The Next Three Days Ending Explained and Plot
by A Maria
Updated Jun 27, 2023
The Next Three Days
"The Next Three Days" is a gripping action thriller film that was released in the United States on November 19, 2010. The movie, written and directed by Paul Haggis, features renowned actors Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks in lead roles. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, the film takes viewers on a suspenseful journey as the characters navigate through a high-stakes situation.
This American film is actually a remake of the 2008 French movie "Pour elle" (English title: "Anything for Her"), originally created by Fred Cavayé and Guillaume Lemans.
The compelling storyline, adapted for the American audience, explores themes of desperation, determination, and the lengths one is willing to go for the people they love. Filmed on location in Pittsburgh, the movie captures the city's urban landscape and adds an authentic touch to the intense and thrilling narrative.
The Next Three Days Ending Explained
"The Next Three Days," directed by Paul Haggis, is a thrilling prison-break film from the 2010s. It is an American remake of the 2008 French movie "Pour Elle" (also known as "Anything For Her") by Fred Cavayé.
The movie stars Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks as John and Lara Brennan, a married couple whose lives are shattered when Lara is convicted of murdering her boss following a heated argument. She receives a life sentence, leaving John to raise their young son alone.
Despite Lara's conviction, John firmly believes in his wife's innocence, even though everyone else, including the police, her lawyer, and John's own mother, think she is guilty. After exhausting all legal avenues to overturn Lara's sentence, John becomes desperate and turns to Damon Pennington (played by Liam Neeson), an ex-con and escape artist, for help. John seeks Damon's expertise to devise a plan to break Lara out of prison.
As the tension builds throughout the film, John finds himself entangled in increasingly dangerous situations while preparing for the audacious prison break. He ventures into the underworld, acquiring a gun, obtaining fake passports for their escape abroad, and even resorting to violence by killing drug dealers to secure the necessary funds. "The Next Three Days" takes audiences on a suspenseful journey as John risks everything to free his wife and reunite their family.
The film explores themes of love, loyalty, and the lengths to which a person will go to protect and fight for their loved ones. With its intense plot and thrilling sequences, the movie keeps viewers on the edge of their seats until its dramatic conclusion.
The Next Three Days Cast
Russell Crowe
John Brennan
Elizabeth Banks
Lara Brennan
Brian Dennehy
George Brennan
Lennie James
Lieutenant Nabulsi
Olivia Wilde
Nicole
Ty Simpkins
Luke Brennan
Helen Carey
Grace Brennan
Liam Neeson
Damon Pennington
Daniel Stern
Meyer Fisk
Kevin Corrigan
Alex Gaidar
Jason Beghe
Detective Quinnan
Aisha Hinds
Detective Collero
Tyrone Giordano
Mike
Jonathan Tucker
David
Allan Steele
Sergeant Harris
RZA
Mouss
James Ransone
Harv
Moran Atias
Erit
Michael Buie
Mick Brennan
Trudie Styler
Dr. Byrdie Lifson
Nazanin Boniadi
Elaine
Tyler M Green
Toby J. Green as 3-year-old Luke
Kaitlyn Wylde
Julie
CAST
CHARACTER
The Next Three Days Plot
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lara Brennan is handed a life sentence for a murder she claims she didn't commit. Three years later, Lara's relationship with her son Luke deteriorates, and her husband John struggles to maintain their connection during prison visits.
Despite their efforts, Lara's appeal is unsuccessful, and her lawyer advises John to accept the damning evidence against her. According to witnesses, Lara was seen leaving the scene of the crime, where her boss was brutally attacked with a fire extinguisher.
Although Lara insists that she bumped into the real culprit, her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, and the victim's blood is discovered on her coat. With no legal options left, Lara attempts suicide, pushing John to take drastic measures in a bid to free her from prison. Seeking guidance, John approaches Damon Pennington, a former inmate who wrote a book about his seven successful prison escapes.
