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What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) movie poster

Plot Summary

What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2001 · 94 min · English
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Directed by
Sam Weisman
Starring
Danny DeVito, Martin Lawrence
Budget
$60M

A ruthless entrepreneur, Max Fairbanks, and a charming thief, Kevin Caffrey, find their lives unexpectedly intertwined, leading to a series of comedic misadventures. Their differing personalities and ambitions clash as they navigate a chaotic situation, resulting in a battle of wits and egos where the stakes keep rising with each unexpected turn.

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 What's the Worst That Could Happen?
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in What's the Worst That Could Happen?: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) 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.

As Kevin Caffery, a suave and clever thief, encounters Amber Belhaven while returning a stolen painting to her hotel room, he inadvertently stumbles into a tangled web of deception. In a bold reveal, Kevin discloses his criminal undertakings to Amber, surprising her at first, but soon winning her affection through his charm. As their romance deepens, Amber presents him with her father's cherished lucky ring.

Meanwhile, Max Fairbanks, a flamboyant and carelessly extravagant businessman, is teetering on the brink of financial collapse, yet remains blissfully unaware of his dire predicament. His lawyer, Walter Greenbaum, urges him to act swiftly to safeguard his finances, but Max chooses to indulge in his lavish lifestyle, even hinting at a hasty bankruptcy filing. His wife, Lutetia, is unwittingly entangled in his deceit as he reassures her that his company is merely undergoing a minor "technical procedure" to mask the truth.

Through an acquaintance named Berger, Kevin learns of Max's financial woes and seizes the moment to plot a heist. The two devise a scheme to rob Max's opulent beach house, but their plan ultimately backfires when they are caught in the act. Max spots Amber's stolen ring on Kevin's finger and demands its return, sparking a high-stakes confrontation that allows Kevin to flee.

As tensions rise, Walter informs Max of a ban from his summer getaway due to his reckless flouting of bankruptcy regulations. Undeterred, Max clings to the superstition that the ring is a charm of good luck. Meanwhile, Kevin and Berger recruit the expertise of a skilled hacker, Shelly Nix, to trace Max's movements via his email.

On a flight, Max consults with his cryptic psychic associate, Gloria, about the ring's significance. Her unsettling drawing sends chills through him, but she keeps her worries to herself. With Max's fortunes plummeting, he faces a judge who resists bribery attempts, resulting in an order for a public auction of his summer residence.

As Kevin and Berger ramp up their thieving endeavors against Max, the situation spirals into chaos. Sensing the escalating danger, Amber ultimately distances herself from Kevin, unwilling to be ensnared in the crossfire of their vendetta. When Lutetia unexpectedly discovers Amber adorned in stolen finery at a local venue, a confrontation arises, which unexpectedly forges a bond between them. They unite to devise a plan, driven by their shared struggle. Meanwhile, Gloria, increasingly unsettled by her tarot card reading, decides to cut ties with Max as his business partner. Her final decision comes when she hands crucial documents to Detective Tardio, setting in motion a series of events that will yield significant repercussions.

The scene is set for tumult at the bankruptcy auction, where Lutetia sends a skilled masseuse to distract Max while simultaneously pilfering the valuable ring. The criminals, led by Kevin, orchestrate chaos, utilizing smoke bombs and a fake video message as a diversion. Amidst the turmoil, Max finds himself confronted by Kevin on a sinking vessel, only to realize that the prized ring is nothing more than a worthless imitation. Just when despair seems imminent, Detective Tardio arrives, and Kevin pretends to be a hero by feigning a rescue of Max from the encroaching waters.

As they part ways, Amber emerges from the shadows as the clever masseuse who masterminded the heist. With a knowing glimmer in her eye, she advises Kevin to rid himself of the cursed ring, which has a notorious history of bringing misfortune. Accepting her wisdom, Kevin tosses the tainted trinket into the ocean and eventually reunites with his criminal associate.

In a final act of deception, Kevin adopts the persona of Max's lawyer to manipulate the Senate hearing, ensuring a beneficial outcome for his client. Reveling in glory at a press conference, he makes off with one of Max's exquisite watches, further cementing his reputation as an expert manipulator.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 10:46

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Plot questions answered

What's the Worst That Could Happen? Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001): 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 does Kevin tell Amber about his criminal background so quickly?

Kevin openly shares his criminal career with Amber when he returns the stolen painting to her hotel room. His forthright approach is part of his charm strategy, he believes honesty about who he is will either intrigue her or push her away, but the boldness unexpectedly wins her over.

  • kevin
  • amber
  • confession
  • romance
  • thief
Q2

Why does Max want the ring back so badly?

Max becomes convinced the ring is a genuine lucky charm that can reverse his financial collapse. Even after learning it's stolen, he clings to the superstition that the ring possesses mystical powers to bring him good fortune and save him from bankruptcy.

Foreshadowing: The ring was given to Amber by her father as a cherished family heirloom, making it both emotionally and symbolically valuable.

  • max
  • ring
  • lucky
  • bankruptcy
  • superstition
Q3

Who is the masseuse at the bankruptcy auction?

