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A Good Person (2023) movie poster

Timeline

A Good Person (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 129 min · English
Echo score 59
Starring
Florence Pugh, Toby Onwumere, Morgan Freeman, Zoe Lister Jones, Celeste O'Connor, Molly Shannon

When Daniel struggles with immense grief, he unexpectedly connects with Allison, who is also dealing with a devastating personal tragedy. Their shared pain leads to an unlikely friendship as they confront loss and seek a way forward. Through their evolving relationship, they discover the potential for healing, forgiveness, and the strength found in human connection during incredibly difficult times.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like A Good Person
  6. 6 Categories
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch A Good Person (2023)

Where can you watch A Good Person? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

A Good Person Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of A Good Person (2023) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Allison's Engagement

    Allison Johnson, an aspiring musician, celebrates her engagement to her high school boyfriend, Nathan Adams. This joyous moment signifies a life-changing commitment, filled with hope and dreams for the future.

  2. The Tragic Accident

    After the engagement celebration, a tragic accident occurs due to Allison's inattentiveness while driving. This results in the devastating loss of Nathan's sister, Molly, and her husband, Jesse, leaving a profound impact on all their lives.

  3. Allison's Guilt and Grief

    Overwhelmed by guilt from the accident, Allison spirals into a deep depression, struggling to cope with the grief. This emotional turmoil makes it increasingly difficult for her to manage her daily responsibilities and relationships.

    When
    A year later
  4. Diane's Support

    Allison's mother, Diane, steps in to help her daughter navigate the complexities of her new reality. Diane attempts to pull Allison away from the painkillers that have become her escape from unbearable sorrow.

  5. Daniel's Burden

    Daniel, Nathan's father, grapples with the responsibility of caring for his granddaughter Ryan, who is struggling with the loss of her parents. His role as a caregiver is complicated by his own struggles with grief and sobriety.

  6. Allison's Addiction Deepens

    Allison's struggle with addiction intensifies as she faces painful reminders of her past. Her experience at a reunion with former acquaintances leads her to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting, where she meets Daniel.

  7. Ryan's Challenges

    Ryan, now an orphan, faces significant challenges, including bullying and isolation. Allison feels the weight of her guilt as her interactions with Ryan remind her of the tragic repercussions of her actions.

  8. Pivotal Confrontation

    During a visit to Daniel's home, Allison has a confrontation with Ryan that marks a turning point in her journey. This encounter triggers a relapse for Allison, as she feels overwhelmed by her emotions and the situation.

    Where
    Daniel's home
  9. Concert Invitation

    Ryan invites Allison to a concert, where Nathan and his new girlfriend will be present. This situation exacerbates Allison's sense of despair, causing her to spiral back into substance abuse.

  10. After-Party Incident

    At an after-party, Ryan finds herself in danger, prompting Daniel to act recklessly while intoxicated. Nathan bravely intervenes, preventing a serious escalation of violence, highlighting the danger of their situations.

    Where
    After-party
  11. Facing Consequences

    Allison and Ryan are forced to confront the consequences of their past actions. The emotional scars run deep, yet they begin to realize the potential for growth and healing amid their struggles.

  12. Allison's Rehabilitation

    Determined to change her life, Allison checks into a rehabilitation facility. This pivotal decision marks the beginning of her journey towards healing and rediscovering her identity beyond addiction.

  13. Rediscovery of Music

    After a year in recovery, Allison reconnects with her passion for music and begins writing heartfelt songs inspired by her experiences. This artistic revival becomes a significant part of her healing process.

  14. Daniel's Untimely Death

    Tragedy strikes again as Daniel's life is unexpectedly cut short, leaving Ryan without a guardian. This event forces Ryan to seek guidance from Nathan as she embarks on the next chapter of her life.

  15. Transformation at the Funeral

    At Daniel's funeral, Allison discovers the meaning behind his tattoo 'amor fati,' which translates to 'to love one's fate.' This revelation empowers her to embrace her journey through grief and loss.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 10:45

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Timeline questions answered

A Good Person Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of A Good Person (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Allison cause the car accident that killed Molly and Jesse?

Allison caused the accident due to her inattentiveness behind the wheel. After celebrating her engagement to Nathan, she was driving while distracted, which led to the collision that killed Nathan's sister Molly and her husband Jesse. This moment of negligence set all the subsequent tragedy in motion.

  • allison
  • car accident
  • molly
  • jesse
  • nathan
  • cause of accident
Q2

How did Allison meet Daniel at AA meetings?

After a humiliating reunion with former acquaintances, Allison decided to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous support group. It was there that she encountered Daniel, who was also struggling with his own sobriety issues and attending meetings to address his problems.

  • allison
  • daniel
  • aa meeting
  • alcoholics anonymous
  • first meeting
Q3

Why does Allison feel guilty around Ryan?

Allison feels intense guilt around Ryan because Ryan is the daughter of Molly and Jesse, the two people Allison killed in the car accident. Every interaction with Ryan reminds Allison of the devastating consequences of her actions and the family she destroyed.

  • allison
  • ryan
  • guilt
  • molly
  • jesse
  • daughter
  • grief
Q4

What caused Allison to relapse after her confrontation with Ryan?

