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Heart of Stone (2023) movie poster

Timeline

Heart of Stone (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 122 min · English
Echo score 66
Directed by
Tom Harper
Starring
Gal Gadot, Jing Lusi, Sophie Okonedo, Alia Bhatt, Matthias Schweighöfer, Enzo Cilenti

Rachel Stone is a formidable intelligence operative tasked with protecting a highly valuable and dangerous asset for her organization. As the world faces potential chaos, she must use all her skills and determination to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. The mission tests her abilities and resolve in a suspenseful, action-packed thriller.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Heart of Stone
  5. 5 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Heart of Stone Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Heart of Stone (2023) 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. MI6 Mission Begins

    In the picturesque setting of the Italian Alps, an MI6 team starts a critical operation to extract a dangerous arms dealer, Mulvaney. The team consists of various agents, including Rachel Stone, who is assigned to infiltrate a ski lodge casino under the guise of tech support.

    Where
    Italian Alps
  2. Cyber Infiltration

    Rachel must hack into the casino's security systems to obtain a crucial encryption key. With internet connectivity down, she devises a risky plan to access the phone of the head of security directly, putting her cover on the line.

    Where
    Ski Lodge Casino
  3. Blackjack Distraction

    To maintain her cover while waiting for an opportunity to hack the system, Rachel engages in a hand of blackjack. Unfortunately, she quickly disappears from the casino floor after setting her plan into motion.

    Where
    Ski Lodge Casino
  4. Patrons' Betting on Chaos

    Meanwhile, field agents Parker and Yang uncover a disturbing trend among the patrons as they wager on the body count of ongoing combat involving US Navy SEALs. This alarming realization highlights a breach of military-grade encryption that threatens national security.

    Where
    Ski Lodge Casino
  5. Failed Heart Attack Ruse

    The team's original plan to fake a heart attack on Mulvaney falters when his bodyguard steps in to thwart their efforts. However, Parker successfully isolates Mulvaney, leading him to a cable car for extraction.

    Where
    Cable Car Station
  6. Cover Sabotaged

    Parker's communication is compromised when Keya Dhawan, aware of the MI6 presence, reveals her knowledge of their operation. The urgency increases for MI6 as threats to Parker's safety escalate.

    Where
    Cable Car Station
  7. Rachel's Ruse

    In a moment of quick thinking, Rachel pretends to injure herself to allow her team to continue without her. She then reaches out to Charter for support while plotting her next move against Mulvaney.

  8. Confrontation with Mulvaney

    Rachel bravely confronts and neutralizes a six-man security team, eliminating potential threats to her mission. However, in a heart-wrenching moment, Mulvaney ingests cyanide before the MI6 team can secure him.

    Where
    Cable Car
  9. Reprimand in London

    Back in London, the unsuccessful mission leads to consequences as the MI6 team faces reprimand for their failure to capture Mulvaney. Discussions regarding Charter, the enigmatic organization, hint at a larger conspiracy.

    Where
    London
  10. Charter's Investigation

    Rachel is summoned to Charter's headquarters, where she is criticized for her reckless methods. Charter has been tracking Keya and reveals her troubling history with hacking and criminal organizations.

    Where
    Charter Headquarters
  11. Location of The Heart

    The MI6 learns that Keya has lured Mulvaney for 'The Heart', a powerful Quantum Computer with global hacking capabilities. They devise a plan to intercept Keya and secure The Heart before it falls into the wrong hands.

    Where
    Lisbon
  12. Betrayal Uncovered

    Parker's true motives are revealed as he turns against the MI6 team, confessing he is after The Heart for revenge. This shocking betrayal changes the course of their mission and puts Rachel's life in danger.

  13. Skydiving to The Locker

    Rachel takes a daring leap from a plane, skydiving towards The Locker, the blimp housing The Heart. Her determination to stop Parker intensifies as she confronts the threats from the skies.

    Where
    Above The Locker
  14. Showdown with Parker

    An intense battle ensues onboard The Locker as Rachel confronts Parker while Keya makes a strategic move for The Heart. The confrontation leads them both to a freefall climax with their fates hanging in the balance.

    Where
    The Locker
  15. A New Beginning

    After the clashing with Parker and surviving the onslaught, Rachel chooses compassion over vengeance and proposes to Keya to join forces with Charter. This decision marks a turning point in both their lives for a more hopeful future.

