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Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014) movie poster

Timeline

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 91 mins · English
JustWatch #13,733 1
Directed by
Nick Gomez
Starring
Christina Ricci, Gregg Henry, Clea DuVall, Stephen McHattie, Brett Donahue, Hannah Emily Anderson

In 1892, Lizzie Borden was tried for the ax murders of her parents. The case ignited a national sensation, with newspapers across the country publishing sensationalized accounts of the trial and fueling speculation about Lizzie’s guilt. The film explores the scandal and the enduring mystery surrounding the events, examining the courtroom proceedings and the intense public scrutiny that followed. It delves into the circumstances that led to the infamous crime and the lasting impact it had on Lizzie Borden’s legacy.

Drama Thriller Mystery Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014)

Where can you watch Lizzie Borden Took an Ax? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Philo and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014) 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. Discovery of the murder scene

    Lizzie Borden discovers her father and stepmother murdered in the family home. The scene is brutal and shocking, leaving little doubt about the violence that occurred. The family is stunned as the gravity of the crime sinks in.

    When
    August 1892, morning
    Where
    Fall River, Massachusetts

  2. Police arrive and begin the investigation

    Local police and investigators arrive at the house and confirm the double murder. They gather evidence, interview witnesses, and begin to piece together what happened that night. Fear and suspicion spread through the town as the case unfolds.

    When
    August 1892, day
    Where
    Fall River, Massachusetts

  3. Suspicions fall on Lizzie

    As the investigation continues, the evidence and circumstances begin to point toward Lizzie as the prime suspect. Friends and relatives grapple with the possibility that the respectable schoolteacher could commit such brutality. The community watches closely, weighing motive and opportunity.

    When
    August–September 1892
    Where
    Fall River, Massachusetts

  4. Defense argues about women's capability

    Lizzie's lawyer, Andrew Jennings, argues that a woman could not commit such a cruel crime. The defense frames the case around gender norms and the limits of accusation against a woman. The strategy is to sow doubt about motive and means.

    When
    1892–1893
    Where
    Fall River, Massachusetts

  5. Trial begins

    Lizzie is put on trial for the murders, and the courtroom becomes the center of national attention. Prosecutors present their case while the defense tests the prosecution's narrative. The trial reaches into discussions of morality, class, and gender.

    When
    1893
    Where
    Fall River, Massachusetts

  6. Media frenzy and headlines

    Newspapers across the country publish sensational headlines about the case, dubbing it the most infamous of the century. The public is captivated by lurid details and theories. Reporters swarm the courthouse and train their sights on Lizzie.

    When
    1893
    Where
    National

  7. The not guilty verdict

    The jury finds Lizzie not guilty on all charges, leaving the courtroom in stunned silence. The acquittal resolves the legal battle but does not erase the whispers about her guilt. Lizzie returns to life in Fall River under a cloud of suspicion.

    When
    1893
    Where
    Fall River, Massachusetts

  8. Lizzie becomes a town pariah

    Despite the acquittal, Lizzie becomes a pariah in Fall River, shunned by neighbors and peers who doubt her innocence. The social fallout mirrors the unresolved tension from the murders. She continues to live under constant scrutiny and rumor.

    When
    Post-trial 1893
    Where
    Fall River, Massachusetts

  9. Final confrontation with Emma

    In a tense final moment, Lizzie asks Emma if she wants to know the truth. Emma's reaction signals strain between sisters and the possibility of buried secrets. The scene foreshadows the unleashing of memory and confession.

    When
    Late 1893
    Where
    Lizzie's home, Fall River

  10. The flashbacks reveal the murders

    A series of flashbacks unfold, showing Lizzie committing the murders in stark detail. The memories challenge Emma's understanding and alter the sisters' relationship. The revelation reframes the audience's view of Lizzie and the crime.

  11. Emma leaves the house

    Emma is visibly upset after the confrontation and moves out, severing ties with Lizzie. The sisters' relationship fractures irreparably as trust evaporates. The town observes the fallout and its lingering rumor mill.

