The Thieves
A gang of South Korean thieves team up with a Hong Kong crew to steal a diamond necklace from a heavily-guarded casino safe in Macau. As the cops close in, old betrayals — and misunderstandings — resurface.
The film earned $83.5M 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 Thieves (2012) exhibits carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Choi Dong-hoon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 15 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Popie's crew executes a high-stakes museum heist in Seoul, showcasing their skills as professional thieves working in coordinated precision.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Macao Park proposes the impossible: stealing the Tear of the Sun diamond from a Macau casino, requiring partnership with a Chinese crew. The promise of a massive score disrupts their ordinary operations.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Both crews commit to the heist plan. They begin active preparations, conducting surveillance and rehearsals. There's no turning back from this dangerous collaboration., moving from reaction to action.
At 68 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: The crews successfully steal the Tear of the Sun diamond in a spectacular heist. They celebrate together, but underlying tensions and hidden agendas begin surfacing., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 101 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Yenicall is killed by Wei Hong. The death of the youngest, most innocent crew member shatters the group and forces them to confront the human cost of their greed and betrayals., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 108 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The surviving crew members unite against Wei Hong and choose vengeance and justice over the diamond. They realize that their bonds matter more than the score., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Thieves's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Thieves against these established plot points, we can identify how Choi Dong-hoon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Thieves within the action genre.
Choi Dong-hoon's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Choi Dong-hoon films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Thieves exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Choi Dong-hoon filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Choi Dong-hoon analyses, see Assassination.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Popie's crew executes a high-stakes museum heist in Seoul, showcasing their skills as professional thieves working in coordinated precision.
Theme
Discussion about trust and betrayal among thieves: "In this business, there's no such thing as loyalty" - foreshadowing the web of deception to come.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the Korean crew members, their relationships, and the underworld they operate in. Establishes Macao Park's return and his history with Popie.
Disruption
Macao Park proposes the impossible: stealing the Tear of the Sun diamond from a Macau casino, requiring partnership with a Chinese crew. The promise of a massive score disrupts their ordinary operations.
Resistance
The crew debates whether to trust Macao Park given his past betrayal. They travel to Macau, meet the Chinese crew led by Chen, and begin planning the elaborate heist with tension and suspicion between teams.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Both crews commit to the heist plan. They begin active preparations, conducting surveillance and rehearsals. There's no turning back from this dangerous collaboration.
Mirror World
Romantic and emotional connections develop between crew members across teams - Pepsi and Yenicall, Julie and Popie - creating bonds that will complicate the professional betrayals to come.
Premise
The "fun and games" of executing the elaborate diamond heist: infiltration, acrobatics, technical wizardry, close calls, and the thrill of the crew working together against impossible odds.
Midpoint
False victory: The crews successfully steal the Tear of the Sun diamond in a spectacular heist. They celebrate together, but underlying tensions and hidden agendas begin surfacing.
Opposition
The web of betrayals unravels: multiple double-crosses are revealed, Wei Hong emerges as a threat, crew members turn on each other, and past grievances resurface. Trust disintegrates completely.
Collapse
Yenicall is killed by Wei Hong. The death of the youngest, most innocent crew member shatters the group and forces them to confront the human cost of their greed and betrayals.
Crisis
The crews process their grief and guilt over Yenicall's death. They face the darkest implications of their choices and the realization that the diamond isn't worth the lives lost.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The surviving crew members unite against Wei Hong and choose vengeance and justice over the diamond. They realize that their bonds matter more than the score.
Synthesis
Final confrontation with Wei Hong, settling scores, and resolving the fates of all crew members. The diamond's ultimate disposition and the survivors dealing with consequences.
Transformation
The survivors reflect on what they've lost and gained. Despite the betrayals, some human connections proved real. They're changed by the experience - wiser, scarred, but still thieves.