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The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick (1999) movie poster

Timeline

The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick (1999) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1999 · 90 mins · Norwegian
Directed by
Knut Bohwim
Starring
Nils Ole Oftebro, Per Christian Ellefsen, Anders Hatlo, Johannes Joner, Robert Skjærstad, Kristin Johnson

Fifteen years after their last encounter, Benny, Valborg and Dynamitt‑Harry discover that Egon Olsen has finally been released from prison and now lives in a quiet retirement home. The former members of the Olsenbanden reunite, and Egon immediately presents them with a new, elaborate scheme.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick
  5. 5 Categories
  6. 6 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick (1999) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Egon's placement and broadcast visit

    After 17 years, Egon is placed at the Institute for Theoretical Crime. He is allowed a brief stint outside for a televised talk show, which rekindles attention on him. Benny and Kjeld watch the broadcast and decide to seek him out, setting the plot in motion.

    When
    17 years after his last stay
    Where
    Institute for Theoretical Crime
  2. Egon leaves the studio; Benny outside; plan to visit Kjeld

    Just after the broadcast, Egon leaves the studio to seek a toilet, where he runs into Benny outside. The chance reunion leads them to unanimously decide to visit Kjeld at the nursing home. Their meeting reopens old ties and hints at a new scheme.

    When
    Immediately after the broadcast
    Where
    TV studio grounds
  3. Kjeld at the nursing home meets Ruth

    Kjeld, living in a nursing home after Yvonne’s death, meets Ruth, a woman he hopes to buy an apartment in Málaga with. The encounter adds a personal thread to the gang's tale and foreshadows Ruth's role in the plan. The three characters—Kjeld, Ruth, and the gang—start to become entangled.

    When
    Following the broadcast
    Where
    Nursing home
  4. Egon's master plan and the old safe

    Egon returns to his long-held ambition: to lead the Olsen gang to a large capital by stealing the English crown jewels. He reflects that during his years in psychiatry he drafted numerous plans, many confiscated by the superintendent, and now he seeks to recover them from the safe. The plan is to exploit the safety net to break out.

    When
    During his time in psychiatry
    Where
    Institute for Theoretical Crime
  5. Hallandsen learns of the broadcast; assigns Holm-Hansen

    The broadcast also alerts Hallandsen, the department head at the Ministry of Justice, who sees Egon’s reappearance as a threat to state secrets. He assigns Holm-Hansen to locate Egon and retrieve the Wandenberg documents before they cause a catastrophe.

    When
    After the broadcast
    Where
    Ministry of Justice
  6. Holm-Hansen seeks Jensen; points to the Franz Jäger safe

    Holm-Hansen consults retired detective Jensen, who had waited 17 years due to a computer error. Jensen advises checking the Franz Jäger safe from 1944, the only one left in Denmark, located in the Department of Theoretical Crime.

    When
    Shortly after the briefing
    Where
    Department of Theoretical Crime
  7. Egon at the institute; headmaster tries to lock him up

    As Egon plans the theft, the headmaster confronts him and attempts to confine him again. Holm-Hansen arrives at the last moment to intervene, allowing Egon to leave with Kjeld and Benny.

    When
    During the escape attempt
    Where
    Institute for Theoretical Crime
  8. Egon is sent to steal the Wandenberg documents

    Egon is brought to Hallandsen, who assigns him to steal the Wandenberg documents, promising a reward. Two ministry officers assist, and the theft from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' archive happens within minutes.

    When
    Soon after the meeting
    Where
    Ministry of Justice
  9. Egon steals the documents; imprisonment and rescue

    After Hallandsen has obtained the documents, Egon demands the promised reward but is instead imprisoned in a dungeon. Kjeld and Benny manage to free him at the last moment, avoiding another setback in their caper.

    When
    Immediately after the theft
    Where
    Ministry of Justice dungeon
  10. The plan to destroy the suitcase is foiled

    Hallandsen plans to destroy the suitcase with the Wandenberg documents; Egon intends to prevent this and uses the documents to leverage the minister. With Benny and Kjeld, they retrieve the suitcase using improvised tools, and Hallandsen is deeply shocked as he drives away.

