Plot Summary

Once Upon a Time in Venice centers on Steve Ford, a private investigator operating in the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles. Steve’s carefully balanced personal and professional life is thrown into chaos when his beloved Jack Russell terrier, Buddy, is kidnapped by a ruthless drug gang. Determined to get his dog back at any cost, Steve finds himself forced to navigate the city’s criminal underworld.

In a surprising twist, Steve is compelled to strike a deal with Spider, the volatile leader of the gang responsible for Buddy’s disappearance. Spider agrees to return the dog on one condition: Steve must steal a briefcase full of drugs from a rival group. With no other option and his emotions overriding his better judgment, Steve accepts the dangerous task.

Joined by his loyal and eccentric friend Dave, Steve plunges into a chaotic adventure filled with double-crosses, violent encounters, and absurd situations. As the mission spirals further out of control, Steve must rely on his instincts, street smarts, and sheer determination to survive long enough to save Buddy.

Starring Jason Momoa as the laid-back yet relentless detective and action icon Bruce Willis in a key supporting role, Once Upon a Time in Venice features a colorful ensemble cast including John Goodman, Famke Janssen, Thomas Middleditch, Elisabeth Röhm, Ana Flavia Gavlak, Kal Penn, and Adam Goldberg. Directed and written by Mark Cullen and Robb Cullen, the film blends action and comedy with a playful tone, drawing stylistic inspiration from Taken and John Wick, while delivering a fast-paced, humor-infused crime story set against the vibrant backdrop of Los Angeles.