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Timeline

Hunter Killer (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 122 min · English
Echo score 65
JustWatch #4,986 78
Directed by
Donovan Marsh
Starring
Gerard Butler, Corey Johnson, Linda Cardellini, Michael Nyqvist, Common, Yuri Kolokolnikov
Budget
$40M

Deep in the Arctic, a US submarine captain discovers a dangerous Russian coup underway. The president has been kidnapped, and global stability hangs in the balance. Facing a ticking clock, the captain assembles an elite team of Navy SEALs to rescue the leader and prevent a potential World War III. They must navigate perilous underwater conditions and confront formidable adversaries in a race against time.

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 Hunter Killer
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Hunter Killer (2018)

Where can you watch Hunter Killer? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Fawesome and Amazon MX Player: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Hunter Killer Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Hunter Killer (2018) 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. USS Tampa Bay Disappears

    The U.S. submarine, the USS Tampa Bay, mysteriously vanishes while tracking a Russian Akula-class submarine in the frigid Arctic waters. Its disappearance raises alarms within the military, prompting an urgent response.

    Where
    Arctic Waters
  2. Commander Joe Glass Takes Charge

    In response to the disappearance, Rear Admiral John Fisk orders the USS Arkansas, a Virginia-class submarine, to investigate. The mission is led by the unconventional Commander Joe Glass, who has just been promoted to this critical position.

    Where
    USS Arkansas
  3. NSA Identifies Connection

    Jayne Norquist, a senior analyst at the National Security Agency, makes a troubling connection between the USS Tampa Bay's disappearance and a high-stakes meeting involving the Russian Defense Minister and President Zakarin. She urges for increased surveillance on this meeting to monitor potential threats.

    Where
    NSA Headquarters
  4. Navy SEAL Team Deployed

    A Navy SEAL team, led by Lieutenant Bill Beaman, is dispatched to observe a crucial Russian naval base covertly. The team faces immediate danger when new member Martinelli collapses unexpectedly during their HALO jump.

    Where
    Russian Naval Base
  5. Coup at the Russian Naval Base

    Upon arriving at the Russian base, the SEAL team witnesses Defense Minister Dmitri Durov staging a coup. He takes President Zakarin hostage, revealing a dangerous intent to incite war with the United States.

    Where
    Russian Naval Base
  6. Discovery of the Lost Submarine

    Back aboard the USS Arkansas, Commander Glass and his crew make a grim discovery of the lost USS Tampa Bay, which has suffered a torpedo attack. They also find a sunken Russian submarine, indicating signs of sabotage.

    Where
    USS Arkansas
  7. Under Attack

    As the situation escalates, the USS Arkansas comes under fire from a hidden Russian submarine. Demonstrating his leadership skills, Glass counters the attack and successfully rescues Russian survivors, including Captain Sergei Andropov.

    Where
    USS Arkansas
  8. U.S. Officials Prepare for War

    Realizing the gravity of the coup, U.S. military officials, led by Admiral Charles Donnegan, recommend preparations for potential war. However, Jayne's analysis suggests that Durov is acting independently, which leads to a cautious strategy.

    Where
    Military Command Center
  9. Alliance with Andropov

    Commander Glass persuades Captain Andropov to assist with their mission, leveraging his knowledge of the naval base's minefield. This critical alliance proves essential for navigating the perilous waters undetected.

    Where
    USS Arkansas
  10. Rescue Operation

    The SEAL team successfully rescues President Zakarin, although they suffer heavy losses, losing two members in the process. Lieutenant Beaman brings the wounded president back to the Arkansas, showcasing the high stakes of their mission.

    Where
    Russian Naval Base
  11. Beaman's Selfless Return

    In a heroic move, Beaman returns alone to rescue Martinelli, who had been left behind. This act of bravery underlines the team's commitment to each other amidst dangerous circumstances.

    Where
    Russian Naval Base
  12. Standoff Between Fleets

    With U.S. and Russian fleets on the brink of battle, the Arkansas is targeted by Durov's forces. Glass faces the dilemma of retaliating or exercising restraint, recognizing the risk of escalating conflict.

    Where
    Open Sea
  13. Andropov's Defiance

    Just as conflict seems inevitable, Andropov's loyal crew defies orders to intercept the missiles launched at the Arkansas. Their decisive actions turn the tide, destroying Durov's naval headquarters and averting disaster.

    Where
    Open Sea
  14. Mutual Respect Achieved

    With the threat of war averted, Glass returns to the Russian naval base, ensuring that Zakarin and Andropov's surviving crew make it home safely. A poignant farewell signifies the mutual respect forged during the crisis.

    Where
    Russian Naval Base
  15. Return to the U.S.

    As the mission concludes, Beaman returns with Martinelli, and the Arkansas crew sets sail for the United States. They leave with the weight of their harrowing experiences, forever changed by the events that transpired.

    Where
    USS Arkansas

Last updated: October 31, 2024 at 15:07

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Timeline questions answered

Hunter Killer Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Hunter Killer (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Commander Glass rescue the Russian submarine crew?

Glass decides to rescue the Russian survivors because he recognizes that the hidden submarine that attacked them was not acting under official Russian military orders. By saving Captain Andropov and his crew, Glass gains a valuable ally who possesses critical knowledge about the naval base's minefield, which becomes essential for navigating undetected during their rescue mission.

  • commander glass
  • russian submarine
  • captain andropov
  • rescue
  • alliance
Q2

Why does Defense Minister Durov take President Zakarin hostage?

Defense Minister Durov stages the coup to incite a war between Russia and the United States. He manipulates the situation by using the USS Tampa Bay's disappearance as a pretext, believing that escalating tensions through this hostage situation will trigger the conflict he seeks.

