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Timeline

Mr. Right (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 90 min · English
Directed by
Paco Cabezas
Starring
Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, James Ransone, The RZA, Sam Rockwell

Following a painful breakup, Martha finds solace in a budding romance with Francis, a charismatic man with a surprising secret: he’s a hitman who targets those who abuse others. As their relationship deepens, Martha is drawn into Francis’s dangerous world, complicated by an FBI investigation. She must confront the consequences of his actions and decide whether to run or embrace the chaotic life she’s found herself in.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (16)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Mr. Right
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Mr. Right (2016)

Where can you watch Mr. Right? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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16 events in order · contains spoilers

Mr. Right Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Mr. Right (2016) 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. Martha Catches Her Boyfriend Cheating

    Martha is at her apartment when her boyfriend bursts in, making out with another woman. Upset by his betrayal, Martha confronts them but decides to leave when he accuses her of lacking adventure, culminating in her throwing something at his head.

    Where
    Martha's Apartment
  2. Francis's First Kill

    Introducing Francis, known as Mr. Right, he is assigned to kill a man by the man’s wife. However, in a shocking twist, he ends up killing the wife instead after already collecting his payment, setting off a chain of violent events.

    Where
    Woman's Apartment
  3. Francis Takes Out the Agents

    After his botched assignment, Francis finds himself being pursued by a team of agents led by Hopper. One by one, Francis cleverly evades capture and eliminates the agents, showcasing his skills as a hitman.

    Where
    Apartment Complex
  4. Martha and Sophie Go Out

    Recovering from her recent heartbreak, Martha stays with her best friend Sophie. They go out drinking, where Martha continues to blame herself for her boyfriend cheating, despite Sophie encouraging her to move on.

    Where
    Bar
  5. Martha Adopts a Cat

    Sophie persuades Martha to adopt a pet to help her feel better. Martha chooses a ferocious cat, ignoring Sophie’s warnings, and ends up getting scratched when the cat proves to be feisty.

    Where
    Pet Store
  6. Martha Meets Francis

    While shopping at a supermarket, Martha accidentally knocks over a display of condoms. Francis impressively catches them all, and although he initially seems creepy, Martha ends up spending the day with him.

    Where
    Supermarket
  7. Hired Hitmen Approach Francis

    Two hitmen brothers, Von and Richie Cartigan, seek to recruit Francis for a targeted hit. The brothers are in constant conflict, with Von wanting to eliminate Richie, complicating their partnership.

  8. Dinner Date with a Twist

    Martha and Francis go out on a date at a restaurant, but Francis is pulled away when a hitman demands that he work for him. After rejecting the proposal, Francis ends up in a violent confrontation, leaving Martha in shock.

    Where
    Restaurant
  9. Martha Learns the Truth

    While waiting in a car, Martha witnesses Francis kill a man who was trying to recruit him. This shocking sight makes her realize that Francis's life as a hitman is real and not just a joke as he had previously suggested.

    Where
    Bridge
  10. Hopper Warns Martha

    After witnessing Francis's violent act, Martha is visited by Hopper, who claims to be with the FBI. He reveals the dangerous nature of Francis and his twisted moral code, leaving Martha confused about her feelings for him.

    Where
    Sophie's Apartment
  11. Francis Rescues Martha

    Francis knocks out Hopper before dragging him into Sophie's apartment. Despite his hitman background, Francis and Martha kiss, signaling the complexity of their relationship as danger looms on the horizon.

    Where
    Sophie's Apartment
  12. Martha Gets Kidnapped

    As chaos ensues from a battle between hitmen, Martha is kidnapped by the Cartigans. This dramatic turn highlights the stakes at play and her entanglement in Francis's violent world.

    Where
    Cartigans' Home
  13. Francis Teams Up with Shotgun Steve

    Determined to rescue Martha, Francis teams up with hitman Shotgun Steve to storm the Cartigans' house. In a fierce showdown, they take out several hitmen together, demonstrating the escalating tension within the story.

    Where
    Cartigans' Home
  14. The Cartigan Brothers Face Off

    After an intense battle, Francis decides to step back from killing, allowing the brothers Von and Richie to settle their dispute over a gun. This decision leads to Von killing Richie in a brutal act as Martha is freed.

    Where
    Cartigans' Home
  15. Martha Takes Action

    After regaining her freedom, Martha surprises everyone by grabbing a gun and killing one of the Cartigan's hitmen. This act of bravery marks a significant turning point in her character development.

    Where
    Cartigans' Home
  16. Final Confrontation

    As the dust settles, Francis and Martha continue their relationship despite ongoing threats from those wanting Francis dead. In a chilling moment, Martha reveals her own lethal capabilities, pulling a gun on an enemy as they prepare for what lies ahead.

Last updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

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Timeline questions answered

Mr. Right Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Mr. Right (2016): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Francis kill the woman who hired him instead of her husband?

Francis operates on a twisted moral code, he only kills people he believes deserve it. When the wife hired him to kill her husband, Francis realized she was the one who truly deserved to die for plotting murder. He killed her after collecting his payment, establishing his rule that he decides who lives or dies based on his own sense of justice.

  • hitman moral code
  • francis kills client
  • mr right twist
Q2

Why is Hopper trying to catch Francis?

Hopper is an FBI agent leading a task force to apprehend Francis, who has killed multiple people including other agents sent to capture him. Despite being an agent, Hopper operates under a false identity throughout the film while pursuing Francis for the string of murders Francis has committed.

  • fbi agent hopper
  • francis pursued
  • law enforcement
Q3

Why does Martha stay with Francis after learning he's a hitman?

