Somewhere above the High Balkan Flatlands in 1950, arms dealer Anatole Zsa-Zsa Korda, played by Benicio Del Toro, finds himself in a precarious situation. While aboard his private plane, disaster strikes when a bomb unexpectedly kills his assistant, leading to a dramatic hole opening in the aircraft. After a heated argument with the pilot, The Pilot (played by Steve Park), Zsa-Zsa makes a quick decision to eject him and crash-land the plane into a nearby cornfield. Initially thought to be dead, Zsa-Zsa is soon revealed to be alive in front of a news crew. However, during a brief period of unconsciousness, he experiences a surreal afterlife where he faces judgment from a mysterious group of individuals.
This secret organization, under the leadership of Excalibur (portrayed by Rupert Friend), investigates Zsa-Zsa's nefarious dealings. He has earned the dubious nickname "Mr. Five Percent" due to his myriad of illegal activities, including tax evasion and bribery. Consequently, many governments are keen on eliminating Zsa-Zsa, triggering several assassination attempts against him. The organization is determined to dismantle Zsa-Zsa's criminal enterprise for good.
Upon returning home, Zsa-Zsa seeks out his estranged daughter, Liesl (played by Mia Threapleton), a nun with whom he has a strained relationship. He also has nine sons whom he rarely sees. Zsa-Zsa implores Liesl to assist him in taking over his business as he formulates his ambitious plan known as “The Phoenician Scheme.” This controversial scheme involves taking control of various businesses in Phoenicia through unscrupulous means, including slave labor, all meticulously documented in small shoeboxes. Liesl harbors deep reservations about collaborating with her father due to his long absence and unsettling rumors of his role in her mother's death, which he vehemently denies. They are joined by Bjorn, a Norwegian tutor played by Michael Cera, who also serves as Zsa-Zsa’s new administrative assistant. After Zsa-Zsa subjects Bjorn to a polygraph test, which he passes, Liesl reluctantly agrees to join her father's dubious operations.
As they set the plan in motion, Bjorn finds himself increasingly protective of Liesl and offers to help her care for her brothers. Zsa-Zsa implicates his brother, Nubar (played by Benedict Cumberbatch), as the true murderer of Liesl’s mother. In her reflective moments, Liesl writes to the Mother Superior, expressing her concerns about the absence of God in Zsa-Zsa's life. Meanwhile, Excalibur manipulates the market price of Zsa-Zsa’s goods, specifically bashable rivets, amplifying Zsa-Zsa's desperation and prompting him to hasten his plans.
Shoebox #1 involves Zsa-Zsa's negotiation with Prince Farouk (played by Riz Ahmed) and the financier brothers Leland and Reagan (played by Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston, respectively). After grappling with their contractual disputes in a challenge of basketball known as H-O-R-S-E, the submerged tensions are momentarily eased when Farouk scores the final shot.
Shoebox #2 presents yet another afterlife reflection where Zsa-Zsa encounters the specters of his three former wives. The storyline progresses as Zsa-Zsa, Liesl, and Bjorn meet Marseille Bob (portrayed by Mathieu Amalric) at his nightclub, where chaos erupts due to gunfire initiated by a guerilla unit led by Sergio (Richard Ayoade). Amidst the turmoil, Zsa-Zsa heroically takes a bullet meant for Bob, further entrenching his intricate web of relationships.
With his multiple dealings intensifying, Zsa-Zsa's emotional turmoil surfaces when he confides in Liesl, attributing the blame for her mother's death to his brother Nubar. Liesl grapples with the painful truth and chooses to continue the mission out of a personal quest for justice against Nubar. As events escalate challenging Zsa-Zsa's morality, he eventually faces the consequences of his alliances and confronts the true nature of love and family amidst a backdrop of treachery.
Shoebox #3 shows the family dynamics taking form as Zsa-Zsa seeks help from his cousin Hilda (Scarlett Johansson), while Shoebox #4 deepens the familial conflict as Zsa-Zsa and Nubar confront their complicated history. Ultimately, the tale evolves as Zsa-Zsa changes his ways, attempting to rectify his past mistakes and embrace a different path.
In the concluding Shoebox #5, Zsa-Zsa and Liesl now run a humble restaurant, marking a stark turn from their previous extravagant lifestyle. Liesl writes one last letter reflecting on the lives touched by Zsa-Zsa's choices, with her brothers finally receiving the love they deserve. As Bjorn leaves behind his espionage ties, he finds fulfillment in teaching, while Liesl's romantic future blossoms with Bjorn's proposal. Together, Zsa-Zsa and Liesl forge a new bond over card games, signifying a poignant shift from chaos to a semblance of family warmth and reconciliation.
