Spencer Reinhard, an ambitious art student on a quest for both inspiration and adventure, finds himself captivated during a tour of the Transylvania University library’s rare-book collection. His attention is immediately drawn to a prized possession, the first edition of John James Audubon’s Birds of America. This discovery sparks a daring conversation with his friend, Warren Lipka, a rebellious scholarship athlete from the University of Kentucky, as they entertain the unthinkable prospect of stealing not just this book, but other exquisite volumes as well. Recognizing the library’s minimal security—guarded primarily by a single librarian—they devise a plan they believe could lead to a clean getaway using the staff elevator.

Warren takes a bold step and travels to Amsterdam to broker deals with black-market buyers, who are more than interested in the stolen books. He returns to Spencer with promises of riches, hinting that they could potentially reap millions if their plan comes to fruition. To ensure success, they recruit two more accomplices: Eric Borsuk for logistics and Chas Allen as their getaway driver.

Their careful plotting leads to an appointment for a private viewing of the rare-book collection, where they attempt to gain access to the coveted room. Disguised as elderly businessmen, their plans quickly unravel when Warren notices multiple librarians present, prompting him to reconsider their heist. Spencer, uneasy about the operation, contemplates backing out, but Warren’s charisma and insistence win the day, motivating the group to regroup and take another shot at the heist the following day.

On that fateful day, Spencer takes up his position as a lookout while Warren and Eric make their move, this time forgoing disguises. In a chaotic turn of events, Warren mishandles the situation by clumsily deploying a stun gun against the unsuspecting librarian, necessitating Eric’s help to subdue her. As they rush toward their exit with adrenaline coursing through their veins, they accidentally drop The Birds of America, yet somehow manage to escape with two other books in their possession.

Their journey continues as they head to Christie’s auction house in New York, aligning themselves with the Dutch buyers who require authentication for the stolen items. However, upon arrival, Spencer is informed that he must return the next day for further assistance. In a moment of misjudgment, he leaves his cell phone number with an assistant, which doesn’t sit well with Chas. They’re soon reminded of their errors as they make their way back to Lexington; Spencer realizes that the FBI is now capable of tracing the email account linked to their appointment, ultimately leading to their unfortunate arrest.

Years later, in reflective documentary interviews with the real-life figures behind this audacious crime, the thieves express a sincere sense of regret for their decisions. Spencer grows suspicious that Warren may have deceived him about visiting Amsterdam as a tactic to rally the others into the heist. Currently, Eric and Chas have transitioned to new lives in California, with Eric forging a career as a writer and Chas as a fitness coach. Meanwhile, Warren pursues a study in filmmaking in Philadelphia, while Spencer now resides in Lexington, focusing on his endeavors as an artist.