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Timeline

Ma (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 80 min · English
JustWatch #2,748 5

A woman's journey through the American Southwest becomes a transformative pilgrimage as she travels to Las Vegas. The film follows her experiences through a kinetic, deconstructed narrative, presenting a reimagining of her quest. Along the way, she encounters a diverse cast of characters, both challenging and surprising her. The story explores themes of identity and redemption against the backdrop of the desert landscape and the city's vibrant lights.

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 Ma
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Ma (2017)

Where can you watch Ma? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hulu, Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Ma Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Ma (2017) 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. Maggie's Relocation

    Teenager Maggie Thompson relocates with her mother Erica to a small town in Ohio after the departure of her father. This marks a significant change in their lives as they adapt to a new environment and community.

    Where
    Small-town Ohio
  2. Making New Friends

    At her new school, Maggie quickly forms a bond with a group of friends, including Haley, Darrell, Chaz, and Andy. Their camaraderie provides Maggie with a sense of belonging in her unfamiliar surroundings.

    Where
    High School
  3. Underage Drinking Scheme

    The group decides to procure alcohol for a gathering and seeks the assistance of Sue Ann, a local veterinary technician. Their plan backfires when Sue Ann reports them, but they narrowly escape punishment due to a connection between the police officer and Andy's father.

    Where
    Town
  4. Partying at Sue Ann's

    The very next day, Sue Ann invites the teens to her house for a party in her basement. Initially enjoyable, the gathering quickly begins to turn uncomfortable as Sue Ann's need for control and attention becomes apparent.

    Where
    Sue Ann's House
  5. Jealousy Brews

    The situation escalates when Sue Ann observes a romantic moment between Andy and Maggie, igniting her jealousy. Her simmering rage becomes evident, revealing her obsession with Andy and unresolved feelings for his father.

    Where
    Sue Ann's House
  6. Drugging Maggie

    In a fit of jealousy, Sue Ann drugs Maggie and steals her earrings. When Maggie awakens confused and bruised, she shares her fears with Andy, raising concerns about returning to Sue Ann's house.

    Where
    Sue Ann's House
  7. Sue Ann's Deception

    To regain the trust of the teens, Sue Ann fabricates a story about having pancreatic cancer. While she tries to manipulate their sympathy, the teens start becoming suspicious when they notice discrepancies in her story.

    Where
    Sue Ann's House
  8. Uncovering the Truth

    The girls decide to investigate after meeting Genie, Sue Ann’s daughter. They are shocked to discover that Genie, thought to be wheelchair-bound, is actually fully mobile, raising further suspicions about Sue Ann's claims.

    Where
    Sue Ann's House
  9. Ben Confronts Sue Ann

    Tension rises when Ben, Andy's father, visits Sue Ann's workplace and confronts her about her relationship with his son. This encounter reveals Sue Ann's dark past with Ben, exacerbating her psychological issues.

    Where
    Bar
  10. Sue Ann's Violent Descent

    As Sue Ann's madness escalates, she resorts to violent actions, including running over Ben's girlfriend and killing her boss. Her actions become increasingly erratic, highlighting her unstable mental state.

    Where
    Town
  11. Maggie's Fears

    Maggie confides in her mother Erica about her growing fears regarding Sue Ann. However, her mother dismisses her concerns, leading to Maggie feeling isolated and unprotected.

    Where
    Maggie's Home
  12. Confrontation with Friends

    After receiving a troubling photo from Sue Ann, Maggie confronts Andy, only to discover that all their friends have been drugged by Sue Ann. The realization of their grim situation intensifies their urgency to escape.

    Where
    Sue Ann's House
  13. The Basement Horror

    Maggie's horror peaks when she discovers Ben's lifeless body and sees Sue Ann torturing her friends in the basement. The terrifying scene reveals the depths of Sue Ann's madness and her intent to cause harm.

    Where
    Sue Ann's Basement
  14. The Chaotic Climax

    As chaos ensues, Officer arrives only to be shot by Sue Ann while trying to intervene. The situation spirals out of control, culminating in a fire that engulfs the house, pushing Maggie and her friends to their limits.

