Upgraded 2024

As ambitious intern Ana navigates the cutthroat art world under the watchful eye of demanding boss Claire, a chance upgrade to first class sparks an unexpected whirlwind. Mistaken identity leads to a lavish adventure with charming Will, whose white lie sets off a romantic escapade that challenges Ana's priorities and tests her true aspirations.

As ambitious intern Ana navigates the cutthroat art world under the watchful eye of demanding boss Claire, a chance upgrade to first class sparks an unexpected whirlwind. Mistaken identity leads to a lavish adventure with charming Will, whose white lie sets off a romantic escapade that challenges Ana's priorities and tests her true aspirations.

Does Upgraded have end credit scenes?

No!

Upgraded does not have end credit scenes.

Ratings


Metacritic

59

Metascore

5.3

User Score

IMDb

6.1 /10

IMDb Rating

Movie Quiz


Artful Ambitions: The Quiz: Test your knowledge on the film 'Upgraded' and its intricate storyline of ambition, deception, and romance in the art world.

Who is Ana's demanding boss?

Plot Summary


As Ana (Camila Mendes) navigates the fast-paced art world as an ambitious intern, she’s determined to impress her demanding boss, Claire (Marisa Tomei), the sociopathic perfectionist who heads Erwins New York. With a career at a top art gallery in New York hanging precariously in the balance, Ana is torn between pleasing Claire and maintaining a sense of self-worth. Her financial struggles are compounded by sharing an apartment with her sister Vivian (Aimee Carrero) and her boyfriend Ronnie (Andrew Schulz), who’s been urging Ana to spread her wings and fly.

Ana’s only confidant at the office is Amy (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), a kindred spirit who shares her passion for art. During an auction, Ana’s keen eye spots a critical error in the catalog, alerting Claire just in time to correct it and earning her a modicum of respect. The subsequent firing of Billy, the person responsible for the mistake, serves as a stark reminder of the cutthroat nature of their industry.

Ana’s star is on the rise when Claire invites her to join an upcoming work trip to London as the assistant to her assistants, Suzette (Rachel Matthews) and Renee (Fola Evans-Akingbola). The group boards their flight, but not before Suzette and Renee spring a surprise on Ana: they’ve booked her an economy ticket with a departure time four hours later. A sympathetic check-in agent intervenes, upgrading Ana to first class.

As she waits for her flight in the luxurious lounge, Ana becomes distracted by a phone call and accidentally spills her Bloody Mary on William (Archie Renaux), a wealthy businessman. Despite the awkwardness, they strike up a conversation that flows effortlessly into a deep connection. By the time their plane touches down in London, Ana has led William to believe she’s the art director of her company’s New York office, earning his admiration and respect.

When they disembark, William introduces Ana to his mother, Catherine (Lena Olin), a British celebrity who takes an instant liking to Ana. As they part ways, Catherine invites Ana to stay in touch, leaving her with a sense of excitement and possibility that she’d never experienced before.

As the power struggle between Suzette and Renee intensifies, they relentlessly undermine Ana’s authority by assigning her to a dingy basement office and a subpar hotel room, while they themselves indulge in luxurious accommodations at the posh Carlson Hotel, mere streets away from William’s residence. Meanwhile, Arnold (Thomas Kretschmann), the mastermind behind the coveted Brovil collection sale, has brought in Gerard and Claire to oversee the process and ensure its success, with both Gerard and Claire vying for the top spot once Arnold retires.

Ana receives a cryptic voicemail reminding her of forgotten laptop at William’s home. That evening, she ventures to Catherine’s opulent abode, where she stumbles upon an extravagant party, surrounded by an exquisite art collection that once belonged to Catherine’s late husband. Here, Ana has the chance to mingle with a renowned painter and continue spinning the web of deceit about her role as director of the prestigious New York auction house Erwins. As she navigates this unfamiliar territory, Ana confides in Catherine that her husband’s artistic legacy tells a poignant tale of love, prompting Catherine to reveal that she recently approached Erwins to auction off her collection. Notably, Catherine’s surname is Brovil, sparking a series of revelations.

