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Prospect (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 98 min · English
Echo score 75
JustWatch #5,908 109
Directed by
Chris Caldwell, Zeek Earl
Starring
Sophie Thatcher, Pedro Pascal, Andre Royo, Sheila Vand, Alex McCauley, Anwan Glover
Budget
$4M

A resourceful teenager and her troubled father travel to a dangerous alien moon, hoping to strike it rich by harvesting valuable gems. As they venture into a toxic and perilous forest, their mission becomes a desperate fight for survival. They face ruthless adversaries and the father’s own questionable motives, ultimately forcing the girl to find her own way to freedom and confront the harsh realities of their situation.

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 Prospect
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Prospect (2018)

Where can you watch Prospect? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hulu, Fawesome and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Prospect Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Prospect (2018) 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. Setting Off

    Cee and her father Damon embark on a thrilling adventure to a remote alien moon. Their mission is to extract valuable gems hidden within its toxic forest, with the urgent stipulation of returning within three cycles.

    Where
    Remote Alien Moon
  2. Off-Course Landing

    While descending in their transport module, complications lead to an off-course landing. Despite the setback, Damon remains determined to push forward, causing Cee to feel anxious about meeting their returning shuttle deadline.

    Where
    Transport Module
  3. Striking Gold

    Damon successfully extracts a precious gemstone, which raises their hopes of financial security. However, driven by ambition, he becomes obsessed with finding the ultimate treasure, known as the mother lode.

    Where
    Toxic Forest
  4. Encountering Ezra

    Deep in the wilderness, Damon and Cee encounter Ezra, a fellow gem-seeker with questionable intentions. Tensions escalate as Ezra demands control over their gem haul, sparking a conflict over trust and resources.

    Where
    Wilderness
  5. The Queen's Lair

    Damon, in hopes of appeasing Ezra, reveals the location of the mother lode, which he has coined the queen's lair. This decision leads them down a collaborative yet treacherous path of greed and deception.

    Where
    Queen's Lair
  6. Setting the Ambush

    In a moment of desperation, Damon and Cee plot an ambush against Ezra and his partner. The situation escalates into chaos when shots are fired, resulting in Damon sustaining critical injuries.

    Where
    Remote Alien Moon
  7. Cee's Escape

    As Ezra attempts to finish the job on Damon, Cee narrowly escapes. Unfortunately, she is left stranded with a damaged transport pod and must contend with being hunted by Ezra.

  8. Moral Dilemma

    Cee grapples with her own morality as she ventures towards the mother lode. She faces various treacherous encounters that test her resolve in the hostile environment.

    Where
    Toxic Forest
  9. Nomads' Exchange

    Cee encounters a group of nomads led by Oruf, who demands gems in exchange for crucial medical supplies. The negotiation leads to a chaotic escape, further complicating Cee's precarious state.

    Where
    Nomads' Camp
  10. Fateful Reunion

    Throughout their tumultuous journey, Cee and Ezra part ways only to be reunited as they confront the reality of their situation. Both renounce any notions of betrayal while navigating their shared peril.

  11. Negotiating Passage

    Cee and Ezra find themselves amidst another crew of gem hunters, negotiating for safe passage off the moon. The risks of gem extraction loom large as tensions flare within the crew.

    Where
    Gem Hunter Base
  12. Confrontation and Defiance

    A moment of defiance leads to a direct confrontation with the ship's captain and crew. Despite being injured, Ezra persuades Cee to leave him, but her determination to stay with him strengthens their bond.

    Where
    Ship
  13. Strategy for Survival

    Cee and Ezra devise a strategy to evade their pursuers, capitalizing on the chaos around them. Their shared experiences foster a deeper trust as they work together to find their way back.

    Where
    Alien Moon
  14. Return Journey

    Against all odds, Cee and Ezra navigate back towards the orbiter. Their incredible journey is a testament to their resilience in the face of ambition and the harsh realities of the alien moon.

    Where
    Orbiter
  15. Reflections on Survival

    Having faced numerous trials, Cee reflects on the nature of trust and survival. The harrowing experiences transform her understanding of both herself and her relationship with Ezra.

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 22:05

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Timeline questions answered

Prospect Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Prospect (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Damon want to find the mother lode when he already has enough gems?

Damon is driven by greed and the desire to secure a life-changing fortune for himself and Cee. Even after extracting a valuable gemstone that would already ensure their survival, his ambition compels him to pursue the mother lode, the legendary cache of gems that could make them truly wealthy. This obsession blinds him to the risks and ultimately leads to his downfall.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Damon's ambition is hinted at when he pushes forward despite Cee's concerns about missing their return shuttle.

  • mother lode
  • damon
  • greed
  • gems
  • queen's lair
Q2

Why does Damon tell Ezra about the queen's lair?

