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Emily the Criminal (2022) movie poster

Timeline

Emily the Criminal (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 93 min · English
Echo score 76
Directed by
John Patton Ford
Starring
Jessie Camacho, Gina Gershon, Theo Rossi, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Aubrey Plaza, Victor Wolf
Budget
$3M

Facing mounting debt and limited options, Emily takes a chance and becomes involved in a high-stakes car theft ring led by the compelling Youcef. Drawn to the promise of quick money and a way out of her financial struggles, she finds herself increasingly entangled in a dangerous criminal enterprise. As she navigates the thrilling but risky operation, Emily confronts moral dilemmas and grapples with her attraction to Youcef, blurring the lines between right and wrong.

Drama Thriller Crime Cast, crew & box office
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 Emily the Criminal
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Emily the Criminal (2022)

Where can you watch Emily the Criminal? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Tubi TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Emily the Criminal Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Emily the Criminal (2022) 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. Emily's Struggle with Debt

    Emily Benetto is confronted with a daunting $70,000 in student debt, which greatly affects her daily life. This financial burden becomes a central theme in her journey, making her desperate for a stable means of income.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  2. Felony Conviction

    Complicating her efforts to find a good job is Emily's felony conviction for aggravated assault. This stigma makes it exceedingly difficult for her to secure employment in her desired field, forcing her into less desirable work options.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  3. Working as a Delivery Contractor

    To manage her finances, Emily takes on work as a food delivery contractor. Despite the instability of this job, it offers her a means to make ends meet while she desperately seeks better opportunities.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  4. Support from Best Friend Liz

    Emily finds support in her best friend Liz, who leads a glamorous life in advertising. Liz offers to help Emily by securing her a job at her agency, promising to overlook her criminal past.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  5. Introduction to Fraud

    Desperate for money, Emily is introduced by co-worker Javier to a dubious side hustle known as a 'dummy shopper' service. Initially promising, this job quickly reveals itself to be part of a credit card fraud operation.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  6. Getting Pulled Deeper into Crime

    Emily is directed by Youcef, a ringleader of the fraud operation, to use a fake credit card to purchase a flat-screen TV. This marks Emily’s first step into a world of crime, making her a participant in illegal activities.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  7. Tense Car Purchase

    Under pressure, Emily attempts to purchase a car with the fraudulent card. The dealer becomes suspicious, forcing Emily to leave hurriedly after a tense encounter that leaves her injured but still with the car.

    Where
    Car Dealership

  8. Bonding with Youcef

    After the car incident, Youcef helps Emily with her injuries, and they connect over their dreams for the future. This moment deepens their relationship and leads Emily to take a greater interest in the fraud operation.

    Where
    Youcef's Place

  9. Escalating Criminal Activities

    Emily becomes more involved in the fraudulent operations, facing risks including a robbery while she is dog-sitting. This dangerous lifestyle tests her resilience and determination to succeed within this criminal world.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  10. Revelation of Internship

    Emily's hopes for employment at Liz's agency take a turn when she realizes the opportunity is merely an unpaid internship. This shocking news spurs her to confront Liz's boss, revealing her frustration and determination.

    Where
    Ad Agency

  11. Dinner with Youcef's Family

    During a family dinner, tensions rise when Khalil exposes Emily’s scams, causing friction between Youcef and his cousin. This confrontation leads to Youcef's ostracization from the fraud ring, complicating their relationship.

    Where
    Youcef's Family Home

  12. Youcef's Plan to Rob

    In an attempt to reclaim his financial footing, Youcef devises a plan to rob the fraudulent operation they are entangled with. This risky move signifies desperation and the potential for a major turning point in their lives.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  13. Climactic Confrontation

    As events spiral out of control, an intense confrontation with Khalil leaves Youcef seriously injured. In a moment of survival, Emily stabs Khalil in self-defense, showcasing her fierce determination to protect herself.