Allison's relapse was triggered by a confrontation with Ryan during a visit to Daniel's home, followed by Ryan's invitation to a concert where Nathan and his new girlfriend would be present. The emotional overwhelm from these events caused Allison to turn back to substance abuse.

  • allison
  • relapse
  • ryan
  • concert
  • addiction
  • substance abuse
Q5

What happened at the after-party that put Ryan in danger?

At an after-party, Ryan found herself in danger from a would-be assailant. Daniel, who was intoxicated and reckless, attempted to defend her with a gun. Nathan intervened just in time to prevent a tragic escalation of violence.

  • after-party
  • ryan
  • daniel
  • nathan
  • gun
  • danger
  • intervention
Q6

What does Daniel's 'amor fati' tattoo mean?

Daniel had a tattoo that read 'amor fati,' which translates to 'to love one's fate.' Allison discovered this meaning at Daniel's funeral, and it became a transformative realization that helped her embrace her journey through grief and accept her circumstances.

  • amor fati
  • daniel
  • tattoo
  • fate
  • meaning
  • funeral
  • transformation
Q7

Why is Ryan an orphan in the movie?

Ryan became an orphan because her parents, Molly (Nathan's sister) and her husband Jesse, were killed in the car accident caused by Allison. This left Ryan without parents and in the care of her grandfather Daniel.

  • ryan
  • orphan
  • molly
  • jesse
  • parents
  • accident
  • daniel
Q8

How does Allison find healing after her struggles?

Allison finds healing by checking into a rehabilitation facility, where she begins her recovery journey. After a year, she reconnects with her passion for music, writing songs inspired by her experiences. She also reconciles with Nathan, finding solace in human connection.

  • allison
  • healing
  • rehab
  • recovery
  • music
  • nathan
  • forgiveness
Q9

Does Daniel die in the movie?

Yes, Daniel's life is unexpectedly cut short during the story. His death leaves Ryan without a guardian, forcing her to seek guidance from Nathan as she prepares to start college.

  • daniel
  • death
  • ryan
  • nathan
  • funeral
  • passing
Q10

Why does Daniel attend AA meetings despite not causing the accident?

Daniel attends AA meetings to address his own struggles with sobriety, which include violent outbursts and blackouts. His issues are separate from the accident but become interconnected with Allison's story when they meet at the support group.

  • daniel
  • aa meetings
  • sobriety
  • alcohol
  • blackouts
  • violence
Q11

What is the relationship between Nathan and Allison after the accident?

Nathan and Allison were engaged before the accident, which killed his sister and brother-in-law. Their relationship becomes fractured due to the tragedy, though they eventually reconnect during Allison's recovery journey, suggesting a possibility of reconciliation.

  • nathan
  • allison
  • engagement
  • relationship
  • reconciliation
  • forgiveness
Q12

Why does Allison's mother Diane try to help her with addiction?

Allison's mother Diane steps in to help her daughter navigate her new reality, specifically attempting to pull Allison away from the painkillers that had become her escape from unbearable sorrow and grief over the accident.

  • diane
  • allison
  • mother
  • addiction
  • painkillers
  • support
  • help

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Good Person, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Good Person tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Heavy Dramas of Recovery and Redemption like A Good Person

Emotional journeys where characters rebuild their lives from rock bottom. If you appreciated the emotional weight and redemptive arc of A Good Person, explore these similar movies. This list features powerful dramas where characters confront deep trauma and addiction, searching for forgiveness and a way to heal through human connection.

  • grieving
  • somber
  • redemptive
  • heavy
  • hopeful
  • resilient
  • Tone: bittersweet, heavy, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters after a life-altering tragedy or at their lowest point. The story focuses on their internal struggle with guilt and grief, detailing the arduous, often nonlinear process of recovery. A crucial, sometimes unlikely, relationship often serves as the catalyst for their journey toward a bittersweet but hopeful redemption.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on heavy emotional themes like grief and addiction, a bittersweet tone that balances darkness with hope, and a steady, character-driven pacing that allows for a deep exploration of the healing process.

Movies about Bittersweet Bonds Forged in Trauma like A Good Person

Unlikely friendships that emerge from shared pain and loss. For viewers who liked the complex, non-romantic connection between the leads in A Good Person, this collection highlights movies with similar dynamics. Discover stories where shared grief or trauma brings unlikely people together, forming a pivotal relationship that aids in their healing.

  • unlikely friendship
  • somber
  • poignant
  • heavy
  • healing
  • melancholic
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, poignant
  • Pacing: steady, reflective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is driven by the formation of a pivotal relationship between two characters who would not normally connect. Their bond is rooted in a shared experience of trauma or loss. This friendship becomes the central vehicle for exploring themes of grief, guilt, and the possibility of moving forward, often leading to a bittersweet resolution.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific character dynamic: a deep, platonic connection born from mutual suffering. They also converge on a bittersweet emotional tone and a steady pacing that allows the relationship to develop authentically from a place of shared pain.

If you liked this

Movies Like A Good Person

Similar movies to A Good Person: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring A Good Person

A Good Person appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories

Every angle

A Good Person (2023) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Good Person in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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