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Timeline

Message from the King (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 102 min · English
Echo score 58
JustWatch #25,906 1
Directed by
Fabrice Du Welz
Starring
Teresa Palmer, Alfred Molina, Chadwick Boseman, Luke Evans, Chris Mulkey, Dale Dickey
Budget
$10M

A troubled man travels to Los Angeles seeking answers about his missing sister. Driven by a desire for truth and revenge, he delves into the city's hidden depths, uncovering a dangerous web of secrets and confronting those responsible for the unsolved mystery that haunts him. His search leads him on a perilous journey through the dark underbelly of the City of Angels.

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 Message from the King
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Message from the King (2017)

Where can you watch Message from the King? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Message from the King Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Message from the King (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. Jacob's Arrival

    Jacob King arrives in Los Angeles after receiving a troubling message from his sister, Bianca. With only seven days before his return ticket expires, his urgency to locate her drives his actions from the start.

    Where
    Los Angeles
  2. Discovery of Bianca's Disappearance

    Upon reaching Bianca's address, Jacob encounters a neighbor who reveals that Bianca's husband has also vanished, leaving their young stepson alone. This unsettling information solidifies Jacob's determination to find his sister.

    Where
    Bianca's home
  3. Confrontation with Zico

    Jacob learns that Bianca was living with Zico, a local businessman who covered her rent. When Jacob confronts Zico and his associates, they vehemently deny knowing anything about Bianca's whereabouts, deepening the mystery.

    Where
    Zico's place of business
  4. Heartbreaking Discovery

    Following a cryptic suggestion from a local shopkeeper, Jacob discovers Bianca's lifeless body in the morgue. This brutal revelation transforms his quest into a pursuit of vengeance and justice for his sister.

    Where
    Morgue
  5. Sifting Through Clues

    While examining Bianca's belongings, Jacob finds photographs and a dentist's business card that hint at her troubled life. These items suggest connections to men who may have contributed to her downfall.

  6. Insights into Bianca's Life

    At a party hosted by her neighbor, Jacob learns about Bianca's involvement with criminals, including drug dealer Frankie. Determined to get answers, Jacob devises a plan to confront Frankie directly.

    Where
    Trish's party
  7. Confrontation with Frankie

    Jacob successfully lures Frankie to the party, where he seeks retribution for Bianca's death. This act of violence marks a significant turning point in Jacob's transformation as he delves deeper into the criminal underbelly.

    Where
    Trish's party
  8. Dr. Wentworth's Revelation

    Pretending to be a patient, Jacob visits Dr. Wentworth, who reveals Bianca was exploited to pay off her husband's debts. This shocking information intensifies Jacob's investigation into the dark world surrounding his sister.

    Where
    Dental clinic
  9. Threats from Frank Leary

    Jacob discovers that Bianca's situation is tied to politician Frank Leary, who orders hitmen to silence potential threats. This revelation prompts Jacob to navigate even greater dangers as he unearths the truth.

  10. Encounter at Mike Preston's Estate

    Jacob tracks down Dr. Wentworth to the home of Mike Preston, a renowned Hollywood producer. There, he learns of a dangerous sum of money being demanded, which reveals the extent of corruption surrounding Bianca's life.

    Where
    Mike Preston's estate
  11. Rescue Mission Gone Awry

    After confronting Preston, Jacob escapes an ambush orchestrated by the hitmen with the help of Kelly, a prostitute. Their brief respite allows Jacob to recoup and reassess his mission amidst the chaos.

    Where
    Motel
  12. Creating a Plan

    In a clever move, Jacob constructs a makeshift bomb as he prepares to confront his enemies. This desperate measure indicates his willingness to escalate the confrontation in pursuit of answers.

    Where
    Hardware store
  13. The Unfolding Truth

    Jacob extracts a disturbing confession from Preston, learning how Bianca was forced into compromising situations after her husband's death. This knowledge drives Jacob's resolve to protect her stepson, Armand.

    Where
    Mike Preston's estate
  14. Climactic Confrontation

    In the final showdown, Jacob cleverly traps the gang members and Wentworth in Preston's mansion, leading to a deadly escalation of violence. This confrontation marks the culmination of his quest for justice.

    Where
    Mike Preston's estate
  15. Jacob's Departure

    After all the chaos, Jacob bids farewell to Kelly and her daughter, symbolizing the end of his journey in Los Angeles. He prepares to return to New Mexico, carrying the burdens of his experiences and memories.

    Where
    Bus stop

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 14:56

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Timeline questions answered

Message from the King Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why was Bianca killed?

Bianca was killed because she discovered that Hollywood producer Mike Preston was sexually abusing her stepson Armand. She took incriminating footage of Preston's crimes and planned to expose him, which made her a threat. Preston hired Dr. Wentworth to arrange her elimination, and gang members Duke and his crew carried out the brutal murder.

  • bianca death
  • mike preston
  • armand
  • child abuse
  • murder
Q2

What happened to Bianca's husband?

Bianca's husband fell into heavy debt through drug use and prostitution. After he was murdered, Bianca was left to care for her stepson Armand alone. The debt collectors began targeting her, forcing her deeper into the criminal underworld to survive.

  • bianca husband
  • debt
  • drugs
  • murdered
Q3

What was on the SD card Jacob found?

The encrypted SD card contained hidden camera footage from a deplorable party. The footage showed Mike Preston engaging in horrific acts with Armand, and also captured politician Frank Leary participating in a sordid orgy with Bianca. This evidence was what Bianca had stolen to use as leverage against her abusers.