As Suzette and Renee persistently assign Ana menial tasks, they also orchestrate last-minute ticket procurement for a performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, further solidifying their hold on Ana. Eager to impress Claire, Ana turns to Catherine, who obliges by leaving tickets with William. Their conversation unfolds as William coaches an at-risk youth soccer league, before he invites Ana to lunch, which she regretfully declines due to her workload. However, William also extends an invitation for Ana to join him that evening at a party being thrown in honor of his mother’s birthday – Catherine, the very same woman who has recently become entangled in Ana’s life.

As Ana hastily returns to the London office, she narrowly beats Suzette to the punch, turning in the coveted tickets to Claire (Claire) and unwittingly exposing Suzette’s ineptitude. The tense atmosphere is palpable as Gerard (Gregory Montel), the art director from the Paris office, and Claire engage in a subtle game of one-upmanship for the top spot at their company.

At the lavish party, Ana makes a stunning entrance alongside William and Catherine, donning a designer dress that she “borrowed” from Claire. As Catherine confesses her doubts about selling her collection to Ana, citing its emotional significance as a symbol of her husband’s love, Ana is suddenly confronted with the very real possibility that her deception will be discovered when Claire arrives with Suzette and Renee. With her heart racing, Ana attempts to make a hasty exit, only to be intercepted by Will, who whisks her away for an impromptu night out at a local bar.

As the evening wears on, William’s affections become increasingly apparent as he confesses his feelings to Ana before dropping her off at Claire’s luxurious hotel, where she declines his invitation to come inside. Instead, Ana fabricates an excuse to bid him adieu and retreats into the shadows, leaving William none the wiser.

The following week finds Ana and William growing closer as they continue to spend time together, their bond strengthened by shared experiences and open communication. As William reveals that he’s spent his life being taken advantage of by others, but has come to admire Ana for her humility and down-to-earth nature, despite her wealth and success, Ana listens intently. His words are music to her ears as he expresses a desire to relocate to New York, allowing them to pursue their relationship.

Meanwhile, at the office, Claire praises Ana’s tireless efforts and hints at a forthcoming promotion on the horizon. Just as Ana is basking in the glow of her boss’s approval, Renee interrupts their meeting with some shattering news: a major client has pulled out of their upcoming auction, leaving Ana’s job hanging precariously in the balance.

As if the universe couldn’t possibly conspire against them further, William bursts into Ana’s office, only to be swiftly ushered out by her as she frantically tries to make sense of the chaos unfolding around her. With his mother’s sudden decision to withdraw from the auction and his own feelings of betrayal, William confronts Ana about her possible motivations for using him to secure Catherine’s sale, ultimately deciding that their relationship is irreparably damaged. As the door closes on their tumultuous romance, Ana is left to ponder the true nature of her feelings and the uncertain future that lies ahead.

As Ana re-enters the high-rise building, she’s met with a confrontation that will upend her carefully crafted facade. Claire, having uncovered her deception and her connection to William’s family, is outraged and promptly terminates Ana’s employment, ushering her out of the premises.

Seeking solace in Catherine, Ana confesses her true identity, revealing herself to be an imposter posing as a successful art director. To her surprise, Catherine’s reaction is not one of anger or disappointment, but rather pride in Ana’s courage to reveal the truth. It transpires that Catherine had been playing a game of her own, pretending to walk away from the auction to secure a better deal with the Erwins, who had offered her a staggering 85 million pounds for her collection.

Catherine agrees to rejoin the auction on one condition: Ana must take the reins and guide the sale. In a bold move, Ana ousts Gerard from the auction and grants Claire complete control. As a result, Ana is re-hired and goes on to sell Catherine’s art for a whopping 250 million pounds.

With her reputation restored and her professional prospects brighter than ever, Ana returns to the soccer field, apologizing sincerely to William. He reveals that he never liked her because of her wealth; instead, he admired her honesty. With her newfound confidence, Ana heads back to New York, where she thrives in her career over the next six months.

As the anniversary of her success approaches, Ana celebrates the opening of her own art gallery with a lavish party. As the evening wears on and the guests depart, William arrives unannounced, suitcase in hand, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives together.

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