    Where
    Sue Ann's House
  15. Final Showdown

    In a dramatic turn, Maggie stabs Sue Ann just as she is about to sacrifice Genie. The confrontation allows Genie to escape, but not before the tragic final moments leave lingering devastation and loss.

    Where
    Sue Ann's House

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 11:05

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Timeline questions answered

Ma Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Ma (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Sue Ann report the teens for underage drinking then invite them to her house?

Sue Ann initially reports the teens to seem helpful and gain trust from the community and police. The next day, she invites them over because she's isolated and desperate for companionship. Having recently encountered Andy and his friends, she saw an opportunity to fill the void in her life by becoming close to them, though her motives quickly become twisted.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Sue Ann is shown as a lonely veterinary technician with no social life, hinting at her desperate need for connection.

  • sue ann
  • teens
  • party
  • alcohol
  • police report
  • manipulation
Q2

Why does Sue Ann become obsessed with Andy?

Sue Ann's obsession with Andy stems from her unresolved feelings for his father, Ben. She had been infatuated with Ben in high school and was humiliated when a sexual encounter between them went wrong and became public. Seeing Andy, Ben's son, triggers a warped sense of nostalgia and desire to recreate what she lost, combined with her jealousy of Maggie's romantic relationship with him.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Sue Ann's jealousy igniting when she sees Andy and Maggie together, and her rage becomes evident.

  • sue ann
  • andy
  • obsession
  • ben
  • father
  • jealousy
Q3

What happened between Sue Ann and Ben in high school?

In high school, Sue Ann performed a sexual act on Ben, but the encounter turned into public humiliation when Ben betrayed her, likely exposing or mocking her, which haunted her for years. This trauma never healed, leaving her psychologically damaged and obsessed with both Ben and later his son Andy as a way to reclaim lost dignity and affection.

Foreshadowing: Flashbacks reveal Sue Ann's painful past, showing the origin of her psychological break.

  • sue ann
  • ben
  • high school
  • humiliation
  • past
  • trauma
Q4

Why does Sue Ann drug Maggie and steal her earrings?

Sue Ann drugs Maggie because she witnessed Maggie and Andy having a romantic moment, triggering intense jealousy. She steals Maggie's earrings as a trophy and to frame her, leaving her confused and bruised. The drugging represents Sue Ann's attempt to assert control over the situation and punish Maggie for being with Andy.

Foreshadowing: Sue Ann's jealousy ignites when she sees Andy and Maggie together, and her rage becomes evident.

  • sue ann
  • maggie
  • drugs
  • earrings
  • jealousy
  • poisoning
Q5

Who is Genie and why was she thought to be in a wheelchair?

Genie is Sue Ann's daughter from a failed marriage. Maggie and the teens believed Genie was confined to a wheelchair because that's what Sue Ann told them. In reality, Genie is fully mobile, the wheelchair story was a lie Sue Ann used to manipulate people and create sympathy. When the girls investigate and discover Genie walking, it raises suspicions about Sue Ann's trustworthiness.

Foreshadowing: Sue Ann's lies about her personal life hint at deeper deception.

  • genie
  • sue ann
  • daughter
  • wheelchair
  • truth
  • reveal
Q6

Why does Sue Ann kill her boss at the veterinary clinic?

Sue Ann kills her boss as part of her escalating violent breakdown. Her mental state deteriorates rapidly after years of isolation and trauma resurface. The boss likely represents another authority figure in her life that she feels controlled by or resentful toward, and killing him demonstrates her complete descent into psychosis.

Foreshadowing: The timeline marks her violent descent after confronting Ben at the bar.

  • sue ann
  • boss
  • kill
  • veterinary clinic
  • violence
Q7

How does Ben die in Ma?

