The Heist of the Century
On the sunny and seemingly ordinary Friday of January 13, 2006, the bohemian martial-arts instructor, Fernando Araujo, and his hand-picked four-member crew stormed into the branch of Banco Río in the affluent neighbourhood of Acassuso, Buenos Aires. As the thieves work fast, emptying dozens of safety deposit boxes crammed with millions of dollars, precious jewellery, and heavy gold bullion bars, the chief negotiator, Miguel Sileo, and his armed-to-the-teeth men encircle the silent two-storey building, in the aftermath of the bloody Villa Ramallo robbery. Now, five determined bank thieves along with twenty-three helpless hostages find themselves trapped in the building. Will the audacious robbers get away with the heist of the century?
The film earned $7.6M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Heist of the Century (2020) reveals strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Ariel Winograd's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Fernando "El Marciano" Araujo lives a quiet, unremarkable life as a small-time criminal in Buenos Aires, struggling to make ends meet and dreaming of something bigger.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False defeat: Police surround the bank and SWAT teams arrive. The situation becomes a media spectacle, and the crew realizes escape will be far more difficult than planned. The stakes escalate dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The escape plan seems impossible. Police close in, and the crew faces the reality that they may be trapped. The dream of the perfect heist appears to be crumbling, and arrest or violence seems inevitable., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The crew executes their brilliant escape through the storm drain system while police raid the bank. They evade capture through meticulous planning and audacity. The heist is revealed as even more clever than it appeared., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Heist of the Century's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Heist of the Century against these established plot points, we can identify how Ariel Winograd utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Heist of the Century within the action genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Fernando "El Marciano" Araujo lives a quiet, unremarkable life as a small-time criminal in Buenos Aires, struggling to make ends meet and dreaming of something bigger.
Theme
A fellow criminal remarks, "In Argentina, if you're going to steal, steal big or don't steal at all." This encapsulates the film's theme about audacity, ambition, and the spectacular versus the mundane.
Worldbuilding
We meet the crew of misfits and small-time criminals, each with their own skills and desperation. The film establishes the economic crisis in Argentina and the culture of distrust toward banks and institutions.
Resistance
Fernando recruits his crew and begins planning. They debate the risks, study the bank, and work through logistics. Some crew members are hesitant, questioning whether they can pull off something so ambitious.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The promise of the premise: watching brilliant criminals execute an elaborate heist with style, humor, and ingenuity. They drill into safety deposit boxes, manage hostages with unexpected kindness, and improvise as complications arise.
Midpoint
False defeat: Police surround the bank and SWAT teams arrive. The situation becomes a media spectacle, and the crew realizes escape will be far more difficult than planned. The stakes escalate dramatically.
Opposition
Police pressure intensifies with negotiations, tactical teams, and surveillance. Internal tensions rise within the crew. Their window of opportunity shrinks. The media circus grows, and one wrong move could end in disaster.
Collapse
The escape plan seems impossible. Police close in, and the crew faces the reality that they may be trapped. The dream of the perfect heist appears to be crumbling, and arrest or violence seems inevitable.
Crisis
In the dark moment, Fernando grapples with the consequences of his ambition. The crew must decide whether to surrender or make one final desperate move. They reflect on what they've risked and why.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The crew executes their brilliant escape through the storm drain system while police raid the bank. They evade capture through meticulous planning and audacity. The heist is revealed as even more clever than it appeared.