Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

High Flying Bird (2019) movie poster

Timeline

High Flying Bird (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 90 min · English
Echo score 71
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Steven Soderbergh
Starring
Zazie Beetz, Glenn Fleshler, Melvin Gregg, Michael Durodola, Andre Holland, Zachary Quinto
Budget
$2M

During a pro basketball lockout, agent Ray Burke finds himself embroiled in a tense conflict between the league and its players. Facing a career crisis, he races against the clock to discover a critical loophole that could shift the balance of power. With just 72 hours to act, Ray must use all his skill and cunning to outmaneuver the league and determine who ultimately controls the game.

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 High Flying Bird
  6. 6 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

15 events in order · contains spoilers

High Flying Bird Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of High Flying Bird (2019) 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. Agency in Crisis

    Ray Burke faces an existential crisis as his sports agency teeters on the brink of financial ruin. His boss, David Starr, informs him that the company's credit cards are useless, leading to clients leaving and job insecurity for Ray and his colleagues.

    Where
    Sports Agency Office
  2. Seeking Solutions

    Determined to rescue the agency, Ray visits Jamero Umber's mother, Emera, to negotiate a deal, but his efforts are swiftly rebuffed. A sense of urgency looms as Ray realizes he needs a solid plan to salvage his client Erick Scott's future.

    Where
    Jamero Umber's Home
  3. Advice from an Ex

    Ray's ex-wife, Myra, sheds light on the critical situation, explaining that a lockout requires renegotiation between agents and players. However, she warns him that any reconciliation is contingent on resolving the issues between team owners and television networks, which could last over a month.

    Where
    Myra's Residence
  4. Twitter Feud Erupts

    Tensions rise as Erick Scott and Jamero Umber engage in a very public Twitter feud, stirring media frenzy and increasing friction within the agency. This online spat escalates, drawing significant attention and complicating matters for Ray.

    Where
    Social Media
  5. Back Court Day Event

    Ray takes proactive measures by attending Back Court Day, a community gathering showcasing a youth basketball camp and featuring star athletes. He hopes to quell the ongoing tensions and find a way to stabilize the situation amidst the chaos.

    Where
    Back Court Day Event
  6. Confrontation at the Event

    During Back Court Day, the rivalry between Erick and Jamero comes to a head as they confront one another over their online feud. Their clash results in a one-on-one basketball game, which captivates the attending children and is captured, later going viral with over 24 million views.

    Where
    Back Court Day
  7. Innovative Streaming Strategy

    Inspired by the viral video, Ray devises an ambitious plan to stream games online via platforms like Snapchat, YouTube, and Netflix. This strategy aims to provide players like Erick a source of income during the lockout, alleviating their financial strains.

    Where
    Ray's Office
  8. Rumors and Reality

    Sam meets with Ray, expressing concerns over Erick's intentions regarding Ray's future at the agency. She reveals that Erick might be looking for alternative opportunities, but they miss the underlying scheme orchestrated by Erick to distract from the core issue.

    Where
    Café
  9. The Grand Scheme

    Ray's plan materializes as he convinces athletes to sign contracts with his own pay-per-view and streaming platforms. Erick's moves ultimately aid Ray in achieving his goals, importantly restraining the players to the agency until the lockout concludes.

    Where
    Ray's Office
  10. Power Struggle Unfolds

    Ray reveals his strategic motives to David Starr, explaining how the entire situation was crafted to hasten the end of the lockout. This revelation not only helps resolve the lockout but also positions Ray favorably within the agency hierarchy.

    Where
    Agency Conference Room
  11. New Beginnings

    As tensions ease, Sam transitions into a role with the Players’ Association, marking a new chapter in her career. Unexpectedly, she and Erick begin to develop a romantic relationship, showcasing the personal dynamics amid the professional chaos.

    Where
    Players’ Association Office
  12. The Bible Unveiled

    Sam discovers a profound book, dubbed 'The Bible', that Ray had previously entrusted to Erick. As she explores its insights, she contemplates its relevance to their current dilemmas, setting a reflective tone for the future.

    Where
    Sam's Home
  13. Secret Meetings

    While Sam dives into the book's wisdom, Ray secretly meets with Harry Edwards, the author, aiming to glean insights that can influence their agency's direction amidst the lockout chaos. Their discussion hints at broader implications for the athletes' futures.

    Where
    Harry Edwards' Office
  14. Reflections on Change

    As Ray continues to maneuver through the aftermath of the power struggle, he reflects on the changes within the agency and his own career trajectory. The interwoven personal and professional arcs lead to a transformative period for all involved.

    Where
    Ray's Office
  15. A New Chapter

    With the lockout resolved and new relationships forming, both professionally and personally, the characters embark on a new chapter. The story concludes with a sense of hope for the future, reflecting on the lessons learned during a chaotic yet pivotal time.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 19:04

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

High Flying Bird Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of High Flying Bird (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Ray Burke's sports agency in financial trouble?

Ray's agency faces financial ruin because a pro basketball lockout has halted the season, making the company's credit cards useless and causing clients to leave. His boss David Starr warns him that the agency is on the brink of collapse, putting Ray and his colleagues' jobs at risk.

  • lockout
  • basketball
  • financial crisis
  • agency
  • clients leaving
Q2

What causes the basketball lockout in the movie?

The lockout creates a dispute between team owners and television networks, stopping games and preventing players from earning. Ray's ex-wife Myra explains that the conflict must be resolved before any renegotiation between agents and players can happen, which could take over a month.