  • sd card
  • evidence
  • preston
  • leary
  • footage
Q4

Who is Frank Leary and what's his connection to Bianca?

Frank Leary is a politician running for office who was involved in the criminal underworld surrounding Bianca. He participated in orgies with her and was implicated in the corruption ring. When Bianca became a threat after taking the evidence, Leary ordered hitmen to silence her, though he remains in power by the film's end.

  • frank leary
  • politician
  • corruption
  • orgy
Q5

Why did Dr. Wentworth help Jacob?

Dr. Wentworth was not helping Jacob out of goodwill. He was a corrupt dentist who had been blackmailing Mike Preston over Bianca's death. Wentworth informed the hitmen of Jacob's location and helped orchestrate his capture. However, Jacob manipulated Wentworth into leading him to Preston by pretending to be an ally.

  • dr wentworth
  • dentist
  • blackmail
  • corruption
Q6

What did Jacob discover about Armand?

Jacob learned that after Bianca's husband was murdered, she was forced to sell Armand to Mike Preston for a large sum of money to pay off debts. When Bianca discovered Preston was abusing the boy, she stole the evidence footage and reached out to Jacob for help, ultimately leading to her death.

  • armand
  • stepson
  • preston
  • abuse
  • trafficking
Q7

Why does Jacob return to South Africa at the end?

Jacob returns to South Africa because he is actually a seasoned detective living a dual life. His identity as a law enforcement officer is revealed when local authorities welcome him back. He had used his vacation time and return ticket to investigate his sister's disappearance personally.

  • jacob identity
  • detective
  • south africa
  • return
Q8

Why did Jacob kill Mike Preston?

Jacob killed Mike Preston because he was the mastermind behind Bianca's exploitation and murder, as well as the abuser of her stepson Armand. Jacob lured Preston, Dr. Wentworth, and the gang members to Preston's mansion and triggered an explosion that killed them all, effectively dismantling the criminal operation.

  • mike preston
  • murder
  • explosion
  • revenge
Q9

What was the relationship between Bianca and Zico?

Zico was a local businessman in Los Angeles who had been covering Bianca's rent. They were cohabiting before her disappearance, though the relationship appears transactional rather than romantic. Zico claimed to know nothing about Bianca's fate when Jacob confronted him.

  • zico
  • landlord
  • rent
  • relationship
Q10

Why did Jacob give money to Kelly at the end?

Jacob gave Kelly a bag containing money and valuables he took from Mike Preston's mansion as a gesture of gratitude for her help. He had stayed with her after his beating, and she had lent him her car during his investigation. This act represents his attempt to give them a better life.

  • kelly
  • prostitute
  • money
  • gratitude
Q11

What was the significance of Jacob's seven-day deadline?

Jacob had purchased a return ticket that would expire in seven days, creating urgency for his investigation. This deadline heightens the film's tension as he races against time to find Bianca before having to leave Los Angeles, though he ultimately stays longer to complete his mission.

  • seven days
  • ticket
  • deadline
  • urgency
Q12

Why did Armand run away from Jacob at the end?

Armand ran away because he had been through severe trauma and abuse at Preston's hands, making him distrustful of adults. Despite Jacob's efforts to rescue him, the boy chose to flee into the city. Jacob ultimately let him go, recognizing the futility of chasing someone who feared being helped.

  • armand
  • escape
  • trauma
  • final scene

Movie threads

More Movies Like Message from the King, by Mood & Story

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

Gritty revenge thrillers like Message from the King

Driven protagonists descend into criminal worlds to avenge a personal wrong. If you liked the methodical, vengeance-fueled journey in Message from the King, explore more movies where a lone avenger confronts a criminal underworld. These films share a dark, tense tone, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on morally complex justice in gritty urban settings.

  • revenge-driven
  • gritty
  • tense
  • methodical
  • bleak
  • urgent
  • Tone: dark, tense, grim
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern typically begins with a pivotal, personal tragedy that sets a determined protagonist on a collision course with powerful, hidden antagonists. The plot unfolds as a linear investigation, methodically peeling back layers of corruption, leading to a final, often violent, confrontation where justice is served at a great personal cost.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their core premise of personal revenge set against a systemic evil, their consistently dark and tense atmosphere, and their focus on a protagonist's grim, single-minded pursuit. The shared emotional experience is one of heavy catharsis, where victory feels earned but is tempered by loss.

Solemn investigative thrillers about corruption like Message from the King

A single individual's quest reveals a web of power, crime, and moral decay. For viewers who appreciated the grim investigation into political and criminal corruption in Message from the King, this section highlights similar movies. These stories feature a determined central character uncovering systemic evil, resulting in a tense, morally complex narrative with a bittersweet or bleak resolution.

  • grim
  • methodical
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • serious
  • corruption
  • Tone: dark, melancholic, serious
  • Pacing: steady, procedural
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a procedural-like structure where each clue leads deeper into a conspiracy, escalating the stakes and danger for the investigator. The conflict shifts from a personal mystery to a larger ideological battle against untouchable antagonists, often concluding with a partial victory that highlights the resilience of corruption.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on a methodical investigation that exposes high-level corruption, their solemn and serious tone, and the heavy emotional toll the journey takes on the protagonist. The similarity lies in the feeling of uncovering a truth that is darker and more widespread than initially imagined.

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Every angle

Message from the King (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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