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Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) movie poster

Timeline

Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 141 min
Echo score 72
Directed by
Drew Goddard
Starring
Chris Hemsworth, Shea Whigham, Nick Offerman, Dakota Johnson, Jeff Bridges, Bethany Brown
Budget
$32M

Seven strangers, each harboring a secret, converge at the El Royale, a once-grand hotel situated on the California-Nevada state line. Over the course of a single night, their lives intertwine in a series of unexpected and unsettling events. As dark truths are revealed, the guests are forced to confront their pasts, leading to violence, danger, and a desperate fight for survival within the hotel’s mysterious walls.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Bad Times at the El Royale
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

Where can you watch Bad Times at the El Royale? 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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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Bad Times at the El Royale Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) 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. Guests Arrive at El Royale

    In 1969, a group of diverse individuals check into the mysterious El Royale hotel, each with their own secrets. The atmosphere is thick with tension as the guests begin to settle in, unaware of the dark events that are about to unfold.

    When
    1969
    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  2. Daniel Flynn's True Identity Revealed

    Among the guests is Daniel Flynn, a dubious Catholic priest played by Jeff Bridges. It is later revealed that he is actually Donald O'Kelly, a robber disguising himself to avoid detection.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  3. Laramie Sullivan's Discovery

    Laramie Seymour Sullivan, an undercover FBI agent posing as a salesman, uncovers a hidden passage within the honeymoon suite. He finds rooms with one-way mirrors and a camera setup, leading him to witness nefarious activities occurring within the hotel.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  4. The Kidnapping Scene

    Sullivan catches a shocking scene on camera, where Emily Summerspring is seen tying up her younger sister, Rose. This revelation sets off a series of actions that will intertwine the fates of all the guests.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  5. Sullivan's Orders from Hoover

    Sullivan receives strict orders from his superior, Hoover, not to interfere with the kidnapping. He is instructed to sabotage the guests' vehicles to prevent any possible escape attempts, further complicating the unfolding drama.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  6. Dinner with Darlene Sweet

    Daniel Flynn tries to charm Darlene Sweet into having dinner, masking his true intentions. However, his plan backfires when Sweet retaliates against his attempts to drug her drink, showcasing her strength and resolve.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  7. Miles Discovers the Truth

    Miles Miller, the hotel's lone employee and a Vietnam War veteran, discovers Daniel Flynn's true identity and learns about the hotel's secret filming operations. He confronts Flynn, realizing the stakes are much higher than he initially thought.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  8. Emily's Dark Past

    Emily and Rose confront Miles about the surveillance operation, revealing Emily's dangerous history with a cult led by the deceptive Billy Lee. This revelation heightens the tension and urgency for escape.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  9. The Cult Storms In

    As the guests plan their escape, the cult led by Billy Lee violently intervenes, taking everyone hostage. Chaos ensues as the cult members demand the money Flynn and Sweet have recovered, along with the incriminating film of the guests.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  10. Tragic Events During Roulette

    In a deadly game of roulette orchestrated by Billy, Emily meets a tragic end. The atmosphere turns desperate as innocent lives are lost, and the hotel becomes a battleground for survival amidst flames.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  11. Miles Confronts the Cult

    In a heroic moment, Miles retrieves a gun and confronts Billy and his followers, resulting in a violent showdown. As he fights for control, he ultimately manages to kill Billy, but the cost is deeply personal.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  12. Betrayal and Guilt

    As the chaos continues, Rose fatally stabs Miles in a moment of desperation. However, O'Kelly, overwhelmed by guilt, shoots Rose in retaliation, showcasing the tragic consequences of their intertwining fates.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  13. Escape from the Inferno

    With the hotel ablaze, Darlene Sweet and O'Kelly manage to escape with hidden cash, leaving behind the horror of the night. Sweet makes a pivotal decision to destroy the incriminating film in flames, severing their ties to the turmoil.

    Where
    El Royale Hotel
  14. Sweet's New Beginning

    Later, Darlene Sweet performs confidently on stage in Reno, marking a new chapter in her life. O'Kelly watches proudly, reflecting on their tumultuous journey and the stark contrast to their harrowing experiences at El Royale.

