Nocturama

Nocturama

Year: 2017

Runtime: 130 min

Language: French

Director: Bertrand Bonello

Echo Score: 70

Budget: $5.6M

DramaThriller

A group of Parisian teenagers, each grappling with personal frustrations, find their lives converging in a shocking act of violence. Following a bombing, they seek refuge within a luxurious shopping mall, becoming trapped within its glittering environment. As they navigate the surreal situation, they confront consumerism and the complexities of their own circumstances, all while facing an uncertain future and the dangers that surround them.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Nocturama yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Nocturama (2017)

Trace every key event in Nocturama (2017) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Launch of the Paris bombing plot

A group of young revolutionaries plans an elaborate wave of bombings across Paris. They intend to strike cars, high-rises, government buildings, and even target the head of HSBC France, while also planning to set fire to Jeanne d'Arc. Greg, the sole adult in the group, supplies semtex to fuel their scheme.

First hour of the operation Paris (various locations)
2

Bombs planted on skyscraper floors

Sarah, David, and Yacine infiltrate a skyscraper floor to plant a bomb, while Fred, acting as a security guard, helps guide them and keep watch. The trio works quickly to plant the device before retreating to regroup with the others. Their task is part of the larger scheme of semtex-fueled bombings across Paris.

Early hours of the operation Skyscraper floor, Paris
3

Tragedy at the plant site

While they are on the bombing mission, Fred shoots an innocent office worker who is on a call in the building. A secondary security guard responds and kills Fred, despite his pleas. David hears the gunfire from an adjoining corridor and runs, discarding his bomb rather than letting it detonate.

During the bombing attempt Skyscraper interior
4

Detonation and regrouping in a Paris department store

After detonating their bombs remotely, the group converges at a central Paris department store to lie low until the evening of the next day. They seek safety by blending into crowds and avoiding cameras as authorities search for them. The decision to hide together marks a shift from action to waiting.

Evening of the next day Department store, central Paris
5

Omar’s betrayal and the missing members

Inside the department store, Omar is revealed as an additional accomplice who has bound and gagged the remaining security team and shut down the cameras. He also reveals that some guards are dead. The group discovers that Fred and Greg are missing, and David informs them that Fred is dead while Greg's fate remains a mystery.

Night Department store
6

Overnight shelter and outside view

The terrorists spend the night inside the store, rationing groceries and pilfering clothing from the shops. Omar turns on the display TVs, giving the group glimpses of a city in panic as the police hunt for them. The atmosphere grows tense as they realize authorities are closing in and worry about Greg's status.

Overnight Department store
7

David's outside encounter and entry plan

David steps outside to smoke and encounters a homeless man; he invites him into the mall for food, but the man declines. David wedges the door open in case the couple wishes to enter later, hoping to offer shelter if things get worse. The moment underscores the precariousness of their improvised sanctuary.

Night Department store entrance / mall vicinity
8

Outside voices: cyclist and the search continues

David meets a cyclist outside who informs him that authorities are still actively searching for the bombers. She believes the attacks are inevitable, echoing André's earlier remark about civilization and downfall. The outside world reinforces the sense of an inescapable consequence.

Night Outside the department store, Paris
9

Mika's nightmare and Greg's ghostly warning

Back inside, the group grows more agitated, engaging in improvised performances and applying makeup to themselves. Mika dreams of Greg telling him he forgot to hide his gun and that Greg has committed suicide on the streets, leaving a mannequin behind and unsettling Mika. The dream deepens the group’s fragility and paranoia.

Night Department store
10

Homeless couple admitted and intimate moment

Sarah reacts with fear when she spots the homeless couple climbing the escalator, and David comforts the group. The homeless couple is granted shelter inside the store, and David and Sarah have intimate intercourse. A TV later reveals that authorities know the terrorists are holed up here and plan to act, prompting André to urge caution.

Late night to early morning Department store
11

Semtex leverage and looming confrontation

André rigs the semtex against pillars as leverage for the approaching crackdown, hoping to influence the authorities' actions. David warns the others of the imminent assault as they prepare to hide. The tension peaks as they anticipate a violent intervention.

Approaching crackdown Department store
12

Police storm and total suppression

A squad of heavily armed police storms the department store and the youths attempt to surrender with their hands raised. The officers shoot the group one by one, showing no mercy and ending the suicidal siege. The homeless couple is killed alongside the rest, leaving a trail of bodies across the store.

Crackdown Department store

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:23

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The narrative often follows a group of young protagonists as they plan and carry out an act of ideological violence. The story then delves into the aftermath, focusing on their psychological state, the collapse of their unity, and the inescapable, bleak outcome of their actions.

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Nocturama Summary

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Nocturama Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Nocturama

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Nocturama

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Nocturama Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Nocturama

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