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Not Safe for Work (2014) movie poster

Timeline

Not Safe for Work (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 74 mins · English
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Directed by
Joe Johnston
Starring
Eloise Mumford, Alejandro Patiño, Christian Ijin Link, Tom Gallop, JJ Feild, Max Minghella

Tom, a legal firm assistant, notices a suspicious man outside the court and impulsively follows him. His actions lead to a terrifying situation when he becomes trapped in a building with the same man, who reveals himself to be a dangerous hitman. Tom must find a way to survive as he navigates a perilous and inescapable trap.

Thriller Cast, crew & box office
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 Categories
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Not Safe for Work Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Not Safe for Work (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. Ferguson’s final act at Denning

    John Ferguson, a whistleblower at Denning, murders several company executives and then commits suicide as police enter the building. The shocking act establishes the danger and corruption surrounding the Denning case. Miller, a paralegal on the matter, is left to navigate the fallout.

    Where
    Denning corporate building

  2. Miller joins Denning case and doubts the trial

    Miller is assigned to the Denning case as a paralegal, but he quickly doubts that the coming trial will be fair or effective. Ferguson was their star witness, and his absence leaves the prosecution vulnerable. Miller’s idealism clashes with the firm’s cynicism toward Denning and its power structure.

    Where
    Denning law firm

  3. Gambizzi memo prompts a firing

    Miller writes an unsolicited memo about the Gambizzi crime family, drawing the ire of partner Alan Emmerich. Emmerich fires him, labeling his ideas financially unsound and a distraction from the Denning case. The firing marks a sharp turn in Miller's standing at the firm.

    Where
    Firm offices

  4. Late-night decisions and isolation

    Roger, Miller’s friend and fellow paralegal, initially commiserates but then returns to the office late to work. Emmerich sends everyone else, including Miller’s girlfriend Anna, home due to a supposed Internet problem. The firm’s internal tension grows as Miller senses he is being sidelined.

    Where
    Denning law firm

  5. A briefcase killer enters

    As Miller leaves the building, he sees a man set down a briefcase, and another man retrieves it and enters an elevator. He follows and witnesses the man produce a pistol and murder Janine, a lawyer. The realization that a killer has infiltrated the Denning offices propels the tension.

    Where
    Outside Denning building

  6. Miller hides and finds a guard’s body

    Miller hides in a bathroom and discovers the body of a security guard. He alerts Roger to the danger, who questions Miller's plan to save Emmerich. The two men recognize that escaping and staying safe may require acting quickly.

    Where
    Denning law firm bathroom

  7. Roger is killed, Miller is alerted

    Before Roger can call authorities, the killer finds and strangles him. Miller’s recharging cell phone chimes, alerting the killer that there are still others inside the building. The killer presses on, widening the threat.

    Where
    Denning building

  8. Emmerich and Lorraine Gambizzi encounter

    Miller uses his knowledge of the building to evade capture and finds Emmerich in an office with Lorraine Gambizzi. When the killer breaks in, Gambizzi grabs a pistol, but the killer shoots her first. Emmerich survives but is forced to stay in the office as danger closes in.

    Where
    Emmerich's office with Lorraine Gambizzi

  9. The hitman targets Lorraine Gambizzi

    Miller reasons the killer is a Gambizzi hitman sent to kill Lorraine Gambizzi, who was to testify against her husband. The killer then tries to gain entry into the record room, a reinforced vault used as a safe room. Miller prepares to counter his moves.

    Where
    Record room / vault

  10. Anna is drawn back and taken hostage

    The killer uses Miller’s recharged cell phone to draw Anna back to the building and taunt Miller. He then takes Anna hostage as soon as she arrives, raising the stakes for Miller.

    Where
    Denning building

  11. The trade attempt and the fake card

    Miller tries to trade his access card for Anna's life, but the killer reneges and wounds Emmerich as he shoots at them. The killer gains access to the records and starts a fire in the vault. Miller uses a fake access card to trap the intruder and delay the threat.