    Where
    Abandoned Warehouse

  14. Emily's Fateful Decision

    With the sound of sirens approaching, Emily is faced with a harrowing choice. Ultimately, she decides to flee, leaving behind Youcef and the chaos of their lives, marking a profound turning point in her journey.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  15. A New Life in South America

    The story concludes with Emily in South America, where she embraces her past and artistic roots. Now operating her own credit card fraud ring, she recruits others in financial desperation, illustrating her transformation.

    Where
    South America

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 12:10

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Timeline questions answered

Emily the Criminal Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Emily the Criminal (2022): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why can't Emily get a legitimate job after her felony conviction?

Emily's felony conviction for aggravated assault makes it extremely difficult for her to secure stable, well-paying employment. Despite her skills and experience, employers are reluctant to hire someone with a criminal record, forcing her into low-paying gig work like food delivery. Combined with her $70,000 in student debt, she becomes increasingly desperate for money.

Foreshadowing: Emily's criminal past is introduced early, establishing that legitimate paths are closed to her.

  • felony conviction
  • aggravated assault
  • employment
  • student debt
  • criminal record
Q2

How does Emily get pulled into the credit card fraud ring?

Emily's co-worker Javier introduces her to a "dummy shopper" service that promises $200 for one hour of work. She meets Youcef, one of the ringleaders, who directs her to use a counterfeit credit card and fake ID to purchase a flat-screen TV. The job quickly reveals itself as part of a credit card fraud operation.

  • credit card fraud
  • Youcef
  • dummy shopper
  • fake ID
  • Javier
Q3

What happens during Emily's car purchase scam?

Youcef pressures Emily to purchase a car using a fraudulent credit card. She has only eight minutes to complete the transaction before the dealer discovers the card is fake. The dealer becomes suspicious, leading to a brutal confrontation where Emily is injured but manages to escape with the car.

  • car purchase
  • fraud
  • credit card
  • dealer
  • confrontation
Q4

Why does Emily stab Khalil in the confrontation?

During the climactic confrontation at the abandoned warehouse, Khalil attacks Emily and Youcef. When Khalil gains the upper hand and threatens Emily's life, she stabs him in self-defense. This moment reveals her survival instincts kicking in, showing how far she has evolved from her previous life.

Foreshadowing: Khalil's earlier tensions with Emily and Youcef build to this violent confrontation.

  • Khalil
  • self-defense
  • stabbing
  • confrontation
  • survival
Q5

Why does Emily leave Youcef behind at the end?

With sirens approaching and the situation becoming lethal, Emily faces an impossible choice. She chooses to flee and survive, leaving the injured Youcef behind. This decision reflects her transformation into someone prioritizing her own survival above all else, even the person she loved.

  • Youcef
  • escape
  • sirens
  • survival
  • abandonment
Q6

Why does Emily start her own credit card fraud ring in South America?

After escaping to South America, Emily transforms from a desperate victim of the fraud system into its perpetuator. She now runs her own credit card fraud operation, recruiting desperate people with the same promise of quick money that once lured her. The ending shows her achieving her dream of escape but at a severe moral cost.

Foreshadowing: Emily's ambition and resourcefulness throughout the film hint at her potential to become a leader in the criminal world.

  • South America
  • fraud ring
  • criminal enterprise
  • recruitment
  • transformation
Q7

What is the dummy shopper scheme that Emily joins?

The dummy shopper service is a front for credit card fraud. Participants use counterfeit credit cards and fake IDs to purchase merchandise, receiving a cut of the profits. The operation uses a risky system where buyers don't know if their cards will work, creating constant tension and dangerous situations.

  • dummy shopper
  • credit card fraud
  • fake ID
  • counterfeit
Q8

Why is Emily upset about the job at Liz's agency?

After being promised a real position at Liz's advertising agency, Emily discovers the opportunity is only an unpaid internship. This betrayal, combined with her growing involvement in crime, pushes her further into the criminal world and creates conflict with her best friend Liz.