  • dmitri durov
  • president zakarin
  • coup
  • russian defense minister
  • hostage
Q3

How does Commander Glass get Captain Andropov to cooperate?

Glass persuades Andropov to assist by highlighting that Durov's conspiracy threatens both their nations and Andropov's own integrity. He leverages Andropov's knowledge of the naval base's minefield, convincing him that helping the Arkansas navigate undetected is the only way to stop the conspiracy and restore order.

  • joe glass
  • sergei andropov
  • cooperation
  • minefield
  • navigation
Q4

Why does Glass refuse to fire back at the Russian submarine during the standoff?

Glass chooses restraint because he understands that retaliating would play directly into Durov's plan to trigger a full-scale war between the United States and Russia. By refusing to engage, he prevents the very conflict that Durov orchestrated, demonstrating strategic thinking under extreme pressure.

  • commander glass
  • restraint
  • standoff
  • russian fleet
  • world war 3
Q5

What happened to the USS Tampa Bay submarine?

The USS Tampa Bay was destroyed by a torpedo attack from a hidden Russian submarine, though the attack was part of Durov's conspiracy rather than an official Russian military action. The Arkansas later discovers the wreckage along with a sabotaged Russian submarine, revealing that Durov orchestrated the incident to create a pretext for war.

  • uss tampa bay
  • torpedo attack
  • sabotage
  • conspiracy
Q6

Why does Andropov's crew intercept the missiles fired at the Arkansas?

Andropov's loyal crew defies orders from the conspirators because they remain loyal to their captain and recognize that Durov's plan is treacherous. When Durov commands the attack on the surfaced Arkansas, these crew members intercept the missiles and destroy Durov's naval headquarters, effectively ending the conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: Glass's earlier decision to rescue Andropov and treat his crew with respect plants the seeds for this loyalty.

  • andropov crew
  • defection
  • missiles
  • conspiracy end
Q7

How does the SEAL team manage to rescue President Zakarin?

The SEAL team, led by Lieutenant Beaman, infiltrates the Russian naval base where Durov is holding Zakarin. They successfully extract the president but suffer heavy losses, losing two team members in the process. Beaman then makes the dangerous decision to return alone to rescue Martinelli, who had been left behind after collapsing during the HALO jump.

  • lieutenant beaman
  • seal team
  • president zakarin
  • rescue mission
Q8

What role does NSA analyst Jayne Norquist play in preventing the war?

Jayne Norquist's analysis proves crucial because she identifies the connection between the USS Tampa Bay's disappearance and the suspicious meeting between the Russian Defense Minister and President Zakarin. Her assessment that Durov is acting independently of the Russian military convinces Fisk to pursue a cautious strategy rather than immediate military retaliation, allowing time for the rescue operation to succeed.

  • jayne norquist
  • nsa analyst
  • connection
  • prevention
Q9

Why does Lieutenant Beaman go back to rescue Martinelli?

Beaman returns alone to save Martinelli because the team was forced to leave him behind during the extraction of President Zakarin. Despite being wounded himself and knowing the risks, Beaman demonstrates selfless loyalty to his team member, successfully bringing Martinelli back to the Arkansas.

  • beaman
  • martinelli
  • seal team
  • rescue
  • loyalty
Q10

What is the significance of the Virginia-class USS Arkansas in the mission?

The USS Arkansas serves as both the command vessel for Glass and the rescue platform for President Zakarin. Its Virginia-class capabilities allow it to navigate the treacherous Arctic waters and接近 the Russian coast undetected, while its crew works alongside the SEAL team and Russian allies to execute the high-stakes rescue operation.

  • uss arkansas
  • submarine
  • virginia class
  • rescue platform

Movie threads

More Movies Like Hunter Killer, by Mood & Story

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

Claustrophobic Submarine Thrillers like Hunter Killer

High-stakes military dramas set in the tense, confined world beneath the waves. Discover movies like Hunter Killer that immerse you in the high-tension world of submarine warfare. If you enjoyed the claustrophobic suspense and strategic military action of Hunter Killer, you'll find similar thrillers here featuring underwater confrontations and race-against-time missions.

  • claustrophobic
  • tense
  • suspenseful
  • technical
  • urgent
  • military
  • Tone: tense, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a skilled crew facing an imminent threat, often political or militaristic, while trapped in a vulnerable submarine. The story unfolds through a series of tactical challenges, close-quarters combat, and nerve-wracking stealth maneuvers, building towards a climactic confrontation that averts a larger crisis.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their setting, which directly dictates the tone and pacing. They share a feeling of being trapped, a reliance on technology and expertise, and the constant, palpable threat of silent destruction in the deep, creating a uniquely intense and cohesive viewing experience.

High-Stakes Political Action Thrillers like Hunter Killer

Elite teams race against the clock to stop a global conflict from erupting. Find more movies like Hunter Killer, where elite operatives undertake a desperate mission to prevent a global catastrophe. These similar thrillers feature political intrigue, special forces action, and a tense race against time to stop a world-ending event, delivering heavy emotional weight and heroic conclusions.

  • urgent
  • tense
  • heroic
  • political
  • relentless
  • high-stakes
  • Tone: tense, grim
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a clear, urgent chain of events: a destabilizing incident occurs, a capable leader and their team are assembled, and they embark on a perilous mission against a powerful, hidden enemy. The narrative is driven by escalating stakes, strategic confrontations, and a final, decisive act that saves the day, though often at a significant cost.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared narrative DNA of a geopolitical crisis and a last-ditch heroic effort. They consistently deliver a fast pace, high intensity, and a tense tone, focusing on proactive protagonists making difficult choices under extreme pressure to achieve a hopeful, yet hard-won, resolution.

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Movies Like Hunter Killer

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Every angle

Hunter Killer (2018) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Hunter Killer 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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