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Pork Pie (2017) movie poster

Timeline

Pork Pie (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 105 mins · English
Directed by
Matt Murphy
Starring
Rima Te Wiata, James Rolleston, Ashleigh Cummings, Dean O'Gorman, Josh Thomson, Milo Cawthorne

A quirky and unconventional group embark on a journey across New Zealand. They become accidental outlaws, challenging societal norms and seeking lost connections. Pursued by a relentless posse of police officers and fueled by intense media attention, their escapade becomes a chaotic and unforgettable adventure.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (14)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

14 events in order · contains spoilers

Pork Pie Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Pork Pie (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. Final Invercargill push and arrest

    Jon calls Suzie, who agrees to give him one last chance: he must show up at a cafe in Invercargill at 7 pm. The Southland Mini Club helps him shake off most of the police cars, though an officer shoots his tyres and the car catches fire. Jon reaches Invercargill almost on time and reunites with Suzie as she walks away from the cafe, but he is arrested; she agrees to become his lawyer.

    When
    7:00 PM
    Where
    Invercargill
  2. Kaikohe chase and the Mini escape

    Luke is chased by several people in a car dump yard in Kaikohe. He jumps into a working yellow Mini Cooper S and drives away. The escape kicks off a cross-country pursuit that threads through the film.

    Where
    Kaikohe
  3. Jon plans to attend Suzie's Wellington wedding

    An Auckland-based writer who cannot finish his book decides to attend the wedding in Wellington that Suzie, his ex-fiancée, is invited to. He steals his friend's expensive suit and drives south toward Wellington. This impulsive decision launches his own leg of the journey.

    Where
    Auckland
  4. Pōkeno breakdown forces a detour

    In Pōkeno, Jon's car breaks down and catches fire, leaving him stranded. He continues his trip on foot, determined to reach his destination. The breakdown forces a shift from car travel to pedestrian progress.

    Where
    Pōkeno
  5. A near-miss leads to an unlikely ride

    On a rural road, Jon is almost run over by Luke, who then offers him a ride. The near collision marks the start of an unlikely alliance that fuels their road journey. They begin traveling together toward their uncertain goals.

    Where
    Rural road
  6. Waikato petrol dash and a close escape

    In the Waikato region, they accidentally drive off a petrol station without paying, drawing police attention. Luke's legendary driving skills help them escape the moment and keep moving. The incident heightens the sense of constant chase around them.

    Where
    Waikato
  7. Keira joins at the drive-through

    They stop at a drive-through burger restaurant where Keira, a vegan activist, joins them. She reveals her goal to reach Wellington for a live-export protest and a pre-event rave. Her presence adds a new dynamic to the trio.

    Where
    Drive-through burger restaurant
  8. Wedding confrontation and aftermath at the rave

    Jon confronts Suzie at the wedding, and she spills champagne on him. Upset, Jon goes to the rave where his laptop with the book draft is broken. He takes drugs offered by Keira's friends and falls asleep in a coffin attached to the Mini used for the protest.

    Where
    Wellington
  9. Morning pursuit and a freight train escape

    In the morning, police restart the chase, and Luke and Jon escape by driving into an open freight train car. The escape showcases their reliance on Luke's driving skill. It marks a pivot in their escape tactics as they press on toward Invercargill.

    When
    morning
  10. On the train: clothes, hat, and a new spark

    On the train, the travelers discover a lot of old clothing, including the titular pork pie hat. Keira and Luke begin a romantic relationship and share a moment of intimacy during the journey. The train becomes a makeshift moving tableau for their evolving dynamics.

    Where
    Train
  11. Invercargill plans and Suzie’s talk

    Keira records a video from detention declaring they are animal rights activists heading to Invercargill. Later, Jon travels to Suzie's house in Invercargill to talk to her, setting up their next meeting. The group’s activist stance hardens their public profile.

    Where
    Invercargill
  12. Southland dairy encounter and viral tension

    In Southland, Jon visits a dairy to buy snacks and discovers their gang is now in national news due to Keira's announcements. A dairy worker approvingly points to the news, while Jon realizes the viral attention complicates their escape. Luke and Jon argue as Keira leaves the car and is captured by the police.

    Where
    Southland
  13. Bridge hideout, Roxburgh meet, and a gun

    Luke and Jon hide the car under a bridge and spend the night, while Becca discusses Jon's absence on the radio. Luke vows to help them reach Invercargill, but the area is barricaded by police. On the road toward Roxburgh, they meet Bongo, a conspiracy theorist who pulls a gun; he shoots himself in the foot by accident and then claims the gang shot him, triggering police rumors.

    Where
    Under a bridge near Roxburgh
  14. Mid-credits: broken plans and a hurried escape

    In the mid-credits scene it is revealed that Suzie and Jon decided to marry again, and Suzie left him waiting at the altar for several hours. Keira steals a wheelchair-bound Luke from a hospital, and they run away from the police, continuing their fugitive journey.

    When
    mid-credits

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:53

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Timeline questions answered

Pork Pie Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why is Luke being chased at the car dump in Kaikohe?

Luke is being chased by several people at the car dump yard in Kaikohe. While the exact reason isn't detailed in the film, he's clearly running from some kind of trouble, likely debt collectors or criminals, before he steals the yellow Mini Cooper S that becomes his escape vehicle.

  • luke
  • kaikohe
  • chase
  • mini cooper
  • car dump
Q2

Why does Jon decide to attend Suzie's wedding?

Jon, an Auckland-based writer who can't finish his book, learns that Suzie, his ex-fiancée, is invited to a wedding in Wellington. Rather than moving on, he decides to attend impulsively to confront her about their broken engagement, seeking closure or a chance at reconciliation.

