darker instincts. Together they entertain the audacious notion of pulling off one final, monumental score before the very concept of crime disappears.

The tone of the story is gritty and tense, blending dystopian urgency with the classic swagger of a heist thriller. As the deadline draws nearer, the trio navigates a landscape where every decision feels both reckless and necessary, their motivations tangled with personal redemption, loyalty, and the intoxicating allure of a last great gamble. The film invites viewers to wonder what becomes of those who live by bending the rules when the rules themselves are about to be erased.

Last updated: August 10, 2025 at 01:17

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What to expect

Is The Last Days of American Crime Worth Watching? What It Feels Like

Is it dark, sad, slow, intense or confusing? The mood of The Last Days of American Crime (2020) in a few tags, without a word about how it ends. Each tag opens a list of movies that feel the same.

After you watch

Seen The Last Days of American Crime? Now Read the Spoilers

Once you have watched The Last Days of American Crime (2020), come back for the full story: the plot summary with spoilers, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning.

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Last Days of American Crime, by Mood & Story

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

Dystopian Final Heist Movies like The Last Days of American Crime

Desperate criminals plan one final heist against a collapsing or controlling society. If you liked the desperate last score in The Last Days of American Crime, explore movies with similar high-stakes heists set against dystopian backdrops. These films feature tense, fast-paced action, morally gray characters, and a pervasive sense of racing against an apocalyptic or authoritarian deadline.

  • tense
  • desperate
  • gritty
  • violent
  • chaotic
  • bleak
  • Tone: dark, cynical, tense
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a high-stakes, time-sensitive heist planned by a team of skilled but desperate individuals. The central conflict is not just pulling off the score, but surviving in a hostile, often corrupt world that is on the brink of a fundamental, irreversible shift. The journey is marked by violent confrontations, shifting alliances, and a high probability of tragic sacrifice.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a specific combination of a dystopian or end-of-days setting with the classic heist structure. They are united by a relentless pace, high intensity, and a dark, cynical tone that questions whether any victory is possible in a broken world.

Bleak and Heavy Crime Thrillers like The Last Days of American Crime

Violent, heavy crime stories where betrayal is inevitable and the price of victory is devastating. Fans of the gritty, violent underworld and emotional weight of The Last Days of American Crime will find similar themes here. These movies explore complex criminal plots, deep-seated betrayal, and devastating personal loss, all set within a dark and tense atmosphere.

  • gritty
  • violent
  • bleak
  • desperate
  • cynical
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, bleak, heavy
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story typically follows a protagonist's descent into a complex web of criminal enterprises, often motivated by revenge, loss, or a desperate need for one last chance. The plot is a spiral of escalating violence and inevitable betrayals, leading to a conclusion where any success is overshadowed by profound personal cost. The emotional journey is defined by heavy themes like brotherly loss and the corrupting nature of revenge.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and focus on the brutal realities of crime. They feature moderate to complex narratives with webs of deceit, and often conclude with a bittersweet or bleak resolution that emphasizes the futility or cost of the criminal life.

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Movies Like The Last Days of American Crime

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Every angle

The Last Days of American Crime (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Last Days of American Crime 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.

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