    Where
    Records vault / record room

  12. Fire, restraint, and escape

    Locked in the vault as shelves burn, the killer chokes and falls unconscious. Miller re-enters to extinguish the fire, and Anna knocks the killer out with a fire extinguisher. Emmerich recovers the killer's pistol and fatally injures him.

    Where
    Records vault / safe room

  13. The killer’s words reveal motive

    Curious about the killer's last words, Miller investigates and discovers that Emmerich likely targeted Roger for assassination because of his own whistleblowing about the firm planning to throw the Denning case. The link between the firm and Roger's fate becomes clearer, revealing a network of cover-ups.

    Where
    Vault / secure area

  14. Emmerich’s suicide and the motive revealed

    Confronting Emmerich, Miller learns that Emmerich manipulated the Denning case to protect the Gambizzi connection and silence Roger's whistleblowing. Emmerich begs Miller to destroy the evidence, but Miller refuses and Emmerich commits suicide.

    Where
    Emmerich's office

  15. The aftermath: accomplice revealed

    As Miller and Anna leave, the killer's accomplice—now revealed to be a police officer—alerts his superiors. A hitman outside the building confirms he has visual confirmation of Miller, signaling that the threat is far from over.

    Where
    Outside Denning building

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:05

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Timeline questions answered

Not Safe for Work Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Not Safe for Work (2014): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did John Ferguson kill the Denning executives and then commit suicide?

John Ferguson was a whistleblower at Denning pharmaceutical company who became disillusioned when he felt the firm wasn't taking action against the company's corruption. After murdering several executives to expose what he saw as systemic wrongdoing, he took his own life as police entered the building, viewing his act as a final statement rather than survival.

  • john ferguson
  • denning
  • whistleblower
  • suicide
  • murder-suicide
Q2

Who was the hitman targeting at the law firm?

The hitman was sent by the Gambizzi crime family to kill Lorraine Gambizzi, who was preparing to testify against her husband. The killer also targeted anyone who knew about the firm's connection to the Gambizzis, including Janine (a lawyer who was shot first) and ultimately anyone who got in his way.

  • hitman
  • lorraine gambizzi
  • gambizzi family
  • assassin
Q3

Why did the killer want to get into the record room vault?

The record room was a reinforced vault containing evidence and documents that could expose the connection between the law firm and the Gambizzi crime family. Both Miller and the killer understood these records held proof of the criminal conspiracy, making them the ultimate prize in the confrontation.

  • vault
  • record room
  • evidence
  • conspiracy
Q4

Why did the killer use Tom's phone to bring Anna back to the building?

The killer discovered Miller's cell phone was recharging and used it to manipulate the situation. He texted Anna to return to the building under false pretenses, then took her hostage to force Miller to surrender the vault access card, using her as leverage against him.

  • anna
  • hostage
  • miller phone
  • trapped
Q5

What was the connection between Emmerich and the hitman?

Emmerich had orchestrated the hitman attack to cover up his own corruption. He had hired the Gambizzi hitman not only to silence Lorraine Gambizzi but also to eliminate anyone who threatened to expose his role in manipulating the Denning case and silencing Roger, who was a whistleblower about the firm's illegal plans.

  • alan emmerich
  • hitman
  • corruption
  • conspiracy
Q6

Why was Roger killed?

Roger was killed because he had discovered and was planning to blow the whistle on the law firm's plan to throw the Denning case and protect the Gambizzi connection. Emmerich had ordered the hitman to silence Roger before he could expose the firm's corruption, making Roger a liability to the cover-up.

  • roger
  • whistleblower
  • killed
  • denning case
Q7

What did the killer whisper to Tom before dying?

Before dying, the killer whispered a code that led Tom to discover the truth about Emmerich's involvement. Tom investigated these final words and learned that Emmerich had targeted Roger for assassination because Roger was a whistleblower about the firm's plans to manipulate the Denning case.

  • killer last words
  • code
  • revelation
  • motive
Q8

Why did Emmerich commit suicide?