Over the course of the next three months, John meticulously studies the routines and operations inside Allegheny County Jail. In an attempt to obtain forged passports, he encounters trouble when a drug dealer robs and beats him at a bar. Eventually, John manages to secure the fake documents from a deaf motorcyclist for a sum of $3,700. He also purchases a handgun for his plan.
During a tense moment while testing a bump key inside the jail, John vomits outside, catching the attention of the detectives who arrested Lara. Suspicious of his activities, they tail him to his home, believing he plans to sell the house and his belongings.
John also learns how to break into the medical lab van responsible for Lara's diabetes testing. With the knowledge that Lara will be transferred to a high-security prison in three days, John finds himself unable to close the sale of their house in time.
As a result, he contemplates robbing a bank but ultimately backs out, overwhelmed by stress. In his distress, he nearly runs over a mother and child. An argument during a visit with Lara leads her to confess her guilt in a moment of rage. However, John refuses to believe her words. Determined to fund his plan, he tails a local drug dealer to a meth lab, setting the building ablaze and coercing the criminals into handing over their cash.
A shootout ensues, resulting in the death of one of the criminals. John drives the injured dealer to the hospital but, unfortunately, the man is shot and killed by his own boss. John leaves his body at a bus stop along the road, damaging his tail light in the process. His father discovers his plane tickets, realizing John's intentions, and they bid each other farewell.
As John sets his plan in motion, he cuts the phone lines of the lab and plants fabricated blood work in the van, indicating that Lara is suffering from a condition called hyperkalemia. Meanwhile, John leaves Luke at a birthday party. Lara is then transferred to a hospital when her doctor fails to reach the lab. Detectives investigate the incident at the meth lab, trace John's broken tail light, and break into his empty house, deducing his plan to rescue Lara.
At the hospital, John incapacitates Lara's guards and convinces her to escape with him. Confronted by the detectives, they manage to blend into a crowd of Pittsburgh Steelers fans and board a subway. John pulls the emergency stop, allowing them to elude the police and escape in a nearby getaway car he had prepared. Realizing that time is running out to retrieve Luke from the zoo, John veers onto the highway, promising to find their son later.
In a desperate moment, Lara contemplates opening her car door and risking her life on the road, but John saves her just in time. They proceed to retrieve Luke from the zoo. Along the way, they offer a ride to an elderly couple stranded at a locked-down train station, using them as cover to pass through a police checkpoint. John drives the couple to Buffalo, New York, before reaching a Canadian airport.
With their fake passports, John, Lara, and Luke board a flight to Venezuela, successfully eluding the authorities who are misled by the fragments of John's escape plan that he deliberately left behind.
Back at the murder scene, investigators return and a crucial flashback reveals Lara's innocence. One of the detectives narrowly misses finding a button that could have substantiated Lara's alibi. Meanwhile, in a hotel room in Caracas, John takes a picture of his sleeping wife and son, capturing a moment of relief and triumph after their arduous journey.
The Next Three Days Where to Watch
Currently, you have the opportunity to watch the movie "The Next Three Days" on the Starz streaming platform. If you don't have access to Starz, there are other options available to enjoy the film.
You can rent or purchase "The Next Three Days" on popular digital platforms such as Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, and Vudu. These platforms allow you to stream the movie at your convenience, providing you with the flexibility to choose your preferred method of accessing the film.
About The Next Three Days
Directed by
Paul Haggis
Screenplay by
Paul Haggis
Based on
Anything for Her
by Fred Cavayé
Guillaume Lemans
Release dates
Country
United States
Language
English
The Next Three Days Ending Explained - FAQs
The movie was released in the United States on November 19, 2010.
"The Next Three Days" takes audiences on a suspenseful journey as John risks everything to free his wife and reunite their family. The film explores themes of love, loyalty, and the lengths to which a person will go to protect and fight for their loved ones. With its intense plot and thrilling sequences, the movie keeps viewers on the edge of their seats until its dramatic conclusion.
The film was directed by Paul Haggis.
Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks play the lead roles of John and Lara Brennan, respectively.
Yes, "The Next Three Days" is an American remake of the 2008 French film "Pour elle" (English title: "Anything for Her") by Fred Cavayé.