Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Action Comedy Drama Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Romance Mystery Animation Crime
Dark Web: Cicada 3301 (2021) movie poster

Timeline

Dark Web: Cicada 3301 (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 104 mins · English
Echo score 51
Loading streaming availability…
Starring
Alan Ritchson, Jack Kesy, Ron Funches, Patrick Garrow, Andreas Apergis, Jess Salgueiro

Based on a true story, this film follows Connor, a brilliant hacker who stumbles upon Cicada 3301, an intricate online puzzle. Joined by his friend Avi, an art expert, and Gwen, a mysterious librarian, Connor races to decipher the clues hidden in graffiti and ancient libraries. They are pursued by relentless NSA agents determined to seize Cicada 3301's secrets for their own purposes.

Thriller Comedy Action Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

13 events in order · contains spoilers

Dark Web: Cicada 3301 Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Dark Web: Cicada 3301 (2021) 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. Connor is arrested by the NSA for Cicada ties

    The NSA arrests Connor for his involvement with Cicada 3301 and begins pressuring him to provide assistance against the organization. He is confronted with the weight of national security concerns and legal risks as the case unfolds. The events he describes culminate in his later testimony before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

    When
    29 days before testimony
    Where
    NSA facility

  2. Connor discovers Cicada's recruitment game

    Connor accidentally uncovers Cicada's recruitment game, a series of puzzles that determine who can join the secretive group. He realizes the game is real and dangerous, not just a theoretical challenge. The NSA uses his discovery to leverage action against Cicada.

    When
    29 days before testimony
    Where
    Various locations

  3. Gwen and Avi join the puzzle quest

    Gwen, a librarian hoping for recruitment, joins Connor and his best friend Avi to tackle the puzzles. The trio advances through clues while staying ahead of rival participants. After a near-fatal confrontation, Gwen and Avi drop out, leaving Connor to continue alone.

    When
    29 days before testimony
    Where
    Puzzle locations

  4. Connor triggers a city-wide power outage

    Continuing the game after Gwen and Avi exit, Connor's actions culminate in a massive power outage that disrupts essential services. The disruption demonstrates Cicada's reach and piques the attention of both the organization and outside authorities. The outage also accelerates Connor's path toward the private party invitation.

    When
    During the game
    Where
    City power grid

  5. Invitation to Cicada's private party in England

    Connor receives an invitation to Cicada's private party in England, signaling a shift from puzzle-solving to a direct confrontation with the group. The stakes rise as more players are pulled into Cicada's world. Gwen and Avi remain involved, albeit with growing caution.

    When
    During the game
    Where
    England

  6. Infiltration at the party spirals out of control

    Connor and Gwen attempt to infiltrate Cicada's party to stop the organization, but the operation goes awry. Security forces and Cicada's own agents close in, turning the mission into a dangerous capture scenario. The plan quickly collapses as the duo is overwhelmed.

    When
    During the infiltration
    Where
    Cicada party location

  7. Gwen is accused as an NSA agent

    Dubois accuses Gwen of treason, revealing she is an NSA agent seeking amnesty through Cicada. Connor and Gwen are ordered to shoot each other to prove loyalty, heightening the tension and forcing them to choose sides. The confrontation exposes the fragile loyalties within their ranks.

    When
    During confrontation
    Where
    Cicada HQ

  8. Connor opposes the initiation; guards are killed; USB drive obtained

    Connor refuses to shoot Gwen and instead fights his way through, killing Dubois' guards. Gwen is shot during the melee and hands Connor a USB drive containing Cicada's secrets. The drive becomes the key to exposing Cicada from within.

    When
    During initiation
    Where
    Cicada HQ

  9. Dubois reveals he's an actor following orders

    Dubois explains he is an actor playing a role under Cicada's orders and did not anticipate real harm. His admission reframes the events as manipulated by the organization rather than a straightforward act of rebellion. The revelation underscores the tension between truth and performative justice.

    When
    During confrontation
    Where
    Cicada HQ

  10. NSA storms the building; data is downloaded

    As the NSA closes in, Connor downloads Cicada's information before losing consciousness during an escape attempt. Dubois is killed by the approaching agents, and the data on the drive becomes the leverage for what comes next. The sequence marks the climactic turn of the infiltration.

    When
    Climax of infiltration
    Where
    Cicada HQ

  11. Judges critique NSA tactics; Connor's leverage emerges

    Back in the courtroom, the judges fault the NSA's tactics while acknowledging Connor's role in exposing the private documents. He reveals his plan to leak the documents, turning the hearing into a test of his will and resourcefulness. The confrontation dampens the government's official stance but seeds his future actions.

