Greedy People is a story that keeps the audience on edge till the last minute, especially with its unexpected and intense ending. The film was released in theaters and on video-on-demand in the US on August 23, 2024.
Greedy People centers on Will Shelley, a police officer who, on his first day on the job, unintentionally murders a woman. Terry, his partner, persuades him to hide the crime and retain the cash bag they come upon at the site. They become caught in a sequence of events involving several people, each motivated by their selfish needs, as they try to negotiate the fallout from their actions. The narrative investigates how avarice might corrupt even the best of intentions and have terrible results.
The movie's conclusion is a chaotic sequence where greed and desperation reach their peak, leading to a dramatic confrontation that decides the fate of these two characters. After several confrontational encounters and betrayals, Terry finds that Shelley and his spouse, Paige, have deceived him.
Understanding the ending is crucial, as it ties up the complex web of lies, deceit, and greed that has driven the narrative. By the movie's end, Shelley and Terry find themselves on opposite sides of a deadly confrontation. While Shelley is killed by Terry, he is in turn killed by Captain Murphy.
Once built on a shared secret, their partnership crumbles under the weight of mistrust and betrayal. Explore what exactly happens to them and how their story concludes.
Disclaimer: The article contains spoilers from the movie.
Shelley and Terry’s final moments in Greedy People
The tension that has been developing throughout Greedy People culminates in the last minutes. Terry discovers Shelley and his wife Paige have betrayed him following a string of hostile meetings and double-crosses. Approaching Shelley, he demands to know where the money is. Under great pressure, Shelley tries to persuade Terry he is still on his side, but Terry is too furious to listen.
Terry's anger boils over when he discovers that Paige has stolen the money and even hired a hitman, known as The Irishman, to kill him. However, the plan backfires when Terry manages to overpower and kill The Irishman, further fueling his rage.
In a final, desperate act, Terry shoots Shelley, believing that his former partner has been plotting against him all along. Shelley's death is a tragic end to a character who was initially trying to do the right thing but was led astray by his own poor decisions.
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What happened to Paige?
Paige’s involvement in the plot reaches its climax when she tries to escape with the stolen money. After Shelley's death, Paige is left vulnerable and on the run. Terry tracks her down, determined to reclaim the money and exact his revenge. Just as Terry is about to kill Paige, the police, led by Captain Murphy, arrive on the scene. In a final twist, Murphy shoots Terry, killing him instantly and saving Paige.
Despite being saved from Terry, Paige does not escape unscathed. The movie ends with The Colombian, another hitman who has been trailing the money, finally catching up to her. In the hospital where Paige is recovering after giving birth, The Colombian sneaks into her room and kills her, taking the money with him.
However, his victory is short-lived, as he is killed in an elevator by Wallace’s secretary, who has also been after the money. The movie concludes with the bag of cash, the central object of everyone’s greed, ultimately belonging to no one.
Who adopted the baby?
Although Greedy People's plot is full of sinister turns, the last scene offers one ray of hope. One of the few morally pure characters in the movie, Captain Murphy chooses to adopt the baby of Shelley and Paige.
Having lost her own son, Murphy discovers through motherhood a second chance at atonement. Now free from the threats that tore at his parents, the infant represents a fresh beginning and the fact that not everyone in the narrative is driven by avarice.
The cast
Himesh Patel leads the cast of Greedy People as Will Shelley and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Terry Brogan. They are supported by a strong ensemble cast, including Lily James as Paige, Tim Blake Nelson as Wallace Chetlo, and Uzo Aduba as Captain Murphy.
Release details and distributors
Lionsgate acquired the rights to distribute the film within the United States in February of 2024. Additionally, the Indian division of Lionsgate purchased the distribution rights for India and the Philippines from Mister Smith Entertainment around the same time. Beginning on August 23, 2024, the movie was made available to the public in theaters as well as on video-on-demand in the United States.
Other insights
Directed by Potsy Ponciroli, Greedy People is a crime thriller combining strong drama with dark comedy. The movie takes place in the small town of Providence, where a string of horrific events disturbs the apparently tranquil population.
The narrative is a modern-day fable on the perils of greed and how it might compromise even the most pure motives. Greedy People is a movie that stays with you because of its intense performances and gripping plot.
Greedy People serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of greed. Their inability to resist the seduction of easy money causes Shelley and Terry to follow a road of lies, treachery, and violence, thus bringing about their downfall. The way the movie ends—where none of the avaricious characters get to keep the money—helps to emphasize how finally greed kills those who let it consume them.
Captain Murphy, who follows her moral compass and gets given a second chance at motherhood, is the only person who discovers some sort of peace. Greedy People is a sober, cautionary story about what happens when you let avarice run your life.