  • jon
  • suzie
  • wedding
  • ex-fiancee
  • confrontation
Q3

Why does Keira join Luke and Jon at the drive-through?

Keira is a vegan activist working at a drive-through burger restaurant who is tired of rude customers. She spontaneously decides to join Luke and Jon because she needs a ride to Wellington for a protest against live export and a pre-event rave. Her activist agenda and desire for adventure lead her to hop in on a whim.

  • keira
  • vegan activist
  • wellington
  • protest
  • live export
Q4

How do Luke and Jon keep escaping the police?

Luke possesses remarkable driving skills that allow them to repeatedly evade police. He weaves through countryside, performs daring maneuvers, and uses creative routes like driving into an open freight train car. The Southland Mini Club also helps Jon in the final stretch. However, their luck eventually runs out when police shoot Luke's tyres, causing the car to catch fire.

  • luke
  • driving
  • police chase
  • escape
  • mini club
Q5

What triggers the police to start pursuing them?

The police pursuit begins when Luke and Jon accidentally drive off from a petrol station in Waikato without paying. This minor incident draws police attention, and once they start chasing, the trio become outlaws with escalating charges as more incidents pile up.

  • police
  • pursuit
  • waikato
  • petrol station
  • unpaid
Q6

Why does Luke get shot at the dairy?

Luke makes a risky stop at a dairy, where an aggressive police officer shoots him. This forces Luke to go to the hospital and leaves the group separated. It's a turning point that marks the first serious injury in their adventure.

  • luke
  • shot
  • dairy
  • hospital
  • police officer
Q7

What happens when Jon finally reaches Suzie in Invercargill?

Jon calls Suzie, who agrees to give him one last chance if he shows up at a cafe in Invercargill by 7 pm. He arrives almost too late, sees Suzie walking away from the cafe, gets arrested on the spot, but Suzie decides to become his lawyer, suggesting they'll work through their issues together.

  • jon
  • suzie
  • invercargill
  • arrest
  • lawyer
  • cafe
Q8

Why does the pork pie hat matter in the movie?

On the train, the travelers discover old clothing, including the titular pork pie hat. It becomes a symbolic accessory representing their journey as outlaws and their quirky road trip identity. The hat gives the film its name and adds to the whimsical criminal aesthetic they adopt.

  • pork pie hat
  • train
  • outlaws
  • clothing
Q9

Why does Keira steal Luke from the hospital in the mid-credits scene?

In the mid-credits scene, Keira, now romantically involved with Luke, steals the wheelchair-bound Luke from the hospital. Despite Luke being injured and the police still searching for them, she helps him escape so they can continue their fugitive journey together, showing her commitment to him.

  • keira
  • luke
  • hospital
  • wheelchair
  • mid-credits
  • escape
Q10

What happens to Luke after he is shot?

After Luke is shot at the dairy, he is taken to the hospital for treatment. While recovering in a wheelchair, Keira eventually rescues him in the mid-credits scene, and they vanish together, continuing to evade the roving police presence.

  • luke
  • shot
  • hospital
  • wheelchair
  • treatment
Q11

Why do Jon, Luke and Keira become national news?

Keira posts videos online declaring they are animal-rights activists heading to Invercargill, which goes viral. Their gang becomes national news as the media covers their police chase. Keira's online posts, including one claiming they are unarmed while in detention, only adds to the mounting media attention.

  • media
  • news
  • viral
  • keira
  • videos
  • activists
Q12

How does Jon get the expensive suit for the wedding?

Jon borrows his friend's expensive suit to wear to the wedding in Wellington. This is part of his impulsive decision to confront Suzie about their broken engagement, dressing up for the occasion despite the emotional stakes.

  • jon
  • suit
  • wedding
  • borrow
  • friend

Movie threads

More Movies Like Pork Pie, by Mood & Story

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

Quirky Road Trip Movies like Pork Pie

Mismatched trios on chaotic journeys, becoming folk heroes by accident. If you enjoyed the spontaneous, rebellious journey in Pork Pie, you'll love these movies. This thread features comedies about accidental outlaws on chaotic road trips, where mismatched groups find connection and become unlikely folk heroes, all with a lighthearted, fast-paced tone.

  • rebellious
  • free-spirited
  • energetic
  • quirky
  • escapist
  • romantic
  • Tone: light, whimsical, rebellious
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A linear road trip structure propels a group of quirky characters who, through a series of impulsive decisions and mishaps, find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Their escapades, often fueled by a search for personal freedom or connection, attract public attention, turning their journey into a chaotic but ultimately uplifting adventure.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared mix of a FAST pace, LIGHT tone, and MEDIUM intensity. They center on the theme of rebellion against conformity, often through a comedic lens, and feature strong romantic subplots and the formation of a found family unit during a physical journey.

Lighthearted Crime Adventures similar to Pork Pie

Charming criminals and chaotic chases, where the crime is less important than the connection. For viewers who liked the comedic crime energy of Pork Pie, this thread gathers movies where bumbling outlaws and chaotic chases lead to hilarious adventures. These films balance action and pursuit with witty characters and a feel-good spirit, ensuring the stakes are fun, not frightening.

  • comedic
  • energetic
  • charming
  • lighthearted
  • chaotic
  • escapist
  • Tone: light, comedic, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is driven by a crime or series of illegal acts, but the consequences are played for laughs and character development. A relentless but often comically inept pursuit provides the momentum, while the core of the story revolves around the evolving relationships within the central group, leading to a satisfying and happy resolution.

Why they belong together: This thread unites films that successfully blend Crime and Comedy genres without crossing into strong violence or disturbing themes. They share a STRAIGHTFORWARD narrative, a HAPPY ending, and a LIGHT emotional weight, prioritizing charm and chaotic fun over grit and moral ambiguity.

Every angle

Pork Pie (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Pork Pie 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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