    Where
    Senegal Desert

Last updated: November 04, 2024 at 01:13

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Timeline questions answered

Heart of Stone Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Heart of Stone (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Rachel pretend to twist her ankle at the cable car station?

Rachel pretends to sustain a twisted ankle to create a distraction that allows the MI6 team to proceed with their mission without her. This ruse enables her to stay behind and contact Charter for covert assistance, while her team continues toward Mulvaney without suspecting she has other plans.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Rachel was introduced as tech support rather than a field agent, making her injury a believable excuse to remain behind.

  • rachel stone
  • twisted ankle
  • cable car
  • distraction
  • mi6
Q2

Why does Mulvaney swallow cyanide before being captured?

Mulvaney ingests cyanide to prevent himself from being taken alive by the MI6 agents. As an arms dealer with dangerous connections, he knows the information he possesses could lead to catastrophic consequences if revealed, making death preferable to interrogation and capture.

Foreshadowing: The mission briefing identifies Mulvaney as a dangerous asset, suggesting he would have extensive knowledge that intelligence agencies would desperately want to extract.

  • mulvaney
  • cyanide
  • suicide
  • capture
  • arms dealer
Q3

What is The Heart and why is it so important?

The Heart is a powerful quantum computer capable of hacking into any system globally and predicting future occurrences. Its ability to access classified military encryption and foresee events makes it the most valuable and dangerous technological asset in the world, sought after by governments, criminal organizations, and Charter alike.

Foreshadowing: Early in the film, military-grade encryption is breached, demonstrating The Heart's capabilities and establishing why multiple parties are competing to control it.

  • the heart
  • quantum computer
  • hacking
  • prediction
  • charter
Q4

Why does Parker turn against the MI6 team and betray Rachel?

Parker reveals that Charter orchestrated a drone strike in Chechnya that killed his family, leaving him as the sole survivor. Though he worked as an MI6 agent, his true motivation all along was to get close to Charter and seize The Heart for revenge against the organization that destroyed his life.

Foreshadowing: Parker isolating Mulvaney and insisting on handling the extraction himself shows his willingness to take control of high-value operations.

  • parker
  • betrayal
  • charter
  • chechnya
  • drone strike
  • revenge
Q5

What is Charter and how does it operate?

Charter is a covert peacekeeping organization consisting of elite ex-intelligence agents who operate outside governmental confines. Members are given titles analogous to a deck of cards, such as Jack of Hearts, Nomad, and Six of Hearts. They take on missions to prevent global threats but operate outside official channels, making them both valuable and controversial.

Foreshadowing: After the failed Mulvaney mission, MI6 discusses their suspicions about Charter and their concern over compromised military encryption.

  • charter
  • secret organization
  • peacekeeping
  • ex-agents
  • deck of cards
Q6

Why does The Heart require Keya's biometric access?

The Heart was programmed to require Keya's biometric access as a security measure, since her exceptional hacking skills were instrumental in its creation and operation. This explains why Parker, despite capturing The Heart, cannot use it without her, without Keya's unique biological confirmation, the quantum computer remains inaccessible.

Foreshadowing: Keya's extraordinary capabilities were nurtured by a billionaire who created The Heart, establishing her intrinsic connection to the technology.

  • the heart
  • keya
  • biometric
  • access
  • quantum computer
Q7

How do Rachel and Keya survive falling from The Locker?

During their confrontation on The Locker, Rachel and Keya end up in a freefall after Parker escapes with The Heart. Both deploy parachutes mid-fall, allowing them to safely land in the Senegal desert despite the dangerous height and circumstances.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Rachel uses a parachute to ski down the mountain during the Mulvaney mission, establishing her willingness and ability to use parachuting equipment in extreme situations.

  • rachel
  • keya
  • fall
  • parachute
  • senegal
  • the locker
Q8

Why does Rachel offer Keya a position with Charter instead of capturing her?

Rachel chooses compassion over capture because she understands Keya's tragic backstory, her parents were killed by experiments conducted by the billionaire who mentored her. Rather than punishing Keya for her criminal actions, Rachel proposes that Charter can dismantle the billionaire's influence while giving Keya a legitimate path forward, offering redemption instead of imprisonment.

Foreshadowing: Charter's investigation revealed Keya's troubled history and how she was manipulated by criminals after being abandoned by her mentor.

