华尔街一间热闹的信托银行,某日突然闯进了4名劫匪,挟持了包括银行员工在内的50名。这伙匪徒是在他们的首领道尔顿(克里夫•欧文 Clive Owen 饰)的远程指挥下行事的。道尔顿心思紧密、狡猾多疑,他让人质都穿上和匪徒一样的服饰,戴上和匪徒一样的面罩,以此来迷惑警方的狙击手和特种部队。警方一时亦无可奈何。 奉命到场的探长弗雷泽(丹泽尔•华盛顿 Denzel Washington 饰)试图和道尔顿取得沟通,让他释放人质。然而却被道尔顿玩弄于股掌之中。此时,银行的董事阿瑟也赶到了现场,密切关注案情进展。然而他关心的不是人质安全,却是他的隐秘。 随着时间慢慢过去,匪徒除了简单的要求外都没有提出其他要求,基辅感到内有乾坤……From a cell, a man tells us he has planned the perfect bank robbery; he invites us to watch. An efficient gang enters a Manhattan bank, locks the doors, and takes hostages. They work deliberately, without haste. Detective Frazier is assigned to negotiate, but half his mind is occupied with the corruption charges he is facing. The bank's president has something to protect in a safe deposit box, so he brings in Madeleine White, a high-power broker with a hidden agenda. With an army of police surrounding the bank, the thief, the cop, and the plutocrat's fixer enter high-stakes negotiations. Why are the robbers asking for a plane, if they are so competent and they know they won't get one? Why aren't they in more of a hurry? If the job's perfect, why is the thieves' leader in a cell?