Belly

Belly

Year: 1998

Runtime: 96 min

Language: English

Director: Hype Williams

DramaCrime

Lifelong friends Sincere and Buns navigate a dangerous world of crime and struggle to find their place. Sincere seeks refuge and purpose within a Black Muslim community, but Buns battles his own inner turmoil. Their friendship is tested when Buns faces a difficult choice: remain loyal to the newfound faith or risk everything for personal freedom, potentially jeopardizing their bond and their survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Belly (1998)

Trace every key event in Belly (1998) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Nightclub murders in Queens

In 1999, Tommy 'Buns' Bundy and Sincere ('Sin'), along with Mark and Black, murder five people during a violent nightclub robbery in Queens. After celebrating their violent success, Sin returns to his girlfriend Tionne and their infant daughter Kenya.

1999, night Queens, New York City
2

Morning decision to expand into heroin

The following morning, Tommy asks Sincere to help sell a new form of heroin. Sincere, weary of street life, reluctantly agrees, hoping this turn could lead him out. The plan marks a new, more dangerous phase for the gang.

1999, morning Queens
3

Tommy seeks heroin from Ox in Jamaica

Tommy travels to Jamaica to secure heroin from Ox, who agrees to supply it on the condition that Tommy repays him with a very special favor later. The arrangement binds Tommy to a dangerous debt and network.

1999, late Jamaica
4

Planning session in Mark's basement

In Mark's grandmother's basement, the gang gathers to discuss the nascent drug operation and bring Knowledge into the plan. Tensions rise as Black is humiliated by Tommy's anger over rumors of betrayal, foreshadowing the violent dynamics ahead.

1999 Mark's grandmother's basement
5

Queens to Omaha: shipment and raid

The gang begins transporting heroin from Queens to Omaha, rapidly expanding their operation. Omaha dealer Big Head Rico alerts the police, leading to a raid on their stash-house that results in Mark's death and Knowledge's arrest.

1999, late Omaha, Nebraska
6

Shameek infiltrates Rico's gang; Rico slain

Angry at Tommy's refusal to bail him out, Knowledge calls Shameek to infiltrate Rico's gang and eliminate Tommy. At a strip club, Shameek's cover falters when Rico notices him, and he kills Rico as he tries to flee, before being shot by a bartender and escaping.

1999, late Strip club, Omaha
7

Tommy returns to Jamaica to kill Sosa

Tommy travels to Jamaica to repay Ox by killing Sosa, the son of a local drug lord. The act deepens Tommy's entanglement in Caribbean feuds and marks a turning point in his ruthlessness.

1999, late Jamaica
8

Kisha arrested; Tommy flees town

Back home, Tommy's girlfriend Kisha is arrested by police and later bailed out by Tionne. Tommy learns that the Omaha raid has reached him, prompting him to leave town, attempting to disappear.

1999, late New York
9

Pelpa targets Ox; Ox dies

Pelpa, a friend of Sosa, discovers that Ox ordered the hit on Sosa. He dispatches a hit squad to Ox's home; Ox fights off most attackers but dies at the hands of a female assassin.

1999, late Jamaica
10

Sincere plans to relocate to Africa

While laying low in Atlanta, Sincere resolves to leave the drug trade and move his family to Africa, planning to depart on New Year's Day 2000.

New Year's Day 2000 Atlanta
11

Tommy's Atlanta feud and arrest

In Atlanta, Tommy engineers a feud between Wise and LaKid that ends in gunfire, with LaKid killing Wise. Tommy is arrested over the incident and becomes entangled with a shadowy organization pressuring him to assassinate a preacher.

Late 1999 Atlanta
12

Coerced assassination of Rev. Saviour planned

On New Year's Eve, Tommy is coerced by a shadowy organization to assassinate Rev. Saviour during a sermon. He wrestles with the mission, fearing for his safety, and ultimately is persuaded to step back.

New Year's Eve 1999 Harlem, NYC
13

Diner meeting: Tommy and Sincere compare change

Tommy calls Sincere and they meet at a Harlem diner to compare notes; both men acknowledge that they have changed for the better and plan to focus on family and a safer life.

New Year's Eve 1999 Harlem, NYC
14

Shameek breaks into Tionne's home; confrontation

Shameek breaks into Tionne's home seeking Sincere, but is confronted by Tionne who turns the tables, shooting Shameek in the face. The moment shows how the women in their lives resist the violence.

New Year's Eve 1999 Tionne's home
15

Sincere's new life in Africa

In a reflective voiceover, Sincere states he is now in Africa with his family, starting a new life far from the drug trade and expressing happiness about the changes they've made.

After 1999 Africa

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:36

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Belly Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Belly, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Belly Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Belly

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Belly

More About Belly

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