    When
    Immediately afterward
    Where
    State destruction facility / route
  11. Ruth joins for the Øresund delivery

    The Olsen gang drives toward the construction site of the Øresund connection to deliver the suitcase when Ruth unexpectedly joins in Kjeld's place, claiming he is unwell. Egon reluctantly accepts her presence as part of the plan.

    When
    On the way to the site
    Where
    Øresund construction site route
  12. Attack at the construction site and escape

    At the construction site, Bøffen and Alf attack again and push the group into a construction cave. They fight back, and Egon’s leadership helps them escape with the Wandenberg documents and his plans intact.

    When
    During the attempted delivery
    Where
    Øresund construction site
  13. Børge arrives to help the gang

    Kjeld's son Børge, now an international company manager, arrives in Denmark after learning what has happened. He seeks out Egon, Benny, and Ruth and finally locates the assembled gang at the construction site.

    When
    After the construction-site incident
    Where
    Denmark (construction site vicinity)
  14. The loss of the plans and the aftermath

    Benny says goodbye as Egon confronts the loss of his plans when Ruth and Alf throw the suitcase containing the plans and the Wandenberg documents onto a construction machine. Egon watches in disbelief as the vital documents disappear, while Hallandsen contemplates retreat.

    When
    Final moments before retreat
    Where
    Construction site
  15. Portugal finale and ongoing dream

    Egon, along with Benny, Kjeld, Ruth, and Alf, travels to Børge's villa in Portugal to live out the rest of their days in peace. Yet Egon still harbors the lingering plan to steal the English crown jewels, ensuring the dream outlives the day’s events.

    When
    Ending
    Where
    Børge's villa, Portugal

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:00

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Timeline questions answered

The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick (1999): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Egon in the Institute for Theoretical Crime?

Egon has spent 17 years at the Institute for Theoretical Crime, a psychiatric institution for incurably criminal persons. He was placed there after his previous exploits, and during his confinement he drafted numerous criminal schemes that were confiscated by the superintendent and locked in a safe.

  • egon olsen
  • institute
  • psychiatric
  • prison
  • denmark
Q2

What are the Wandenberg documents and why do they matter?

The Wandenberg documents are a top-secret dossier containing evidence of decades of public scandals in Denmark. Hallandsen, head at the Ministry of Justice, is desperate to keep them hidden because their exposure would ruin numerous public figures and damage the government's credibility.

  • wandenberg documents
  • scandal
  • ministry of justice
  • dossier
  • secrets
Q3

Why does Hallandsen want to stop Egon?

Hallandsen recognizes Egon from the TV broadcast and sees him as a major threat. Since Egon had previously attempted to steal sensitive documents from the Foreign Affairs archive, Hallandsen fears that Egon's new scheme could expose the Wandenberg documents, which would reveal decades of government scandals and destroy many careers.

  • hallandsen
  • egon
  • ministry of justice
  • pursuit
  • arrest
Q4

Why does Kjeld use a wheelchair?

Kjeld has been living in a nursing home and uses a wheelchair ever since his wife Yvonne passed away in 1987. The loss appears to have contributed to his physical decline, though the exact circumstances are not detailed in the summary.

  • kjeld
  • wheelchair
  • nursing home
  • yvonne
  • health
Q5

Why does Hallandsen trick Egon into stealing the documents?

Hallandsen assigns Egon to steal the Wandenberg documents from the Foreign Affairs archive, promising a reward. However, once Egon delivers the documents, Hallandsen has him imprisoned in a dungeon instead of paying him, using Egon as a tool to retrieve the documents while ensuring he cannot use them as leverage.

  • hallandsen
  • trick
  • imprisonment
  • betrayal
  • dungeon
Q6

Who is Børge and what is his role in the story?

Børge is Kjeld's son, who arrives from abroad as a successful international company manager when he learns about the gang's situation. He eventually provides the group with his villa in Portugal as a place for them to live out their final years in peace.

  • børge
  • kjeld's son
  • villa
  • portugal
  • family
Q7

Why does Ruth join the gang at the Øresund site?