    When
    Late 1893
    Where
    Fall River, Massachusetts

  12. The final eerie moment outside

    Lizzie walks outside and hears three children jump roping to a nursery rhyme about the murders. The moment ties the personal tragedy to a haunting cultural memory that follows Lizzie. The rhyme underscores a public reckoning with the truth.

    When
    Evening of late 1893
    Where
    Outside the Borden house, Fall River

Last updated: February 24, 2026 at 14:11

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Timeline questions answered

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Lizzie Borden acquitted of the murders?

Lizzie Borden was found not guilty on all charges in 1893. Her lawyer, Andrew Jennings, argued that a woman could not have committed such a brutal act, challenging the prosecution's narrative about her capability. The defense successfully planted doubt about the physical ability of a woman to wield an axe with such force, and the prosecution failed to provide conclusive evidence linking her directly to the crimes.

  • acquittal
  • trial
  • lizzie borden
  • verdict
  • andrew jennings
  • defense
Q2

What evidence pointed to Lizzie Borden as a suspect?

Investigators noted several circumstantial pieces: Lizzie was home at the time of the murders, she had a contentious relationship with her stepmother Abby, and she was seen purchasing gasoline shortly before the killings. Her behavior after discovering the bodies also raised suspicion among investigators.

  • evidence
  • suspicion
  • investigation
  • stepmother
  • gasoline
Q3

Did Lizzie Borden actually commit the murders?

The film uses flashbacks to reveal Lizzie as the one who committed the axe murders of her father Andrew and stepmother Abby. However, legally she was acquitted, leaving the question of her guilt unresolved in the public mind. The narrative suggests she did it but escaped conviction.

  • murders
  • guilt
  • confession
  • flashbacks
  • andrew borden
  • abby borden
Q4

What happened between Lizzie and Emma at the end of the film?

In the final confrontation, Lizzie asks Emma if she wants to know the truth. The flashbacks then reveal Lizzie committing the murders. After seeing these memories, Emma is devastated and moves out of the house, severing ties with her sister forever.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scene where Lizzie asks Emma "Do you want to know the truth?" hints at the coming revelation.

  • emma
  • sisters
  • confrontation
  • truth
  • flashbacks
Q5

Why did Emma leave after learning the truth about the murders?

Emma left because she could not cope with the reality that her sister Lizzie committed the murders. The revelation shattered their relationship irreparably. Emma chose distance over complicity, unable to remain in the house with someone she now knows to be a murderer.

  • emma
  • departure
  • sisters
  • relationship
  • trust
Q6

Why did the defense argue that a woman couldn't commit the murders?

Andrew Jennings argued that a woman lacked the physical strength to commit such brutal axe murders, using gender stereotypes to create reasonable doubt. This was a strategic legal approach that tapped into late 19th-century assumptions about female fragility and incapacity for violence.

  • andrew jennings
  • defense
  • gender
  • women
  • trial strategy
Q7

Why was Lizzie considered a suspect despite being the one who discovered the bodies?

Lizzie became the prime suspect because she was home during the murders, had clear motive (her contentious relationship with stepmother Abby and inheritance issues), and her behavior after discovering the bodies seemed suspicious to investigators. Her opportunity and means made her the logical focus of the investigation.

  • suspect
  • motive
  • opportunity
  • investigation
  • abuse
Q8

What did the flashbacks reveal about the murders?

The flashbacks showed Lizzie systematically attacking both her father Andrew and stepmother Abby with an axe. These stark, disturbing images revealed her as the perpetrator, confirming what the town suspected but could not prove legally.

  • flashbacks
  • murders
  • axe
  • confession
  • revelation
Q9

Why did the town of Fall River shun Lizzie after her acquittal?

Despite the not guilty verdict, Lizzie remained socially condemned. The town never accepted her innocence, viewing her as guilty despite the legal outcome. She became a pariah, shunned by neighbors who believed the rumors over the court decision.