The masseuse sent to distract Max during the auction is actually Amber in disguise. She orchestrates the heist by posing as the professional sent by Lutetia, allowing her to get close enough to execute the plan while smoke bombs and fake videos create chaos.

Foreshadowing: Amber and Lutetia previously formed an alliance after discovering they were both wronged by Max and Kevin.

  • amber
  • masque
  • auction
  • disguise
  • heist
Q4

Why does Lutetia team up with Amber against Max?

Lutetia discovers Amber wearing stolen jewelry at a public event and confronts her. Instead of fighting, they realize they're both victims of Max's deception, Lutetia kept in the dark about his financial ruin and Amber caught up in Kevin's criminal schemes. Their shared grievance unites them against him.

  • lutetia
  • amber
  • alliance
  • Max
  • betrayal
Q5

What does Gloria the psychic tell Max about the ring?

During a flight, Max consults his psychic associate Gloria about the ring's significance. She gives him a cryptic, unsettling drawing that disturbs him deeply, though she keeps her true worries to herself. Her discomfort foreshadows the ring's dark history and curses.

  • gloria
  • psychic
  • ring
  • warning
  • tarot
Q6

Why does Kevin throw the ring into the ocean?

After the chaos at the auction, Amber reveals herself as the mastermind behind the heist and warns Kevin about the ring's notorious history of bringing misfortune to its owners. Accepting her advice, Kevin discards what he believes to be a cursed artifact into the ocean to escape its supposed bad luck.

  • kevin
  • ring
  • cursed
  • ocean
  • disposal
Q7

How does Kevin end up at the Senate hearing as Max's lawyer?

In the final act, Kevin adopts the persona of Max's lawyer to manipulate the Senate hearing. His deception ensures a beneficial outcome for Max while allowing Kevin to revel in his triumph. He successfully pulls off the charade and leaves with one of Max's prized watches.

  • kevin
  • senate
  • hearing
  • impersonation
  • lawyer
  • deception
Q8

Is the ring actually valuable or a fake?

During the sinking boat confrontation, Max discovers the ring he coveted throughout the entire film is worthless. The prized possession everyone fought over turns out to be a fake, adding a final twist of irony to their chaotic conflict.

  • ring
  • fake
  • worthless
  • boat
  • twist
Q9

Why does Amber distance herself from Kevin during the conflict?

As the danger escalates between Kevin and Max's feud, Amber ultimately separates herself from Kevin, refusing to be caught in the crossfire of their escalating vendetta. Her departure reflects her desire to avoid being entangled in the dangerous game between the two men.

  • amber
  • kevin
  • leaves
  • conflict
  • danger
Q10

What happens to Max's beach house?

Due to Max's bankruptcy violations and reckless financial decisions, a judge orders his summer residence to be sold at public auction. This event becomes the setting for the climactic heist confrontation between Kevin and Max.

  • max
  • beach house
  • auction
  • bankruptcy

Movie threads

More Movies Like What's the Worst That Could Happen?, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes What's the Worst That Could Happen? tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Fast-paced rivalry comedies like What's the Worst That Could Happen?

Energetic stories where two opposing personalities engage in a chaotic game of one-upmanship. If you enjoyed the chaotic battle of wits between Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito in What's the Worst That Could Happen?, you'll love these movies. This section features similar comedies where charismatic rivals engage in escalating pranks and schemes, all delivered with a fast pace and lighthearted tone.

  • comedic
  • mischievous
  • energetic
  • playful
  • devious
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a personal slight or conflict that sparks a feud. The story unfolds through a series of escalating retaliations, with each character trying to outsmart the other. The structure is built on comedic set pieces and confrontations, leading to a final showdown where the underdog usually wins through cleverness, often with a happy resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core dynamic: a charismatic duo in opposition, a fast-paced sequence of comedic confrontations, and a focus on witty banter and clever antics over serious stakes. The unifying elements are the light tone, high humor score, and the enjoyable spectacle of a personal war fought with pranks instead of violence.

Charming criminal caper comedies similar to What's the Worst That Could Happen?

Lighthearted heist stories where likable rogues pull off absurd capers with playful energy. Fans of the playful heists and charming criminal antics in What's the Worst That Could Happen? will enjoy these movies. Discover similar stories featuring likable rogues, absurd capers, and a lighthearted take on crime, where the fun is in the chase and the clever deception.

  • heist
  • playful
  • clever
  • absurd
  • charismatic
  • misadventure
  • Tone: light, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a charismatic criminal or team as they plan and execute a caper, often targeting an arrogant or unlikable figure. The plot is driven by a cat-and-mouse game with authorities or a rival, but the stakes remain comically low. Unexpected twists and humorous failures add to the chaos, leading to an ending where the protagonist's wit and charm ultimately prevail.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their core premise of treating crime as a source of comedic entertainment. They share a light emotional weight, a fast pace to keep the caper energetic, and a central character who is a clever, if sometimes foolish, rogue. The experience is unified by a mood of mischievous fun rather than criminal tension.

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Every angle

What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about What's the Worst That Could Happen? 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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