Ruth unexpectedly joins the ride to the Øresund construction site, substituting for Kjeld who isn't feeling well. She had met Kjeld at the nursing home where she was hoping he would help her buy an apartment in Málaga. Egon reluctantly accepts her presence as part of the plan.

Foreshadowing: Kjeld met Ruth at the nursing home earlier, where he hoped to buy an apartment in Málaga with her.

  • ruth
  • øresund
  • construction site
  • malaga
  • kjeld
Q8

What happens to the suitcase with plans and documents?

At the construction site, Ruth and Alf push the suitcase containing Egon's plans and the Wandenberg documents onto a construction machine, scattering everything and vanishing. Egon watches in disbelief as the vital documents disappear, effectively ending his schemes.

  • suitcase
  • plans
  • documents
  • lost
  • construction machine
Q9

Why does Egon still want to steal the crown jewels?

Throughout his years in the psychiatric institution, Egon had been drafting schemes to raise capital for the Olsen gang. Stealing the English crown jewels was his ultimate, long-simmering ambition, a audacious final heist that represented the pinnacle of his criminal career, and this dream persists even as he retires to Portugal.

  • crown jewels
  • england
  • heist
  • ambition
  • plan
Q10

What is the Franz Jäger safe from 1944?

The Franz Jäger safe is the last remaining safe from 1944 in Denmark, located in the Department of Theoretical Crime. Detective Jensen explains it contains the key to the Department of Theoretical Crime, making it a crucial target for both the authorities trying to stop Egon and for Egon himself to recover his confiscated plans.

  • franz jäger
  • safe
  • 1944
  • denmark
  • department theoretical crime
Q11

Why is Alf with Ruth at the end?

Alf, who was initially one of Bøffen's henchmen who attacked Egon in the dungeon, eventually switches sides. By the end, he accompanies Ruth, Egon, Benny, and Kjeld to Portugal, suggesting he too has become part of their group seeking a quieter life.

  • alf
  • ruth
  • bøffen
  • betrayal
  • portugal

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Elderly Crooks like The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick

Experienced outlaws proving they still have the skills for one last job. If you enjoyed watching the seasoned experts in The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick, explore similar movies featuring elderly or veteran crooks planning one last heist. These films combine comedic capers with themes of friendship and proving oneself despite age.

  • nostalgic
  • comical
  • lighthearted
  • reunion
  • mischievous
  • expert protagonists
  • Tone: lighthearted, comical
  • Pacing: steady, character-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a reunion of skilled but aging protagonists who are drawn back into their old lives for a final, often complex, scheme. Their journey involves overcoming doubts—both their own and from others—and using their tried-and-true methods to outsmart younger or more conventional adversaries.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their central archetype of the seasoned, often retired, professional criminal. They share a lighthearted, comical tone where the stakes feel significant but are balanced by the charm and eccentricity of the elderly protagonists and their nostalgic reunion.

Movies with a Nostalgic Farewell Heist like The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick

A final, bittersweet adventure that reunites old friends and tests their bond. Fans of the reunion and final caper in The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick will enjoy these movies about a nostalgic farewell heist. Discover similar stories where a group of friends comes together for one last mischievous adventure filled with comedic schemes and a happy ending.

  • nostalgic
  • bittersweet
  • reunion
  • lighthearted
  • mischievous
  • farewell
  • Tone: light, nostalgic
  • Pacing: steady, scheme-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: This narrative pattern involves a team, often past their prime, reuniting for a final mission that is as much about reclaiming a sense of purpose and camaraderie as it is about the score. The plot balances the intricacies of the plan with interpersonal dynamics, leading to a conclusion that emphasizes the value of the journey over the destination.

Why they belong together: They share a specific emotional mix: a lighthearted and comical tone underpinned by a sense of nostalgia and gentle rebellion. The pacing is steady, focusing on the reunion and execution of a complex but ultimately joyous scheme, resulting in a feel-good, happy ending.

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick

The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories

Every angle

The Olsen Gang’s Last Trick (1999) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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