Empire State 2013
Directed by
Dito Montiel
Made by
Knightsbridge Entertainment
Empire State Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Empire State (2013). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
In the early 1980s, Liam Hemsworth plays Chris Potamitis, a young man who lives with his parents and younger sister in Astoria, Queens. His immigrant father has spent a decade cleaning a shady Greek social club, only to be fired from that job, which adds strain to a family already trying to get by. Chris’s dream of entering the police academy is blocked by a past marijuana conviction, so he takes a low-wage job as a security guard with the Empire Armored Car Company. That workplace is marked by poor security, low morale, and sloppy record-keeping about money in transit. When his partner is killed during a robbery, the company compounds the tragedy by offering the family only $5,000 in compensation, a stark contrast to what they deserve. After a demotion to night watchman, Chris makes a desperate choice: he pockets one of the money bags and shares some of the cash with his partner’s widow.
One night he shows the money to his loud-mouthed best friend Eddie, Michael Angarano. Eddie, eager to prove himself and impress his peers, drags Spiro into the mix—Chris Diamantopoulos plays the gangster who schemes to pull off a larger score. Spiro stages a bold robbery, but the plan is foiled by Detective James Ransome, a seasoned NYPD investigator who confronts the crew with steady resolve. The ensuing gun battle leaves two robbers dead and sets off a chain of events that will draw in a widening circle of players.
On December 12, 1982, Eddie crawls into the Empire Armored Car Company through the roof in the middle of the night, presses Chris into opening the vault, and then knocks him out to steal a staggering $11 million in cash—the largest cash robbery in U.S. history at that time, surpassing the Lufthansa heist of 1978. Eddie gives $3 million of the loot to Chris, twisting loyalty into a dangerous bargaining chip that haunts the two men going forward.
The FBI turns its attention to the Five Families of organized crime as investigators assess the fallout, while Ransome decides to pursue the case more aggressively, intent on uncovering where Chris, Eddie, and the rest of the money have vanished. Eddie and his associates attempt to exchange $8 million of the loot for Colombian drugs, but the deal collapses in a chaotic confrontation. Spiro presses Chris to turn over the money, and Ransome arrests Eddie, pressing for the whereabouts of the missing cash—the truth remains elusive as Eddie is released and the hunt continues.
Back at home, Nancy Michaelides, Emma Roberts, learns that the money is hidden in a statue that Chris and Eddie had given to his mother, a detail that tightens the family’s already perilous grip on reality. The tension erupts when Eddie confronts Chris with a gun; Chris’s father intervenes and wounds Eddie as police arrive to arrest all three men. In the years that follow, Chris and Eddie are released from federal prison on October 10, 1991, but the fate of the vast fortune remains unrecovered, leaving a quiet ache in a story marked by risk, loyalty, and the high price of a daring, ill-fated scheme.
Empire State Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Empire State (2013) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Family life in Astoria; father's firing
In the early 1980s, Chris Potamitis lives with his immigrant parents and younger sister in Astoria, Queens. The family faces economic stress when Chris' father is fired after ten years at a Greek social club, signaling harder times ahead for the household.
Police academy rejection
Chris attempts to join the New York Police Department but is rejected because of a prior marijuana conviction. This setback pushes him toward lower-paying, unstable work rather than a career in law enforcement.
Security guard at Empire Armored Car
Chris lands a low-paying job as a security guard with the Empire Armored Car Company. The job is plagued by lax security, poor morale, and no reliable records of cash handling, creating a risky environment. He begins to observe opportunities and weaknesses that will later have consequences.
Partner killed; compensation scandal
During a robbery, Chris's partner is killed. The company compensates the deceased's family with only $5,000, far short of the $50,000 they are owed, highlighting the system's injustice.
Demotion and theft of money
Chris is demoted to night watchman after the incident. He secretly steals one of the money bags and gives some of the cash to his partner's widow, trying to help her in a difficult situation.
Eddie and Spiro; foiled robbery
Chris reveals the money and the lax security to his loud-mouthed friend Eddie, who uses the information to impress gangster Spiro. Spiro stages a robbery, but detective James Ransome foils it in a gun battle that leaves two robbers dead. The close call plants the seeds for further criminal entanglements.
The December 12, 1982 heist
On December 12, 1982, Eddie breaks into the company vault by entering through the roof at night. He incapacitates Chris, then steals $11 million in cash, the largest cash robbery in U.S. history at that time.
Loot shared with Chris
After the heist, Eddie shares loot with Chris, giving him $3 million of the money. The gesture cements Chris's entanglement with Eddie and deepens the danger around the missing funds.
FBI and Ransome shift focus
The FBI shifts its focus to the Five Families and expands its pursuit to Chris, Eddie, and their circle. Detective James Ransome decides that they must be investigated, increasing the pressure on everyone involved.
Drug deal goes bad
Eddie and his gangster friend Michael try to exchange $8 million of the loot for Colombian drugs, hoping to launder and expand their operation. The deal collapses and leads to a violent shootout between Michael and the Colombian dealers. The incident exposes how loosely controlled the loot has become.
Spiro's demand and Eddie's arrest
Spiro demands that Chris turn over the money, escalating tensions. Ransome arrests Eddie and questions him about the others, but Eddie refuses to talk and is released.
