The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick

Set primarily in the early 2000s, the story follows Egon after 17 years in a psychiatric institute. The 1987 TV talk show incident is a recent memory that triggers the gang's reunion. The modern Danish setting—media, bureaucracy, and construction sites—shapes the obstacles to their long-planned caper.

Most of the story unfolds in Denmark, with the Institute for Theoretical Crime, the Ministry of Justice, and dense urban spaces forming the core backdrop. The tale also ventures to Málaga as Kjeld dreams of a new life there, mirroring the gang's constant search for a safe haven. In the end, the action shifts to Portugal at a villa, underscoring the longing for peace after a lifetime of schemes.

🗝️ Heist

Years of confinement sharpen Egon's obsession with one final, audacious theft. The plot to steal the Wandenberg documents and the crown jewels demonstrates the gang's signature blend of meticulous planning and improvisation under pressure. Each obstacle—guards, bureaucracy, and rival schemes—tests their nerve and cleverness. The film frames crime as a ritual of friendship and stubborn hope, even as the plan teeters on failure.

🤝 Friendship

The trio's bond—Egon, Benny, and Kjeld—drives the narrative as years and illness fail to erase their camaraderie. They rely on shared history and trust to navigate betrayals, close calls, and shifting loyalties. Ruth's involvement and Kjeld's life changes put the group's dynamic to the test, yet their loyalty endures. The film treats their partnership as the true engine of both escape and ambition, more than any single crime.

🕰️ Time

Time shapes characters' possibilities and limits; the 17-year gap between Egon's confinement and the present frames the plot. A TV broadcast rekindles old plans and forces the gang to confront aging and changing social norms. The bureaucracy and surveillance of the modern era complicate their schemes in new ways. The ending—returning to a quiet life in Portugal—suggests time both grants rest and mocks their dreams of a flawless caper.