    When
    After testimony
    Where
    FISC courtroom

  12. Connor extorts money and secures Avi's release

    Connor uses the leaked documents to demand $1 million for each file and secures Avi's release from custody. He announces his intention to use the funds to help others, turning his actions into a form of vigilante justice. The financial leverage propels his plan to continue leaking information.

    When
    Immediately after the hearing
    Where
    Courtroom and custody scene

  13. Gwen joins Cicada; aftermath sets a new balance

    In the closing moments, Gwen is revealed to have joined Cicada as a member. Connor's actions have kept Cicada in play, while his own moral stance remains unsettled. The final beat shows Gwen reaching out to Connor from inside Cicada.

    When
    After the testimony
    Where
    Unknown

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:55

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Dark Web: Cicada 3301 Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Dark Web: Cicada 3301 (2021): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Connor agree to work with the NSA against Cicada 3301?

Connor is arrested by the NSA for his involvement with Cicada 3301. Facing serious federal charges and pressure from the NSA, he agrees to participate in Cicada's recruitment game to help them gather evidence against the organization in exchange for leniency. The NSA leverages his discovery of the puzzle and his legal vulnerability to coerce his cooperation.

  • NSA
  • arrest
  • cooperation
  • Connor
  • hacking charges
Q2

What is Cicada 3301 and what do they want?

Cicada 3301 is a secretive organization that runs an elaborate recruitment game consisting of complex puzzles. Their ultimate goal, as revealed by leader Phillip Dubois, is to bring equality to what they perceive as an unjust world by unleashing chaos on a global scale. They operate through hidden leadership and use the puzzle game to recruit talented individuals.

  • Cicada 3301
  • organization
  • puzzles
  • recruitment
  • global chaos
Q3

Why is Gwen accused of being an NSA agent?

During the confrontation at Cicada's headquarters, leader Phillip Dubois reveals that Gwen is actually an NSA agent who joined Cicada seeking amnesty. She was working undercover to infiltrate the organization from within, using her librarian cover to gain access to their recruitment process. This revelation shocks Connor and creates the tense ultimatum where they must shoot each other to prove loyalty.

  • Gwen
  • NSA agent
  • undercover
  • traitor
  • double agent
Q4

Why does Connor refuse to shoot Gwen during the initiation?

When Cicada orders Connor and Gwen to shoot each other as a loyalty test to earn full membership, Connor refuses. Instead of complying, he fights back, killing Dubois' guards in the chaos. His refusal demonstrates that he values Gwen's life and refuses to let the organization control his actions, even though he knows she's an NSA agent.

  • Connor
  • Gwen
  • shooting
  • loyalty test
  • refusal
Q5

What is on the USB drive that Gwen gives Connor?

In her final moments after being shot, Gwen hands Connor a USB drive containing Cicada's secret data. This information becomes crucial as Connor uses it to download Cicada's documents during the NSA raid. The data becomes his leverage to extort money and secure his friend Avi's release from custody.

  • USB drive
  • secret data
  • Cicada files
  • leak
  • evidence
Q6

Who is Phillip Dubois and what's his actual role in Cicada?

Phillip Dubois appears to be Cicada's leader and gives orders from their headquarters. However, during the confrontation, he reveals he is merely an actor following orders from the true leadership of Cicada. He claims he was unaware of the real harm that would come to people, suggesting the organization manipulates unwitting participants in their operations.

  • Phillip Dubois
  • leader
  • actor
  • Cicada orders
  • deception
Q7

What causes the city-wide power outage and why is it important?

During the puzzle game, Connor's actions trigger a massive city-wide power outage that disrupts essential services. This demonstrates Cicada's technological reach and capabilities. The power outage serves as Connor's ticket to the secret world, earning him an invitation to Cicada's private party in England, where the real confrontation begins.

  • power outage
  • Cicada
  • invitation
  • England party
  • technological reach
Q8

What happens to Gwen at the end?

Gwen is shot during the confrontation at Cicada headquarters while Connor fights his way out. She dies from her injuries, but not before handing Connor the USB drive containing Cicada's secrets. Her death is a major emotional moment in the film, and the reveal that she has apparently joined Cicada in the post-credits scene adds ambiguity to her character arc.

  • Gwen
  • death
  • shot
  • USB drive
  • major character death
Q9

Why does Connor extort $1 million per document from the government?

After retrieving Cicada's data, Connor uses it as leverage against the government. He demands $1 million for each document and the release of his friend Avi from custody. He claims he will use the money to help others, framing his actions as a form of vigilante justice. This morally gray decision allows him to fund further operations while exposing government hypocrisy.

