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Buffaloed (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 95 min · English
Echo score 68
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Directed by
Tanya Wexler
Starring
Jai Courtney, Zoey Deutch, Jermaine Fowler, Judy Greer, Raymond Ablack, Elena Khan

In Buffalo, New York, Peg Dahl, a sharp and ambitious young woman, initially aims for Ivy League success through wit and charm. However, when the cost of tuition proves overwhelming, she unexpectedly finds herself working as a debt collector. Using her quick thinking and sassy attitude, Peg thrives in this competitive environment. She soon discovers the challenges and compromises that come with chasing her dreams and the real price of achieving them.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Buffaloed
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Buffaloed Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Buffaloed (2020) 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. Peg's Humble Beginnings

    Peg Dahl is born into a struggling blue-collar family in Buffalo, New York. Growing up amidst financial hardships, she is determined to rise above her circumstances and make something of herself, inspired by her father's resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit.

    Where
    Buffalo, New York
  2. Aspiration for Ivy League

    In her youth, Peg dedicates herself to studying economics with dreams of attending an Ivy League school. She devises schemes to supplement her income, all driven by the ambition to escape her impoverished background and build a successful career on Wall Street.

  3. Descent into Crime

    When Peg's financial situation makes college tuition impossible, she turns to illegal activities, specifically counterfeiting, to make ends meet. This decision leads to her arrest as her operation is uncovered, resulting in a forty-month prison sentence.

  4. New Beginnings

    Upon her release from prison, Peg finds herself working at her brother J.J.'s bar, cleaning toilets to make a living. Despite the setback, she is determined to turn her life around and creatively manage her debts, utilizing her skills and knowledge from her previous endeavors.

    Where
    J.J.'s bar
  5. Meeting Graham

    While working in debt recovery, Peg meets Graham, an investigator from the District Attorney's office. Together, they bond over their shared frustrations with the corrupt systems they are entangled in, and she confides her desire to leave her current job behind.

  6. Starting a New Business

    Inspired by her conversations with Graham, Peg announces her plans to start a legitimate debt collection agency. She recruits a diverse group of people with a common goal: to liberate individuals burdened by debt and offer ethical solutions.

  7. Growth and Sabotage

    As Peg's new business flourishes, she faces relentless sabotage from her former employer, Wizz. His aggressive actions against her company make it difficult for Peg and her team to operate, but Peg is determined to reinvest in her employees and fight back.

  8. Family in Jeopardy

    Wizz escalates his campaign against Peg by targeting her brother J.J., seizing his bar as a means of retaliation. This familial conflict reaches a peak when J.J. confronts Wizz, leading to significant tensions and repercussions for their family.

    Where
    J.J.'s bar
  9. Violent Confrontation

    In a fit of rage, Peg confronts Wizz at his establishment, firing shots in the air in an act of defiance. This reckless decision draws law enforcement to the scene, leading to her arrest and forcing Peg to reevaluate her approach to life's challenges.

    Where
    Wizz's establishment
  10. Reality Check

    During a tense interrogation with her mother, Peg faces the consequences of her actions and her habitual reliance on quick schemes for financial gain. This pivotal moment encourages her to reconsider her strategies and seek a more sustainable path forward.

  11. Collaboration with Authorities

    As part of a plea deal, Peg agrees to collaborate with law enforcement to expose corrupt debt collection agencies. Her efforts culminate in a successful sting operation that leads to the arrest of numerous individuals engaged in illegal practices.

    Where
    J.J.'s bar
  12. Impactful Victory

    Peg's collaboration with authorities renders over one billion dollars in debt invalid, showcasing the impact of her actions. Although this victory comes at a cost involving her own sentencing for the destruction of evidence, she maintains focus on her ultimate goals.

  13. Empowering Others

    While serving her prison sentence, Peg uses the opportunity to share her financial knowledge with fellow inmates. This not only helps them but also reinforces her commitment to her mission of financial literacy and empowerment.

    Where
    Prison
  14. A Fresh Start

    After her release from prison, Peg is welcomed back by her family, who provide her with the initial funds she needs to begin anew. With a clear vision ahead, she aspires to navigate the world of hedge funds, focusing on ethical means of success.

  15. Commitment to Ethical Success

    Determined to succeed through honesty and integrity, Peg sets her sights on the hedge fund industry. Energized by her renewed purpose, she is committed to making a difference, not only for herself but also for others who experience financial challenges.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 14:42

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Timeline questions answered

Buffaloed Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Buffaloed (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Peg turn to counterfeiting?

Peg turns to counterfeiting because her financial situation makes college tuition impossible. Despite her ambition to attend an Ivy League school and pursue a Wall Street career, she cannot afford the costs. This desperation leads her to illegal activities as a means to generate money.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Peg is shown studying economics and formulating schemes to supplement her income, hinting at her willingness to take risks for financial gain.

  • counterfeiting
  • tuition
  • college
  • illegal
  • money
Q2

How does Peg meet Graham?

Peg meets Graham while working at a local debt collection agency. Graham is an investigator from the District Attorney's office tasked with dismantling corrupt debt collectors. They bond over their mutual disdain for the system's corruption during a bar fight and subsequent encounter at Peg's place.

  • graham
  • da investigator
  • debt collection
  • meeting
Q3

Why does Peg start her own debt collection business?