Despite the danger, Martha is drawn to Francis's honesty about his nature once she learns the truth. She discovers he only kills people who hurt others, not innocent victims. This moral distinction, combined with the genuine connection they share, makes her choose to embrace his chaotic world rather than run from it.

  • martha stays with francis
  • romance plot
  • accepting violent lifestyle
Q4

Why does Francis wear a clown nose during his hits?

Francis wears a clown nose as a signature quirk that adds to his eccentric, almost cartoonish persona. This detail exemplifies the film's light tone despite its violent subject matter, it frames his dangerous work with humor rather than making it feel heavy or dark.

  • clown nose
  • francis signature
  • light tone
Q5

Why does Francis throw the gun between the Cartigan brothers instead of killing them himself?

Francis deliberately steps away from his violent lifestyle during the confrontation. Rather than executing the feuding brothers himself, he gives them the choice by placing a gun between them. This triggers Von to kill Richie, allowing Francis to free Martha without becoming their executioner. It's his attempt to break his killing cycle.

  • cartigan brothers
  • francis stops killing
  • gun choice
Q6

Why does Martha kill the hitman at the end of the movie?

Martha proves her commitment to Francis and her new life by taking action. After being kidnapped and nearly killed, she refuses to be a passive victim. When she sees an opportunity during the final confrontation, she grabs a gun and kills one of the Cartigans' men, showing she's fully embraced the chaotic world and can protect herself and Francis.

  • martha kills
  • character development
  • final twist
Q7

What is the conflict between the Cartigan brothers?

Von and Richie Cartigan are rival hitmen brothers with an ongoing grudge. Von desperately wants Richie dead and hires Francis to do the job. Their dysfunctional relationship creates a power struggle within the criminal underworld, with both brothers trying to eliminate the other rather than work together.

  • von and richie cartigan
  • brother conflict
  • rival hitmen
Q8

Why is Hopper using another man's identity?

Hopper maintains a false identity while pursuing Francis, likely to operate more effectively within criminal circles and avoid blowing his cover as an FBI agent. This disguise allows him to get close to Francis and his associates, though his true identity is eventually revealed.

  • hopper disguise
  • fake identity
  • undercover agent
Q9

How does Francis always stay one step ahead of his pursuers?

Francis is portrayed as a highly skilled, intelligent hitman who anticipates threats before they materialize. His experience and reflexes allow him to outmaneuver multiple agents, hired hitmen, and the Cartigan brothers throughout the film. He's always scanning for danger and reacting faster than anyone expects.

  • francis skills
  • escape
  • evading capture
Q10

How do Martha and Francis actually meet?

Martha meets Francis at a supermarket after accidentally knocking over a display of condoms. Francis impressively catches all of them, which comes across as creepy at first. However, they end up spending the day together and hit it off, beginning their romance despite his mysterious background.

  • supermarket meeting
  • first date
  • romantic beginning
Q11

Why does Hopper go to Sophie's apartment to warn Martha?

Hopper tracks Martha to her friend Sophie's apartment after discovering her relationship with Francis. He arrives to warn her about the dangers of being involved with Francis, revealing Francis's violent profession and his moral code about who he kills. This confrontation sets up the later conflict when Francis arrives and knocks Hopper out.

  • sophie apartment
  • hopper warns martha
  • confrontation
Q12

Why is Francis called 'Mr. Right'?

Francis adopts the codename 'Mr. Right' as his professional hitman identity. The name suggests he's the perfect or 'right' person for the job, in this case, the perfect assassin. It's a darkly ironic name given his moral stance that he only kills those who deserve it.

  • mr right codename
  • assassin name
  • francis identity

Movie threads

More Movies Like Mr. Right, by Mood & Story

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

Quirky Action-Comedies like Mr. Right

Violent chaos meets an eccentric love story in a fast-paced, whimsical world. This list features movies with a similar blend of quirky romance and chaotic action as seen in Mr. Right. If you enjoyed the eccentric characters and fast-paced, fun tone of Mr. Right, you'll find more films here that mix exciting violence with a whimsical love story.

  • quirky
  • action-packed
  • romantic
  • fast-paced
  • whimsical
  • unpredictable
  • Tone: light, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast and chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow an unconventional couple whose relationship is tested by a dangerous profession or lifestyle. The central conflict often involves external threats that force the characters to work together, strengthening their bond through chaotic, action-packed sequences framed with humor.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a unique mix of a light, humorous tone with high-intensity action and a central romantic arc. The defining feature is the whimsical, often cartoonish, approach to violence that keeps the emotional weight light while delivering an exciting and fun ride.

Movies about Assassins with a Code like Mr. Right

A killer with a strict moral code finds love and redemption through chaos. Discover films featuring hitmen or assassins who have a strict moral code, similar to the protagonist in Mr. Right. These movies often combine action with romantic or comedic elements, exploring themes of redemption and finding love in a violent world. If you liked the 'assassin with a conscience' trope in Mr. Right, you'll enjoy these titles.

  • action-packed
  • romantic
  • unconventional hero
  • redemption
  • violent
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a highly skilled but morally conflicted killer whose life is upended when they form a genuine connection with an outsider. This relationship forces them to confront their lifestyle, often pitting them against their own employer or a corrupt system, culminating in a high-stakes showdown where they must protect their newfound love.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by the central trope of a principled killer and the thematic exploration of morality within a violent profession. They share a specific character archetype and a plot structure where romance serves as a catalyst for change and conflict, blending action with character-driven drama.

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Movies Like Mr. Right

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Every angle

Mr. Right (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Mr. Right 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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