Ben is killed by Sue Ann in her house. After confronting her at the bar and warning her to stay away from Andy, Sue Ann's obsession and rage reach a breaking point. She captures and kills Ben, later keeping his body chained in the basement. When Maggie discovers his lifeless body, it marks one of the film's most horrifying moments.

Foreshadowing: Ben's confrontation with Sue Ann at the bar escalates the conflict and triggers her violent response.

  • ben
  • death
  • basement
  • sue ann
  • killed
  • body
Q8

Why does Sue Ann torture the teens in the basement?

Sue Ann tortures the teens, binding Haley's mouth and painting Darrell's face, as a twisted manifestation of her broken psyche. Unable to form genuine friendships due to her trauma, she resorts to extreme control and cruelty. The torture represents her attempt to create the perfect companionships she never had, even if it means harming them physically and psychologically.

Foreshadowing: Her overbearing hospitality and need for control were evident from the early parties.

  • sue ann
  • teens
  • torture
  • basement
  • haley
  • darrell
  • captivity
Q9

How does Maggie kill Sue Ann in the finale?

Maggie kills Sue Ann during the final confrontation in the burning house. When Sue Ann attempts to sacrifice Genie, blaming Erica for past traumas, Maggie grabs a knife and stabs Sue Ann. This allows Genie to escape while Sue Ann lies dying next to Ben's body as the house collapses in flames.

Foreshadowing: Maggie shows courage throughout, and her determination to protect her friends builds to this moment.

  • maggie
  • sue ann
  • kill
  • finale
  • fire
  • genie
  • stabbing
Q10

What does the ending of Ma mean?

The ending is bittersweet: the teens survive thanks to Erica's rescue, but they're left traumatized by the ordeal. Sue Ann dies in the fire embracing Ben's body, symbolizing her tragic inability to separate fantasy from reality, she dies with the unrequited love she pursued throughout the film. The house burning represents the destruction of Sue Ann's twisted world and the possibility of healing for the survivors.

Foreshadowing: The fire engulfs the house as the climax reaches its peak, ending Sue Ann's reign of terror.

  • ending
  • fire
  • house
  • sue ann
  • ben
  • survivors
  • bittersweet

Movie threads

More Movies Like Ma, by Mood & Story

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

Obsessive revenge stories like in Ma

Stories where a traumatic past fuels a dangerous and obsessive quest for payback. If you liked Ma, you'll find similar dark tension in these movies about characters driven by a traumatic past to enact obsessive and violent revenge. This thread collects psychological thrillers and dramas where the line between victim and villain becomes dangerously blurred.

  • vengeful
  • obsessive
  • desperate
  • paranoid
  • unsettling
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, vengeful
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern typically involves a character who has suffered severe humiliation or trauma, which simmers beneath the surface until it erupts into a meticulously planned or chaotic campaign of revenge. The focus is on the psychological unraveling of the avenger and the escalating danger faced by their targets.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here by their shared focus on revenge as a direct consequence of deep psychological trauma, creating a dark and high-intensity tone. They often feature a fast-paced escalation from a relatively stable situation into a life-or-death thriller.

Suburban nightmare thrillers similar to Ma

Thrillers where familiar, everyday settings become traps of escalating terror. For viewers who enjoyed the claustrophobic terror of Ma, this thread features movies where ordinary settings become scenes of psychological and physical danger. Discover similar thrillers about secrets festering beneath the surface of small towns and suburban life.

  • claustrophobic
  • oppressive
  • unsettling
  • paranoid
  • anxious
  • desperate
  • Tone: dark, tense, oppressive
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative often begins with a deceptively normal scenario that is gradually undermined by a threatening presence or a dark secret. The setting, initially a place of comfort, transforms into a confined space where characters are trapped, leading to a desperate struggle for survival against a threat from within their own community.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their shared vibe of turning mundane, familiar worlds into oppressive and dangerous landscapes. They generate tension through a sense of inescapable confinement and the violation of safe spaces, often featuring themes of isolation, bullying, and hidden madness.

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Movies Like Ma

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

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Every angle

Ma (2017) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Ma 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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