After her conversation with Graham, Peg decides to start a legitimate debt collection business. Inspired by her insights into the corrupt system, she wants to offer ethical solutions to people burdened by debt. She recruits phone sex operators, Asian business owners, and a former parolee to help her mission.

Foreshadowing: Graham's role as a DA investigator fighting corruption directly inspires Peg's decision to go legitimate.

  • debt collection business
  • legitimate
  • graham
  • ethics
Q4

Who is Wizz and why does he target Peg?

Wizz is Peg's former employer at the corrupt debt collection agency where she initially works after prison. He becomes antagonistic toward Peg because she quits to start her own legitimate business, threatening his operations. He sabotages her business, targets her family, and ultimately seizes her brother J.J.'s bar as retaliation.

  • wizz
  • former employer
  • sabotage
  • antagonist
Q5

What happens to J.J.'s bar?

Wizz seizes J.J.'s bar as part of his retaliation campaign against Peg. This escalates the conflict, leading J.J. to confront Wizz, which results in Wizz roughing up J.J. and having Peg's mother arrested for operating a hair salon without permits.

Foreshadowing: Wizz's escalating campaign against Peg has been building since she started her competing business.

  • jj bar
  • wizz
  • seized
  • retaliation
Q6

Why does Peg fire shots at Wizz's establishment?

In a fit of rage over Wizz's attacks on her family, Peg confronts him at his establishment and fires shots into the air to draw him out. This reckless decision draws law enforcement, leading to her arrest for discharging a firearm.

Foreshadowing: Tensions have been mounting throughout the film as Wizz targets Peg's personal life and family.

  • guns
  • wizz
  • arrest
  • confrontation
Q7

How does Peg's sting operation work?

As part of a plea deal after her arrest, Peg agrees to collaborate with authorities to expose corrupt debt collection agencies. She helps orchestrate a sting operation at her brother J.J.'s bar, where she captures damning evidence from representatives of illegal debt collection agencies, leading to the arrest of forty-two individuals.

Foreshadowing: This collaboration is prompted by her mother during the interrogation, challenging Peg's pattern of relying on quick schemes.

  • sting operation
  • plea deal
  • authorities
  • arrest
  • evidence
Q8

What happens to the debt after Peg's operation?

Peg's collaboration with authorities has a massive impact, over one billion dollars worth of debt is rendered invalid. The authorities seize and destroy more than 50,000 debt sheets as a consequence of the sting operation.

  • debt
  • billion
  • invalid
  • destroyed
  • sheets
Q9

Why does Peg go back to prison?

Although Peg helps authorities dismantle the corrupt debt collection system, she receives a prison sentence for the destruction of evidence. However, she views this as an opportunity to teach financial literacy to fellow inmates as part of her plea agreement.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes that Peg has a pattern of getting in legal trouble for her actions, even when well-intentioned.

  • prison
  • evidence
  • destruction
  • sentence
Q10

How does Peg end up in hedge funds?

After completing her prison sentence, Peg is supported by her family who provide her with initial funds to start anew. With her renewed commitment to ethical success, she sets her sights on the lucrative realm of hedge funds, determined to succeed through honest means.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Peg's ultimate goal has been Wall Street success and financial achievement.

  • hedge funds
  • family support
  • new start
  • success

Movie threads

More Movies Like Buffaloed, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about Rebellious Underdogs like Buffaloed

Energetic stories of scrappy outsiders building empires from the ground up. If you liked the scrappy, enterprising spirit of Buffaloed, explore more movies about ambitious outsiders who bend the rules to get ahead. These films feature fast-paced stories of unconventional entrepreneurship, sharp-tongued protagonists, and a hopeful, energetic vibe.

  • ambitious
  • underdog
  • resourceful
  • sassy
  • energetic
  • defiant
  • Tone: hopeful, defiant
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow a character with immense potential held back by their circumstances. They often turn to a morally gray side hustle or a full-blown illegal scheme, thriving in a competitive, high-stakes environment. The journey involves navigating corruption, facing consequences, and ultimately finding a path to legitimate success through their resourcefulness.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a specific type of protagonist: the clever, sassy underdog. They share a fast-paced, hopeful tone that makes even high-stakes situations feel energizing rather than despairing, celebrating ingenuity and resilience.

Fast-Paced Rise and Redemption Stories like Buffaloed

A whirlwind journey from illegal success to ethical awakening. Fans of Buffaloed's swift narrative and ethical turnaround will enjoy these movies. They feature a straightforward, fast-paced plot about a character's turbulent journey through crime or corruption, culminating in a hopeful and redemptive conclusion.

  • redemption
  • thrilling
  • straightforward
  • hopeful
  • corruption
  • consequences
  • Tone: hopeful, thrilling
  • Pacing: fast, linear
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern is a clear, linear progression: a character discovers a lucrative but illegal opportunity, excels at it, faces escalating conflicts and consequences (often including a confrontation with the law or a rival), and ultimately chooses a path of ethical cooperation and legitimate enterprise for a happy resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their specific plot structure and pacing. They deliver a coherent, propulsive viewing experience that balances the thrill of rule-breaking with the emotional payoff of ethical growth, all within a brisk, straightforward narrative.

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Every angle

Buffaloed (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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

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