  • rachel
  • keya
  • charter
  • offer
  • redemption
  • compassion
Q9

Why does Keya orchestrate the casino scheme to lure Mulvaney?

Keya orchestrated the entire casino operation to draw out Mulvaney because he was pursuing The Heart, the quantum computer she helped create. By using the MI6 mission as cover, she intended to intercept Mulvaney and recover The Heart for herself, leveraging her understanding of the technology's capabilities and its potential value.

Foreshadowing: Charter reveals that Keya orchestrated the casino ploy specifically to lure Mulvaney, who was in pursuit of The Heart.

  • keya
  • mulvaney
  • casino
  • hack
  • the heart
  • lure
Q10

What happened to Parker in Chechnya that drives his revenge?

Parker previously served in Chechnya where Charter orchestrated a drone strike that killed his family, his wife and children, while he barely survived. This traumatic event left him with intense hatred toward Charter, motivating his long-term plan to infiltrate MI6, get close to Charter, and steal The Heart as retribution for destroying his life.

Foreshadowing: The Kings mention Parker's harrowing past in Chechnya during their meeting, hinting at deeper personal stakes behind his betrayal.

  • parker
  • chechnya
  • drone strike
  • family
  • revenge
  • charter
Q11

Why does Rachel stab herself to remove the hacking device?

Parker injects Rachel with a hacking device that allows Keya to infiltrate Charter's systems through her body. Realizing the severity of the breach, Rachel makes the extreme decision to stab herself and remove the device before the hack can fully compromise Charter's operations, sacrificing her own safety to protect the organization.

Foreshadowing: Parker reveals he injected Rachel with the device specifically to use her as a trojan horse against Charter.

  • rachel
  • hacking device
  • self-harm
  • remove
  • charter
  • keya
Q12

Where is The Heart located and how is it protected?

The Heart is housed in a massive blimp called The Locker, floating at an altitude of 85,000 feet above the earth. Its extreme height makes it nearly impossible to reach through conventional military means, providing Charter with a secure, mobile stronghold that few could ever penetrate.

Foreshadowing: Jack deduces The Heart's location by analyzing the blimp's flight patterns and altitude capabilities.

  • the locker
  • blimp
  • heart
  • altitude
  • location
  • charter

Movie threads

More Movies Like Heart of Stone, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Heart of Stone 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 Espionage Movies like Heart of Stone

Intelligence operatives race to prevent catastrophic global threats from powerful technology. If you enjoyed the technological threat and breakneck pace of Heart of Stone, you'll like these movies. They feature similar stories of agents preventing global chaos, with a focus on advanced tech, secret organizations, and relentless, action-packed missions.

  • tense
  • urgent
  • action-packed
  • high-stakes
  • technological
  • espionage
  • Tone: tense, urgent
  • Pacing: fast-paced, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a straightforward, mission-driven structure where a protagonist, often part of a secretive organization, must secure or neutralize a powerful technological object or system before it falls into the wrong hands. Betrayals and hidden agendas are common obstacles, but the plot remains focused on the urgent, external threat.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared high-intensity pacing, tense tone, and a central plot revolving around a technological MacGuffin that poses a clear and present danger to global security. The experience is defined by urgency, high-tech action, and a determined protagonist.

Female-Led Action Thrillers with Heroes like in Heart of Stone

Capable and resilient women take center stage in dangerous, high-octane operations. Fans of Rachel Stone's determined hero in Heart of Stone will find more powerful female leads here. These films feature capable women in the lead, facing extreme danger in fast-paced thrillers focused on espionage, crime, and high-stakes missions.

  • determined
  • action-packed
  • tense
  • gripping
  • female protagonist
  • empowering
  • Tone: tense, determined
  • Pacing: fast-paced, gripping
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows the protagonist's journey as she is tested by a series of escalating challenges, often involving combat, chases, and strategic confrontations. While there may be elements of personal motivation or past trauma, the primary focus is on her external mission and demonstrating her competence under extreme pressure, typically leading to a victorious conclusion.

Why they belong together: These films are united by a central, action-oriented female lead, a fast pace driven by suspense and set-pieces, and a tone that balances tense seriousness with the empowerment of a capable heroine succeeding against the odds. The focus is on physical action and determined resolve.

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Movies Like Heart of Stone

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Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Heart of Stone (2023) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Heart of Stone 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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