Money in the statue; Nancy learns the tale
Chris tells his friend Nancy that the money is supposedly hidden in a statue they had given to his mother. He and Eddie had once given the statue as a gift, and the claim of the loot being inside prompts dangerous speculation. The revelation sets the stage for future attempts to recover or guard the funds.
Final confrontation at the family home
Eddie confronts Chris with a gun and demands the money. Chris's father shoots and wounds Eddie just before the police arrive, and all three men are arrested. The confrontation marks the collapse of their criminal scheme and the end of their hope for an easy payoff.
Release from federal prison
Chris and Eddie are released from federal prison on October 10, 1991. The money remains unrecovered, and their long-ignored project of escaping consequences continues to haunt them.
Loot remains unrecovered
Despite the release, the $11 million stash remains missing and never recovered. The case ends with a lasting legacy of broken lives and unresolved greed.
Empire State Characters
Explore all characters from Empire State (2013). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Chris Potamitis (Liam Hemsworth)
Chris is a working-class immigrant who dreams of becoming a police officer but is thwarted by a past marijuana conviction. He takes a low-paying security job and becomes entangled in a high-stakes scheme after stealing money from his company. His divided loyalties between friends, family, and his own safety drive the plot toward a dramatic confrontation.
Eddie (Michael Angarano)
Eddie is Chris's loud-mouthed best friend who craves status in the gangster world. He leaks information about the lax security and helps spark the heist, but he also faces risk and personal consequences as the plan unravels. His impulsive choices test loyalty and friendship.
Spyro (Chris Diamantopoulos)
Spyro is a ruthless gangster who pressures the crew and influences the course of the robbery. He embodies the coercive, money-driven side of organized crime, driving demands and conflicts within the group.
Detective James Ransome (Dwayne Johnson)
Ransome is a seasoned NYPD detective who pursues the heist with determination. He foils the robbery and leads to the arrests, navigating the line between professional duty and the murky ethics of pursuit in a corrupt urban environment.
Nancy Michaelides (Emma Roberts)
Nancy is Chris's confidante who learns of the money and becomes entangled in the aftermath. She embodies a mix of loyalty and caution as relationships and finances become intertwined with crime.
Empire State Settings
Learn where and when Empire State (2013) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Early 1980s
The story unfolds in the early 1980s New York City, with explicit events surrounding December 12, 1982. It portrays an era of volatile street crime, shifting police tactics, and the beginnings of large-scale heists that define the period. The social and economic climate amplifies risk-taking and the costs of betrayal within tight-knit communities.
Location
Astoria, Queens, New York
Astoria in Queens provides a dense, working-class backdrop for a tale of ambition and crime in the early 1980s. The neighborhood reflects a mix of immigrant roots and city-scale pressures, with close-knit streets that magnify the consequences of every decision. The setting situates the characters amid aging Greek social clubs, bustling tenements, and the lure of Manhattan's financial world.
Empire State Themes
Discover the main themes in Empire State (2013). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Greed
Money becomes a catalyst that drives Chris, Eddie, and their associates into reckless schemes. The prospect of wealth corrupts loyalties and blurs moral lines as the plan to steal millions unfolds. The pursuit of cash exposes vulnerabilities, temptations, and the consequences of unchecked desire.
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Crime & Justice
A veteran detective chases a complex money trail while balancing professional duty with personal loyalties. The investigation pits law enforcement against organized crime and a pair of impulsive criminals. The pursuit tests the ethics of those involved and the ultimate fate of the stolen money.
👨👩👧
Family
Family ties shape decisions and loyalties amid the heist. Chris's duty to his parents and to the memory of his partner's family creates moral conflict. The film shows how a son's choices ripple through the household, culminating in a violent confrontation and a costly outcome.
Empire State Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Empire State (2013). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the gritty neighborhoods of early‑1980s Astoria, a young immigrant‑son named Chris Potamitis wrestles with the weight of family expectations and a shattered dream of joining the police force. The loss of his father’s steady job at a local Greek club leaves the household teetering on the edge, and Chris takes a low‑pay security guard position with the Empire Armored Car Company to keep the lights on. The workplace flickers with half‑hearted procedures and a palpable sense of resignation, setting a tone of quiet desperation that permeates every hallway.
Chris’s world shifts when he confides a thoughtless remark to his loud‑mouthed best friend, Eddie. Their easy camaraderie, forged on shared jokes and neighborhood loyalty, becomes the conduit for a dangerous, larger‑than‑life idea that promises the escape they both crave. Around them, the company’s indifferent bureaucracy and the looming presence of an unsympathetic detective, Detective James Ransome, hint at a city where ambition and risk are intertwined, and where a single misstep can ignite a chain of relentless intrigue.
The film’s atmosphere balances the stark realism of a blue‑collar life with the electric tension of a high‑stakes gamble. Family ties—especially the protective bond with Chris’s mother and younger sister—add an undercurrent of emotional stakes, while the looming, unseen forces of law enforcement and organized interests create a backdrop of constant pressure. All the while, a true‑story foundation grounds the narrative, inviting viewers to wonder how ordinary choices can spiral into an extraordinary, and perilous, pursuit of freedom.
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