After Tom confronted Emmerich with the evidence proving he had orchestrated the hitman attack and silenced Roger, Emmerich realized he was exposed. He begged Tom to destroy the evidence, arguing the pharmaceutical industry was more powerful than any crime family. When Tom refused, Emmerich chose suicide over facing the consequences of his crimes.

  • emmerich suicide
  • exposed
  • confession
Q9

Who was the police officer that was the killer's accomplice?

The killer's accomplice was a corrupt police officer who helped facilitate the attack. As Tom and Anna left the building, this officer signaled his superiors, and outside the building, another hitman confirmed they had visual confirmation of Tom, indicating the conspiracy extended beyond just the law firm into law enforcement.

  • police officer
  • accomplice
  • corrupt
  • conspiracy
Q10

What was the importance of the Denning case records?

The records in the vault contained evidence linking the law firm to the Gambizzi crime family and proof that the firm was manipulating the Denning pharmaceutical case. These documents represented the key to exposing the entire conspiracy, which is why both the killer and Miller fought so fiercely to control them.

  • denning records
  • evidence
  • vault
  • expose

Movie threads

More Movies Like Not Safe for Work, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Not Safe for Work tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Corporate Conspiracy Traps like in Not Safe for Work

Ordinary individuals uncover a deadly corporate conspiracy and must fight to survive. If you enjoyed the high-tension survival story in Not Safe for Work, explore more movies where an ordinary person uncovers a deadly secret and becomes trapped by a powerful corporation. These films share a fast pace, claustrophobic settings, and themes of whistleblowing against insurmountable odds.

  • tense
  • paranoid
  • urgent
  • suspenseful
  • corporate thriller
  • conspiracy
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows an unwitting protagonist who discovers evidence of corporate crime, immediately making them a target. They are physically or systematically trapped, forcing them to use their wits and resourcefulness to outmaneuver professional killers or corrupt security in a confined, high-pressure environment to expose the truth and survive.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared premise of an 'everyman' versus a powerful, corrupt organization, creating an immediate sense of inequality and high stakes. The consistent tone of paranoia and urgent pacing, often in a single location, delivers a specific type of relentless, grounded thriller.

Trapped movie poster

Trapped

1949
Not Safe for Work movie poster

Not Safe for Work

2014
Trapped movie poster

Trapped

1989
Antitrust movie poster

Antitrust

2001
Conspiracy Theory movie poster

Conspiracy Theory

1997
The Code Conspiracy movie poster

The Code Conspiracy

2002
Shadow Conspiracy movie poster

Shadow Conspiracy

1997
Company Business movie poster

Company Business

1991

Claustrophobic Cat-and-Mouse Thrillers like Not Safe for Work

Stories of tense survival games confined to a single, inescapable location. Fans of the confined, high-stakes chase in Not Safe for Work will enjoy these similar movies focused on survival in a single location. Discover thrillers that master the art of building tension through limited space, creating an anxious and immersive viewing experience.

  • claustrophobic
  • tense
  • suspenseful
  • cat-and-mouse
  • trapped
  • survival
  • Tone: tense, anxious, claustrophobic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is typically simple and direct: a protagonist finds themselves locked in a building or complex with a dangerous antagonist. The story unfolds in real-time or over a short period, focusing on stealth, evasion, and clever use of the environment in a life-or-dedeath game where escape is the only goal.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their masterful use of a single, confined setting to generate extreme tension and a feeling of entrapment. The shared vibe is one of sustained anxiety, claustrophobia, and a fast-paced, physical struggle for survival, prioritizing atmospheric suspense over complex plotting.

Trapped movie poster

Trapped

1989
Narrow Margin movie poster

Narrow Margin

1990
Throttle movie poster

Throttle

2005
10x10 movie poster

10x10

2018
Phone Booth movie poster

Phone Booth

2003
Escape Room movie poster

Escape Room

2019
The Hunted movie poster

The Hunted

2003
Not Safe for Work movie poster

Not Safe for Work

2014

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Not Safe for Work

Not Safe for Work appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories
Expert Survival Thrillers movies

Expert Survival Thrillers

Expert protagonist thriller movies

Every angle

Not Safe for Work (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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