A Plot Breakdown of The Movie ‘Megalopolis’

Written by Michael Lee

*All Media used in this article is courtesy of Lionsgate

Official Trailer: Megalopolis (2024)

Video via Lionsgate

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Plot Synopsis

As the film opens, we are introduced to Cesar Catalina’s driver, Fundi, who narrates the film. It is Fundi who introduces us to Cesar Catilina, an architect, who is in possession of a material that allows him to control time and space, called Megalon. The film begins with Cesar is standing atop his rooftop balcony, contemplating suicide. He doesn’t follow through, however, as he begins to remember his late wife through a series of flashbacks. He is ordered to demolish his current city, called New Rome, and to then build a utopia in its place.

Megalopolis’ Film Clip: “You Handle This” ● Video courtesy of Lionsgate

Cesar is not without his enemies, however. Mayor Franklin Cicero, does not believe Cesar can accomplish the task. They have a fraught history together, as Cesar had once been charged and then acquitted of murdering Cicero’s own wife with poison. Cicero was the prosecuting attorney on his own wife’s case, to make matters worse. Julia, Cicero’s reporter daughter, is attracted to Cesar, even though he’s something of a rude and self-loathing idealist and she is in a relationship with another woman.

Megalopolis’ Film Clip: “Do It For Me” ● Video courtesy of Lionsgate

We meet a TVpresenter named Wow Platinum, a TV presenter who is hungry for money and power. Cesar has a very one-sided relationship with Wow, who happens to be his former mistress when his wife was alive. Wow is in love with Cesar still, but he doesn’t reciprocate. She marries Cesar’s uncle, Hamilton Crassus III, owner of National Bank, but only for his money and ultimately ownership of the bank upon his passing.

Megalopolis’ Film Clip: “Cesar Is Mine” ● Video courtesy of Lionsgate

We then learn that Clodio Pulcher, Cesar’s exceptionally jealous cousin, who has hated him since they were children, is plotting to ruin Cesar’s life by framing Cesar. His goal is to record Cesar having sex with a teenage lounge singer Vesta, who happens to be performing at Hamilton and Wow’s gladiator themed wedding reception.

Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel in "Megalopolis" | Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate

Cesar is arrested and charged with statutory rape of a minor, but he is dropped of all charges, as Julia Cicero finds evidence that the recording has been faked and that Vestra is indeed an adult.

Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina and Laurence Fishburne as Fundi Romaine in Megalopolis | Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate

Clodio then reformulates his plan, attempting to run for office, in hopes that he can encourage the residents of New Rome to revolt against Cesar. Clodio hires a child assassin who pretends to ask Cesar for his autograph, but when doing so, she shoots Cesar in the face, leaving him disfigured.

Aubrey Plaza as Wow Platinum in Megalopolis | Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate

He then hires a child assailant who pretends to ask Cesar for his autograph, then shoots Cesar in the face, temporarily disfiguring him. Clodio hatches another plan, this time to conspire with Wow to steal ownership of National Bank from Wow’s husband Hamilton Crassus. He hires a posse to attack Hamilton, while Wow freezes Cesars bank account, in hopes she can seduce him back into a relationship.

Giancarlo Esposito as Mayor Cicero in Megalopolis | Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate

Now, Mayor Franklin Cicero is dying, and he offers to clear Cesar of his wife's murder by writing a letter of confession to poisoning Cesar’s wife, but only if he does not pursue his daughter Julia. Cesar declines, and later, he weds Julia, with Cesar’s driver Fundi, who is an ordained minister.

Grace Vanderwaal as Vesta Sweetwater in Megalopolis | Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate

Hamilton Crassus is now privy to Wow and Clodio’s scheming. As Wow and Clodio, along with Clodio’s henchman, approach a bed-ridden Crassus to assassinate him, Hamilton reveals a bow and arrow. With it, he shoots down Wow, who falls dead. He injures Clodio, but he manages to escape, until his henchmen are fed up with Clodio and his broken promises. They turn on Clodio by hanging him upside down and beating him to death.

Nathalie Emmanuel as Julia Cicero and Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina in Megalopolis | Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate

Later, Hamilton Crassus has given all of his inheritance to Cesar, who has managed to create New Rome into a utopia after all. Cesar and Julie later wed, and then eventually have a daughter together, which makes Mayor Frank Cicero have a change of heart, accepting Cesar as family. Cesar acknowledges the city of New Rome with celebration, as his wife Julia, their child, Franklin Cicero, and Cicero’s wife, Teresa, watches on.