  • pariah
  • social
  • acquittal
  • rumors
  • fall river
Q10

What is the significance of the nursery rhyme at the end?

The children jump rope to the famous rhyme "Lizzie Borden took an axe" with its graphic lyrics about killing her mother and father. This chilling moment connects Lizzie's personal tragedy to the lasting cultural memory and infamy of the case, symbolizing how the legend永远 haunts her.

  • nursery rhyme
  • jump rope
  • cultural memory
  • ending
  • infamy
Q11

What was Lizzie Borden's motive for killing her parents?

The film suggests multiple motivations: Lizzie resented her stepmother Abby, felt neglected by her father, and may have had financial motives related to inheritance. The exact motive remains historically debated, but the film implies deep familial resentment as the primary driver.

  • motive
  • resentment
  • inheritance
  • father
  • stepmother
Q12

How did the media coverage affect the trial?

The trial became a national spectacle with newspapers publishing sensationalized headlines calling it the century's most infamous crime. This massive public attention created pressure on the court and shaped public opinion against Lizzie even before the verdict was delivered.

  • media
  • newspapers
  • trial
  • public
  • headlines
  • sensationalism

Movie threads

More Movies Like Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Lizzie Borden Took an Ax tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Courtroom Dramas and True Crime Sagas like Lizzie Borden Took an Ax

Stories ripped from the headlines that explore crime, trials, and public obsession. If you were captivated by the historical trial and public scandal in Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, explore more movies based on true crimes. These films focus on the legal battles, media frenzy, and the complex legacies left behind.

  • based on a true story
  • courtroom drama
  • public scandal
  • investigation
  • tense
  • gripping
  • Tone: dark, grim, suspenseful
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These films typically follow a linear path from the discovery of a shocking crime through the investigation and into the public trial. The narrative tension comes from the legal proceedings, the clash of evidence, and the intense scrutiny of the accused, often culminating in a verdict that leaves lingering questions.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their basis in true events, their focus on the legal and societal aftermath of crime, and a tone of grim realism. They share a heavy emotional weight and explore themes of justice, truth, and the destructive power of public opinion.

True Story movie poster

True Story

2015
City of Lies movie poster

City of Lies

2021
Black Widow movie poster

Black Widow

1954
City of Lies movie poster

City of Lies

2018
The Buckingham Murders movie poster

The Buckingham Murders

2023
Murder movie poster

Murder

2004
The Verdict movie poster

The Verdict

1946
The Stoneman Murders movie poster

The Stoneman Murders

2009

Dark Family Thrillers with Psychological Tension like Lizzie Borden Took an Ax

Unsettling tales of betrayal and violence festering within the family home. If you admired the grim, isolating atmosphere and themes of family betrayal in Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, discover more movies about psychological tension and violence within families. These films are characterized by a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a sense of inescapable doom.

  • psychological thriller
  • family drama
  • dark
  • tense
  • unsettling
  • betrayal
  • Tone: dark, unsettling, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, tense
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern revolves around a seemingly normal family dynamic that slowly, or suddenly, unravels to reveal dark secrets and violent potential. The climax often involves a horrific act that shatters the family forever, leaving characters in a state of isolation and trauma.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their oppressive, dark tone, their focus on psychological decay within familial relationships, and their devastating emotional impact. They share a high level of tension and often feature bleak or bittersweet endings where characters are permanently scarred.

Dark Places movie poster

Dark Places

2015
The Legacy of the Bones movie poster

The Legacy of the Bones

2019
The Buckingham Murders movie poster

The Buckingham Murders

2023
The Bay of Silence movie poster

The Bay of Silence

2020
The Dark movie poster

The Dark

2005
Black Widow movie poster

Black Widow

1954
Strange But True movie poster

Strange But True

2019
Silent Fall movie poster

Silent Fall

1994

Every angle

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Lizzie Borden Took an Ax 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.

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