  • extortion
  • money
  • Avi release
  • leverage
  • whistleblowing
Q10

What does Gwen's final message mean at the end of the movie?

In the closing scene, Connor receives a message from Gwen, who reveals she has become a member of Cicada. This shocking twist suggests either that she survived, joined Cicada willingly after being exposed, or was working for them all along. The ambiguous ending implies Cicada's threat is far from over and that Gwen's true allegiances remain unclear.

  • Gwen
  • message
  • Cicada membership
  • ending
  • ambiguous twist
Q11

What happens to Avi throughout the movie?

Avi, Connor's best friend, joins him and Gwen to tackle Cicada's puzzles but drops out along with Gwen after a near-fatal confrontation with rival participants. Later, Avi is taken into custody by the NSA. Connor successfully secures his release by using the leaked Cicada documents as leverage during the courtroom testimony, making Avi's freedom one of the driving goals of Connor's final plan.

  • Avi
  • custody
  • release
  • Connor
  • best friend
Q12

How does Cicada 3301's recruitment game work?

Cicada 3301's recruitment game is a series of increasingly difficult puzzles hidden in graffiti, ancient libraries, and various locations. Participants who solve the clues progress through rounds, with each puzzle becoming tighter and more perilous. The game is designed to identify individuals with specific skills and determination, ultimately leading to an invitation to Cicada's inner circle.

  • recruitment game
  • puzzles
  • graffiti
  • libraries
  • Cicada 3301

Movie threads

More Movies Like Dark Web: Cicada 3301, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Dark Web: Cicada 3301 tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

High-Stakes Tech Conspiracy Thrillers like Dark Web: Cicada 3301

Characters hunted by powerful forces after uncovering a dangerous digital secret. If you enjoyed the urgent, paranoid chase in Dark Web: Cicada 3301, you'll find similar movies here. These techno-thrillers feature hackers, whistleblowers, and ordinary people targeted by powerful agencies after discovering dangerous secrets, all delivering a tense, fast-paced viewing experience.

  • paranoid
  • urgent
  • clandestine
  • suspenseful
  • conspiratorial
  • high-tech
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, morally gray
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist who uncovers a hidden conspiracy, often through technology or coded messages, triggering a cat-and-mouse chase with a powerful, clandestine adversary. The narrative is propelled by a series of escalating puzzles or threats, forcing characters into morally gray areas and testing their loyalties under extreme pressure.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared core premise of an individual vs. a systemic conspiracy, their high-tone, fast-pacing, and the specific mood of digital-age paranoia. They consistently explore themes of surveillance, information control, and the personal cost of seeking the truth.

Hacker movie poster

Hacker

2016
Hacker movie poster

Hacker

2015
Cyber Heist movie poster

Cyber Heist

2023
Hackers movie poster

Hackers

1995
Echelon Conspiracy movie poster

Echelon Conspiracy

2009
Blackhat movie poster

Blackhat

2015
The Code Conspiracy movie poster

The Code Conspiracy

2002
The Throwaways movie poster

The Throwaways

2015

Movies with Complex Puzzles and Deadly Consequences like Dark Web: Cicada 3301

Brilliant minds race to solve an intricate puzzle while their lives are on the line. Fans of the intricate online puzzle and high-stakes chase in Dark Web: Cicada 3301 will enjoy these movies. This collection features stories where brilliant characters must solve a complex mystery or code while being hunted, blending intellectual drama with life-or-death action and suspense.

  • cerebral
  • anxious
  • suspenseful
  • intricate
  • race against time
  • high-stakes
  • Tone: suspenseful, cerebral, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, driven by clues
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist or team presented with a highly complex intellectual challenge. Successfully deciphering each step of the puzzle is its own reward, but it also directly advances the plot by increasing the threat level from a pursuing antagonist or the puzzle's own deadly design, leading to a climactic and often morally complicated resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on a central, intricate puzzle as the driving plot device, combined with a high-intensity, suspenseful tone. They attract viewers who enjoy both the intellectual satisfaction of solving a mystery and the adrenaline of a taut thriller.

Puzzle movie poster

Puzzle

2006
Deadly Illusion movie poster

Deadly Illusion

1987
Sherlock: The Great Game movie poster

Sherlock: The Great Game

1000
Chaos movie poster

Chaos

2003
Identity movie poster

Identity

2025
Suspect movie poster

Suspect

1960
Sleuth movie poster

Sleuth

1972
Suspect movie poster

Suspect

2024

Every angle

Dark Web: Cicada 3301 (2021) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Dark Web: Cicada 3301 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app