xXx 3: The Return of Xander Cage (2017)
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An extreme athlete turned spy must team up with a rival to stop a dangerous device from falling into the wrong hands.
The story
After a satellite crash involving NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons, the search for a dangerous device known as 'Pandora's Box' begins. CIA Agent Jane Marke tracks down ex-operative Xander Cage in the Dominican Republic, convincing him to return to action. Xander assembles a specialized team to retrieve the device, which has the power to crash satellites as warheads. He eventually encounters Xiang, a rival agent who also seeks the box. The two leaders and their respective teams must navigate a series of high-stakes encounters across various international locations to secure the device before it can be used as a weapon of mass destruction.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following a satellite crash that kills Agent Augustus Gibbons, Xander Cage is recruited by Jane Marke to recover 'Pandora's Box,' a device capable of crashing satellites. Xander forms a team including specialists like Adele Wolff and Becky Clearidge. He eventually meets Xiang, a rival agent who also seeks the box to prevent its misuse. After a series of skirmishes, including a raid by Russian soldiers and a confrontation in a nightclub, the two teams are forced into a reluctant alliance. They track the device to Detroit, where they face off against CIA Director Anderson. After a chaotic battle where several members are injured or captured, Xander and Xiang must work together to stop Anderson's men. Following a betrayal by Marke, who attempts to seize the box for herself, the two teams join forces to fight off a hit squad. In a final confrontation at a warehouse, Xander and Xiang face off against a specialized unit. After a series of intense actions, including a high-speed chase and a fight in a bathroom, Xiang manages to escape with the box while Xander survives a crash into a satellite. Ultimately, the box is destroyed, and Xander is approached by a resurrected Gibbons, who offers him a place in the reformed program.
- Original title
- xXx: Return of Xander Cage
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- D.J. Caruso
- Writers
- F. Scott Frazier · writer
- Cast and characters
- Vin Diesel · Xander Cage; Donnie Yen · Xiang; Deepika Padukone · Serena Unger; Kris Wu · Nicks; Ruby Rose · Adele Wolff; Tony Jaa · Talon; Nina Dobrev · Becky Clearidge; Toni Collette · Jane Marke; Samuel L. Jackson · Augustus Gibbons
- Genres
- action; spy; thriller
- Themes
- Teamwork; Espionage; Sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- Action-packed; High-octane
- Setting
- Various international locations including Brazil, New York City, Dominican Republic, Philippines, London, Moscow, and Detroit.
- Premise and plot tags
- Spy; Action; Sci-fi; Adventure
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was commercially successful, becoming the highest-grossing film for both the franchise and Revolution Studios.
- Production trivia
- The film was released as 'xXx: Reactivated' in some countries.; The character of Xander Cage's death in the previous film was retconned.; The film was the only Hollywood release to earn over $100 million in China without making $100 million in the United States.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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