Artemis Fowl (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Artemis kidnapped Holly Short, a fairy reconnaissance officer, to use her as leverage to get the Aculos back. His father had been kidnapped by Opal Koboi, who demanded the Aculos in exchange. Artemis needed the fairy artifact to save his father, and holding a fairy officer gave him bargaining power against the Lower Elements Police.

• artemis fowl
• holly short
• kidnapping
• aculos
• leprecon

The Aculos is the most powerful artifact in the fairy world, essentially a magical battery that can amplify supernatural abilities. Fairies consider it their most vital resource. Opal Koboi wants it to power her plan to annihilate humanity, while the fairies need it to maintain magical equilibrium in Haven City.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish the Aculos as the central object both sides are fighting over, with Holly's father dying to protect it.

• aculos
• fairy artifact
• magic
• haven city
• opal koboi

Opal Koboi is a vengeful fairy who appears as the hidden antagonist throughout the film. She orchestrated Artemis Sr.'s kidnapping and forced the Fowls to retrieve the Aculos for her. Her ultimate goal is to use the Aculos's power to annihilate humanity and establish fairy supremacy on the surface world.

• opal koboi
• villain
• fairy
• humanity destruction

Dom sacrificed himself to save Artemis from a rampaging troll that had been released inside Fowl Manor by the traitor Briar Cudgeon. As a loyal bodyguard, Dom threw himself in front of the troll to protect the boy he'd been tasked with guarding, accepting fatal injuries in the process.

• dom butler
• sacrifice
• troll
• artemis

Dom was revived when Holly's fellow LEPrecon officers went against protocol and restored her magic, enabling her to use her abilities again. She then used her magic to revive Dom, bringing him back from death despite the troll attack having killed him moments earlier.

• dom butler
• revival
• magic
• holly short
• leprecon

Artemis Sr. was rescued when Holly used the Aculos's power to call him to Fowl Manor. During their emotional reunion, he revealed how Holly's father had sacrificed himself to guard the Aculos and gave her a list of Koboi's accomplices. He survives and is reunited with his son.

• artemis sr
• rescued
• holly
• aculos

Mulch swallowed the Aculos to prevent Opal Koboi from getting it during the chaos at Fowl Manor. When the troll attacked and magic was blocked, Mulch made the desperate decision to swallow the artifact to keep it out of Cudgeon and Koboi's hands, effectively hiding it inside himself.

• mulch diggums
• aculos
• swallow
• steal

Artemis Sr. was accused of stealing world-renowned relics from his own boat because he had actually stolen the Aculos from the fairies years earlier. The stolen artifacts were planted or discovered on his boat to make him appear guilty, part of Opal Koboi's scheme to force the Fowls to retrieve the Aculos for her.

• artemis sr
• theft
• relics
• accused

Time freeze is a fairy ability that allows them to freeze time briefly, creating a window where humans cannot perceive them. Holly uses it to stop the rogue troll attack and erase humans' memories of magic. It can also be used to seal off areas, as Commander Root attempts to trap Artemis at Fowl Manor.

• time freeze
• fairy magic
• holly short
• leprecon

The Fowl family has a secret legacy involving magic. Their hidden library contains ancient documentation proving the existence of magical beings like fairies. Artemis Sr. had been secretly working with fairies, particularly protecting the Aculos, which he received from Holly's father Beechwood for safekeeping.

• fowl family
• magic
• library
• secret
• fairies

Holly's father, Beechwood Short, was killed while attempting to steal the Aculos back from Artemis Sr., who had been protecting it. He died trying to safeguard the artifact from falling into the wrong hands, which is why his legacy became so important to Holly throughout the film.

• beechwood short
• holly father
• death
• aculos

Lieutenant Briar Cudgeon was a traitor working for Opal Koboi throughout the film. He released a captured troll inside Fowl Manor to cause chaos and block fairy magic, helping Koboi's plan to get the Aculos. His betrayal was motivated by his allegiance to Koboi rather than to the fairy police force.

• briar cudgeon
• traitor
• koboi
• leprecon

Opal Koboi escapes at the end when the time freeze collapses, but her plot has been foiled. Artemis declares his intention to pursue her, setting up a potential sequel. Holly is also tasked with investigating the list of Koboi's accomplices that Artemis Sr. provided.

• opal koboi
• ending
• sequel
• artemis