    Where
    Reno

Last updated: November 02, 2024 at 13:18

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Timeline questions answered

Bad Times at the El Royale Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Bad Times at the El Royale (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Daniel Flynn pretending to be a priest?

Daniel Flynn is actually Donald O'Kelly, a criminal robber. He disguises himself as a Catholic priest to blend in with the other guests and avoid detection. This alias also helps him gain trust and access to the other guests, particularly when he tries to charm Darlene Sweet.

  • donald o'kelly
  • daniel flynn
  • priest disguise
  • robbery
  • alias
Q2

Why doesn't the FBI agent stop the kidnapping?

Laramie Seymour Sullivan is an undercover FBI agent working under the alias Dwight Broadbeck. He receives direct orders from his superior Hoover not to intervene in the kidnapping situation. His mission is to observe and gather evidence, not to disrupt the operation. Additionally, he is instructed to sabotage the guests' vehicles to prevent any escape attempts.

  • fbi agent
  • sullivan
  • kidnapping
  • hoover
  • orders
  • undercover
Q3

What is the relationship between Emily and Rose?

Emily and Rose are sisters. Emily is revealed to have escaped from a dangerous cult led by Billy Lee. She was trying to protect her younger sister Rose from being dragged back into the cult, which is why she was tying Rose up, to prevent her from running away or being taken by cult members. The sisters were hiding out at the hotel attempting to escape Billy Lee's control.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Emily's desperate actions with Rose hint at their troubled past and fear of being reclaimed.

  • emily summerspring
  • rose
  • sisters
  • cult
  • billy lee
  • escape
Q4

Why does Billy Lee's cult come to the hotel?

Billy Lee and his cult members storm the El Royale because they are searching for Emily and Rose, who escaped from his control. The cult is also interested in the money that Flynn and Sweet have found, as well as the incriminating film footage captured by the hotel's hidden cameras. Billy wants both the money and to reclaim his followers.

Foreshadowing: Emily's nervous behavior and her urgent need to leave the hotel hint at someone coming for her.

  • billy lee
  • cult
  • emily summerspring
  • hostage
  • money
  • film footage
Q5

What does the hidden camera setup in the hotel reveal?

The El Royale has a series of rooms equipped with one-way mirrors and a 16mm camera system that secretly monitors guests. The hidden passage in the honeymoon suite allows someone to watch all the guests' activities. The footage captures incriminating moments, including the kidnapping of Rose by Emily, which Sullivan witnesses on the monitors.

  • hidden cameras
  • one-way mirrors
  • surveillance
  • el royale
  • film
  • secret rooms
Q6

Why does Miles help Donald O'Kelly?

Miles Miller is the hotel's lone employee and a Vietnam War veteran. When O'Kelly pressures him, Miles surrenders a damning film reel he has hidden, fearing the consequences of refusal. Although Miles initially helps O'Kelly, he ultimately turns against the criminals during the climax, retrieving a gun to confront Billy Lee and his cult members.

  • miles miller
  • donald o'kelly
  • film reel
  • vietnam war
  • sniper
Q7

What happens to the incriminating film footage?

The film footage captured by the hotel's hidden cameras shows all the guests' secrets and crimes. During the chaotic escape as the hotel burns, Darlene Sweet makes the decision to destroy the incriminating film by throwing it into the flames. This act severs their ties to the criminal activities and evidence of the night's events.

  • film footage
  • cameras
  • evidence
  • darlene sweet
  • destroy
  • fire
Q8

Why does Rose stab Miles?

During the chaotic confrontation with Billy Lee's cult, Rose stabs Miles in a desperate moment of panic and confusion. As the violence escalates and the hotel descends into chaos, Rose acts impulsively to protect herself, not fully understanding the consequences of her actions. This tragic moment occurs as the survivors struggle to survive the deadly events unfolding around them.

  • rose
  • miles miller
  • stabbing
  • chaos
  • desperate
  • survival
Q9

Why does O'Kelly kill Rose at the end?