  • Liz
  • internship
  • advertising agency
  • job
  • betrayal
Q9

Why does Youcef decide to rob the fraud operation?

After being ostracized from the fraud ring due to Emily's activities, Youcef loses his income and needs money to help his mother. He devises a plan to rob the very scam operation he was previously part of, showing his desperation and the breakdown of his relationship with his criminal associates.

Foreshadowing: Khalil's exposure of Emily's scams during family dinner leads to Youcef's ostracization.

  • Youcef
  • robbery
  • fraud ring
  • Khalil
  • mother
  • desperation
Q10

What draws Emily to Youcef beyond the criminal activities?

After the car dealership incident, Youcef treats Emily's injuries, and they bond over shared dreams, Emily wants to travel to South America, while Youcef hopes to invest in rental properties. This emotional connection deepens their romantic relationship and creates complicity in their criminal endeavors.

  • Youcef
  • relationship
  • romance
  • dreams
  • South America
  • bonding

Movie threads

More Movies Like Emily the Criminal, by Mood & Story

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

Modern Descent into Crime Movies like Emily the Criminal

Ordinary people pushed into a criminal underworld by financial desperation. If you liked watching Emily's financial struggles lead her to crime, you'll find similar tension in these movies. Discover other stories about ordinary people pushed into a life of crime by debt and desperation, blurring moral lines for survival.

  • desperate
  • gritty
  • tense
  • anxious
  • cunning
  • morally ambiguous
  • Tone: tense, gritty, desperate
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a relatable protagonist facing an insurmountable financial or social obstacle. A risky opportunity presents itself, leading to a steady, methodical progression into the criminal world. The journey explores the moral compromises and psychological costs of this descent, often set against a gritty, contemporary urban backdrop.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped for their shared focus on economic desperation as a catalyst for crime. They share a tense, grounded tone and a steady pacing that mirrors the protagonist's step-by-step involvement. The emotional weight is heavy, driven by realistic stakes and morally ambiguous choices.

Emily the Criminal movie poster

Emily the Criminal

2022
The Man Who Cheated Himself movie poster

The Man Who Cheated Himself

1950
Once a Thief movie poster

Once a Thief

1965
Dark Figure of Crime movie poster

Dark Figure of Crime

2018
Federal Bank Heist movie poster

Federal Bank Heist

2011
Deadlock movie poster

Deadlock

1970
Man on the Edge movie poster

Man on the Edge

2022
The Great Riviera Bank Robbery movie poster

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery

1980

Morally Ambiguous Thrillers like Emily the Criminal

Thrillers where the line between hero and villain becomes dangerously blurred. For viewers who enjoyed the ethical dilemmas in Emily the Criminal, this list features movies with similar moral gray areas. These thrillers explore complex characters making bad choices for understandable reasons, creating a gripping and thought-provoking experience.

  • morally ambiguous
  • tense
  • complex
  • heavy
  • anxious
  • cunning
  • Tone: tense, heavy, complex
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The central narrative pattern involves a protagonist who, while often sympathetic, engages in increasingly dubious actions. The audience is compelled to question their allegiances as the character's motivations and methods are tested. These stories frequently end on a bittersweet or ambiguous note, reflecting the cost of navigating a world without clear right or wrong.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their exploration of moral ambiguity as a primary source of tension and drama. They share a heavy emotional weight and a tense tone, forcing viewers to engage with complex ethical questions alongside the characters. The pacing is typically steady, allowing the moral descent to feel earned and impactful.

Presumed Innocent movie poster

Presumed Innocent

1990
The Man Who Cheated Himself movie poster

The Man Who Cheated Himself

1950
True Story movie poster

True Story

2015
Absence of Malice movie poster

Absence of Malice

1981
The End of Violence movie poster

The End of Violence

1997
Marlowe movie poster

Marlowe

2023
No Rest for the Wicked movie poster

No Rest for the Wicked

2011
Seeking Justice movie poster

Seeking Justice

2012

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Every angle

Emily the Criminal (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

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

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