  • lockout
  • owners
  • networks
  • dispute
  • basketball season
Q3

Why does the Twitter feud between Erick Scott and Jamero Umber matter?

The public Twitter feud between the two players creates media attention that complicates Ray's efforts to resolve the crisis. The conflict eventually leads to a physical confrontation at Back Court Day, which becomes the catalyst for Ray's entire streaming strategy.

  • twitter
  • feud
  • Erick Scott
  • Jamero Umber
  • media
Q4

How does the Back Court Day video go viral?

At Back Court Day, Erick and Jamero confront each other and play a one-on-one basketball game. The kids at the event record the confrontation, and the footage spreads across social media, amassing 24 million views. This viral moment gives Ray the idea to stream games online.

  • Back Court Day
  • viral
  • 24 million views
  • video
  • basketball game
Q5

Why does Ray want to stream games online during the lockout?

Ray proposes streaming games via Snapchat, YouTube, and Netflix to provide players like Erick Scott with income during the lockout. This addresses the financial pressure players face while also creating a new revenue stream that doesn't depend on the league.

  • streaming
  • gchat
  • YouTube
  • Netflix
  • inames online
  • Snapcome
  • lockout
Q6

Why is Erick Scott firing Ray part of a larger scheme?

Erick's plan to fire Ray is actually a strategic ruse. The rumor distracts from the real issue, the players themselves. Erick's dismissal keeps players tethered to the agency, which allows them to resume their careers once the lockout ends. This inadvertently supports Ray's goal of getting players to sign with his streaming platforms.

  • Erick Scott
  • firing
  • scheme
  • players
  • agency
  • streaming platform
Q7

Why does Ray reveal his plan to David Starr?

Ray reveals his entire strategy to David Starr, explaining that the entire situation, including the fake firing, was orchestrated to expedite the end of the lockout. This audacious move helps resolve the lockout faster and positions Ray to surpass Starr's authority within the agency.

  • David Starr
  • reveal
  • plan
  • lockout
  • power struggle
  • agency
Q8

What is The Bible that Ray gives Erick Scott?

The Bible is Ray's nickname for Harry Edwards's book *The Revolt of the Black Athlete*. Ray entrusts the book to Erick, and later Sam reads it, finding profound insights relevant to the players' struggles during the lockout. The book represents the intellectual foundation for the athletes' revolt against the league system.

  • The Bible
  • Harry Edwards
  • Revolt of the Black Athlete
  • book
  • Erick Scott
Q9

Why does Sam take a job with the Players' Association?

After the lockout resolves, Sam leaves Ray's agency to begin a new professional chapter with the Players' Association. This career move represents her growth and the shifting power dynamics in the basketball world, as she becomes part of the players' organization.

  • Sam
  • Players' Association
  • career
  • job
  • new chapter
Q10

Why does Ray secretly meet with Harry Edwards?

Ray secretly meets with Harry Edwards, the author of *The Revolt of the Black Athlete*, to seek guidance and insights that could influence their agency's direction during the lockout. The meeting suggests Ray is looking for deeper strategic and philosophical wisdom to navigate the players' rebellion against the league.

  • Harry Edwards
  • secret meeting
  • author
  • guidance
  • strategy
Q11

How do Sam and Erick Scott develop a relationship?

During the professional transitions after the lockout resolves, Sam and Erick unexpectedly develop a romantic relationship. Their connection forms amid the chaos of the power struggle and career changes, representing a personal victory alongside their professional successes.

  • Sam
  • Erick Scott
  • romance
  • relationship
  • personal

Movie threads

More Movies Like High Flying Bird, by Mood & Story

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

Cerebral Corporate Power Plays like in High Flying Bird

Stories where brains, not brawn, are the ultimate weapon in high-stakes games. Explore movies like High Flying Bird where the tension is intellectual. These films feature clever protagonists racing against time to outsmart powerful institutions, offering a similar vibe of strategic, thought-provoking drama.

  • tense
  • cerebral
  • strategic
  • anxious
  • thought-provoking
  • urgent
  • Tone: tense, cerebral
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives typically follow a sharp protagonist, often an agent or fixer, who must navigate a complex web of power dynamics. The plot revolves around a race against the clock to uncover a key advantage, manipulate media, or shift control, emphasizing mental agility over physical action.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on strategic, non-violent conflict, a tense and fast-paced tone driven by intellectual stakes, and a mood that is cerebral, anxious, and powerful.

Bittersweet System-Shaking Stories like in High Flying Bird

Stories where winning the battle doesn't mean a perfectly happy ending. Find movies similar to High Flying Bird that explore complex victories. If you liked the nuanced ending where the protagonist succeeds but the win is intellectual and systemic, you'll appreciate these thought-provoking dramas.

  • thought-provoking
  • powerful
  • urgent
  • bittersweet
  • strategic
  • tense
  • Tone: tense, thought-provoking
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey involves challenging an established order or powerful entity. The protagonist succeeds in creating meaningful change or exposing a truth, but the resolution is intellectually satisfying rather than emotionally jubilant, often leaving relationships or the full impact of the victory ambiguous.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific emotional arc: a complex, strategic plot leading to a victory that feels earned yet bittersweet. The mood is a mix of thought-provoking urgency and powerful, but not wholly happy, resolution.

If you liked this

Movies Like High Flying Bird

Similar movies to High Flying Bird: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

High Flying Bird (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about High Flying Bird 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