After Rose fatally stabs Miles, O'Kelly is overwhelmed by guilt and remorse for the violence and chaos that has unfolded. In a moment of emotional turmoil, he shoots Rose, though this act brings no resolution to the tragedy. O'Kelly is consumed by guilt throughout the night, and his final act reflects the moral corruption and tragic consequences of everyone's actions at the hotel.

Foreshadowing: O'Kelly's guilt and moral conflict have been building throughout the night as he witnesses the escalating violence.

  • o'kelly
  • rose
  • guilt
  • shooting
  • death
  • remorse
Q10

How do Darlene Sweet and O'Kelly escape?

As the hotel catches fire during the violent confrontation between Miles and the cult, Sweet and O'Kelly manage to escape with the hidden cash they found earlier. They flee from the burning hotel while the chaos unfolds inside. Sweet also destroys the incriminating film footage in the flames before leaving, eliminating the evidence of the night's crimes.

  • darlene sweet
  • o'kelly
  • escape
  • fire
  • money
  • hotel
Q11

Why does Billy Lee force the guests to play roulette?

Billy Lee orchestrates a deadly game of roulette as a form of twisted entertainment and control. Using the lives of the hostages as leverage, he forces the guests to play Russian roulette-style games, resulting in Emily's brutal death. This sadistic game demonstrates Billy's complete disregard for human life and his desire to exert power over everyone in the hotel.

  • billy lee
  • roulette
  • russian roulette
  • emily death
  • cult leader
  • hostage
Q12

What happens to Miles in the final confrontation?

Miles Miller, the hotel's quiet employee and former Vietnam War sniper, emerges as an unlikely hero during the cult's takeover. Remembering his combat training, he retrieves a gun and confronts Billy Lee and his followers. He successfully kills Billy and several cult members. However, in the aftermath, Rose fatally stabs him in a moment of panic before he is shot by O'Kelly, resulting in his death.

  • miles miller
  • vietnam
  • sniper
  • hero
  • billy lee
  • death

Movie threads

More Movies Like Bad Times at the El Royale, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Bad Times at the El Royale tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Thrillers with strangers trapped in a hotel like Bad Times at the El Royale

Multiple characters with secrets are forced together in a confined, dangerous space. If you enjoyed the tense, claustrophobic setting of Bad Times at the El Royale, you'll find similar movies here. These thrillers and horrors feature a group of strangers forced to interact in a confined location like a hotel or motel, where secrets are revealed and survival becomes paramount.

  • claustrophobic
  • suspenseful
  • paranoid
  • sinister
  • unsettling
  • desperate
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, sinister
  • Pacing: variable, starting slow and building to chaos
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows an ensemble cast as they converge on a location that becomes inescapable. Through a series of tense encounters and revelations, alliances are formed and broken, leading to a violent, high-stakes climax that tests each character's will to survive.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared use of a confined setting to create relentless tension and paranoia. They explore how forced proximity among morally ambiguous characters leads to escalating danger and unexpected alliances.

Movies with converging storylines in one night like Bad Times at the El Royale

Multiple storylines collide over one fateful evening, changing lives forever. For viewers who liked the complex, interlocking narratives of Bad Times at the El Royale, this section features movies where multiple character destinies collide over a single, intense night. These stories often involve crime, moral dilemmas, and a bittersweet or bleak resolution.

  • converging destinies
  • tense
  • morally ambiguous
  • grim
  • unsettling
  • crime
  • Tone: tense, grim, morally complex
  • Pacing: variable, intricate buildup
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves introducing seemingly unrelated characters whose paths are destined to cross. Through a series of tense encounters and revelations, their individual stories become inextricably linked, leading to a climax that resolves the collective tension, often with significant consequences and a morally complex aftermath.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific structural and tonal approach: a complex, ensemble-driven plot set within a tight timeframe, creating a palpable sense of urgency and inevitable collision. The focus is on fate, moral ambiguity, and the heavy emotional weight of choices made under pressure.

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Every angle

Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

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