Red Notice (2021)

Red Notice is a globe-trotting action-comedy directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, starring three of Hollywood’s biggest names: Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds. It mixes heist thrills, witty banter, and exotic locations into a fast-paced caper. Here’s everything you need to know.

Detailed Summary

Opening Heist: The Egg of Cleopatra

The movie opens with a narration explaining the legend of Cleopatra’s three priceless golden eggs, gifted to her by Mark Antony. Two of these eggs have been found, but the third remains missing. We meet FBI profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) in Rome, where he’s assisting in the security of one of the eggs on display in a museum. Enter Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds), the world’s second-most-wanted art thief, who’s there to steal the egg. After a chase through the museum and the streets of Rome, Hartley captures Booth—or so it seems.

The Framing of Hartley

Things take a turn when Bishop (Gal Gadot), the world’s most wanted art thief, outsmarts them both. She frames Hartley for stealing the egg, landing him in a remote Russian prison alongside Booth. This sets the stage for the unlikely partnership between the two men, with Hartley insisting he’s innocent and determined to clear his name.

Prison Break and the Second Egg

Hartley and Booth’s banter-filled escape from prison involves clever distractions, explosions, and a snowy mountainside chase. They head to Valencia to steal the second egg during a lavish masquerade ball hosted by arms dealer Sotto Voce (Chris Diamantopoulos). Bishop, of course, is there ahead of them, leading to a mix of double-crosses, dance-floor tension, and a chaotic fight scene.

Race for the Third Egg

The final act shifts to Argentina, where Booth reveals the location of the third egg: hidden in a Nazi bunker deep in the jungle. The trio reluctantly teams up to retrieve it, but naturally, there’s no shortage of betrayals.

Movie Ending

In the bunker, Booth, Hartley, and Bishop fend off gunfire from Sotto Voce’s men and a pursuing Interpol team led by Inspector Das (Ritu Arya). After a high-speed chase in a vintage Mercedes through a collapsing mine tunnel, they emerge victorious—with all three eggs in their possession.

Booth thinks Hartley will now clear his name, but in a major twist, Hartley reveals he’s not an FBI agent at all—he’s Bishop’s partner and lover. The entire framing of Hartley was part of their long con to manipulate Booth into leading them to the third egg. Booth is left stunned but begrudgingly impressed.

Hartley and Bishop deliver the eggs to a wealthy Egyptian billionaire in time for his daughter’s wedding, pocketing the massive payout. Just when they think they’re free, Interpol freezes their offshore accounts based on a tip from Booth. In the film’s closing moments, Booth tracks them down in Paris, offering them a new job—one that could make them all richer than ever. Hartley and Bishop accept, and the trio walks off into the next adventure.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Red Notice does not have any post-credits scenes. The final scene with Booth recruiting Hartley and Bishop for another heist serves as a setup for a possible sequel. Once the credits start rolling, you’re safe to leave.

Type of Movie

This is an action-comedy heist film with elements of buddy-cop banter, romantic intrigue, and globetrotting adventure.

Cast

• Dwayne Johnson as John Hartley
• Ryan Reynolds as Nolan Booth
• Gal Gadot as The Bishop
• Ritu Arya as Inspector Urvashi Das
• Chris Diamantopoulos as Sotto Voce

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Steve Jablonsky, known for his work on the Transformers films. The music blends orchestral swells with exotic and percussive elements to match the globe-hopping heist energy.

Filming Locations

Despite the film’s many exotic settings—Rome, Bali, Valencia, Argentina—Red Notice was primarily filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional shoots in Sardinia, Italy. Visual effects and set design recreated most of the international locations due to COVID-19 restrictions, giving the movie a polished but slightly stylized feel.

Awards and Nominations

While the film did not receive major awards, it was nominated for People’s Choice Awards in categories such as “Favorite Movie” and “Favorite Action Movie Star” (Dwayne Johnson).

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Filming began in January 2020 but was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resuming in September 2020.
• Many of the film’s “exotic” backdrops were digitally created, with green screen work replacing on-location shooting.
• The chemistry between Reynolds, Johnson, and Gadot was often enhanced by improvised dialogue, especially Reynolds’ comedic quips.
• Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot both trained for their dance scene with professional choreographers.

Inspirations and References

The movie pulls heavily from classic heist films like Ocean’s Eleven, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Indiana Jones adventure tropes. It also embraces buddy-cop dynamics reminiscent of Rush Hour and Midnight Run.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While no officially released alternate endings exist, Rawson Marshall Thurber confirmed that earlier drafts had Hartley and Bishop’s partnership revealed midway through the movie instead of at the end. This was changed to keep the twist impactful.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a book, though it borrows thematic inspiration from real-world art theft cases and legendary treasure myths.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The Rome museum chase with Booth’s inventive escape through a tourist area.
• The masquerade ball theft with the tango between Bishop and Hartley.
• The jungle bunker fight and mine tunnel chase.
• The final twist revealing Hartley’s true allegiance.

Iconic Quotes

• Booth: “If you’re not a cop, what are you?”
• Bishop: “I’m… the Bishop.”
• Hartley: “Trusting a thief is the biggest mistake you can make.”
• Booth: “I’m you, with a sense of humor.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Booth’s repeated mention of Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is a nod to Reynolds’ personal admiration for the painter.
• Bishop’s code name is a chess reference, symbolizing her ability to move in unexpected ways.
• The Interpol badge number seen on Das’s credentials matches a case file number in the FBI’s real art crime database.

Trivia

• It became Netflix’s most-watched movie in its debut week.
• The film reportedly had a budget of around $200 million, making it Netflix’s most expensive movie at the time.
• Ryan Reynolds’ comedic ad-libs sometimes forced Johnson and Gadot to break character repeatedly.

Why Watch?

Red Notice is perfect for viewers who enjoy slick heist plots, snappy one-liners, and charismatic star power. It’s not a deep mystery, but it’s a fun, fast-paced escape with plenty of twists.

Director’s Other Movies

• Skyscraper (2018)
• Central Intelligence (2016)
• Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
• Now You See Me (2013)
• The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
• National Treasure (2004)
• Six Underground (2019)