Damon reveals the location of the mother lode (which he calls the queen's lair) to Ezra as a way to appease him and avoid conflict. When Ezra demands the keys to their transport pod, Damon tries to negotiate by offering to share the location of the ultimate treasure, hoping this would lead to a partnership rather than a confrontation.

Foreshadowing: This moment follows the initial tense encounter where Ezra demands their gem haul, showing Damon's attempt to buy his way out of danger.

  • queen's lair
  • ezra
  • damon
  • mother lode
  • betrayal
Q3

Does Damon die in Prospect?

Yes, Damon is killed during the ambush he and Cee set for Ezra. When shots are fired during the confrontation, Damon sustains critical injuries. Ezra attempts to finish him off, but Cee manages to escape while Damon is left mortally wounded in the chaos.

Foreshadowing: The ambush setup foreshadows this outcome, as Damon's desperate plan to kill Ezra and take everything for themselves backfires.

  • damon's death
  • damon
  • ambush
  • ezra
Q4

What exactly happens during the ambush?

Damon and Cee set up an ambush against Ezra and his partner to eliminate them and keep all the gems for themselves. However, the plan goes terribly wrong. In the resulting chaos and shootout, Damon is critically wounded rather than his targets. Ezra survives and pursues Cee after she escapes, leaving Damon to die from his injuries.

Foreshadowing: Damon's earlier decision to reveal the mother lode location to Ezra was the first sign of his dangerous, desperate plan.

  • ambush
  • damon
  • ezra
  • shootout
  • failed plan
Q5

Why does Ezra pursue Cee after the ambush?

Ezra hunts Cee because he believes she and Damon double-crossed him. After the failed ambush and Damon's death, Ezra is left without the gems and without a way to the mother lode. He pursues Cee to either retrieve the gems or get revenge for being betrayed, viewing her as the key to finding the treasure.

Foreshadowing: The tension between Damon and Ezra over the gems foreshadows this violent pursuit.

  • ezra
  • cee
  • pursuit
  • revenge
  • gems
Q6

How does Cee survive being hunted by Ezra on the toxic moon?

Cee survives by staying mobile and resourceful in the toxic forest. After escaping with a damaged transport pod, she navigates the dangerous environment while being pursued. She eventually encounters the nomads led by Oruf, who provide her with medical supplies in exchange for gems, giving her a chance to recover and continue her journey.

Foreshadowing: Cee's earlier survival skills and her determination to live are established when she repeatedly pushes forward despite fear.

  • cee
  • survival
  • toxic forest
  • nomads
  • oruf
Q7

How do Cee and Ezra end up working together?

Cee and Ezra's relationship evolves from enemies to allies through a series of circumstances. After parting ways multiple times and being reunited, they both renounce any notion of betrayal and realize they need each other to survive. Cee's refusal to abandon the injured Ezra, despite his previous threats, marks the turning point where they begin to trust each other and work together to escape the moon.

Foreshadowing: Their repeated encounters and shared hardships gradually build a reluctant trust between them.

  • cee
  • ezra
  • alliance
  • trust
  • partnership
Q8

Why do the nomads help Cee?

The nomads, led by Oruf, agree to help Cee in exchange for gems. They demand payment in the form of gems for crucial medical supplies that Cee needs. This transaction-based relationship highlights the harsh survival economy of the alien moon, where even assistance comes at a price.

Foreshadowing: The desperate circumstances Cee faces after the ambush leave her with no choice but to negotiate with the nomads.

  • nomads
  • oruf
  • gems
  • medical supplies
  • trade
Q9

How do Cee and Ezra make it back to the orbiter in time?

Cee and Ezra navigate through various dangers, including confronting the ship's captain and crew, to secure passage off the moon. They devise a strategy to evade their pursuers during the chaos, ultimately finding their way back to the orbiter just in time. Their combined efforts and the trust they've built allow them to overcome the numerous obstacles blocking their escape.

Foreshadowing: The three-cycle deadline mentioned at the beginning creates the time pressure that makes their return so precarious.

  • orbiter
  • escape
  • return
  • ship
  • deadline
Q10

What is the mother lode and why does everyone want it?

The mother lode (also called the queen's lair) is the legendary location deep within the toxic forest where an extremely valuable deposit of gems is found. It represents the ultimate treasure that could make any gem-seeker extremely wealthy. This is why Damon risks everything to find it, why Ezra is willing to betray for it, and why it drives much of the conflict in the film.

Foreshadowing: Damon's obsession with finding it despite having enough gems establishes its significance early on.

  • mother lode
  • queen's lair
  • gems
  • treasure
  • wealth

Movie threads

More Movies Like Prospect, by Mood & Story

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

Gritty Frontier Survival Movies Like Prospect

Desperate characters fighting for life in unforgiving and dangerous new worlds. If you enjoyed the desperate fight for survival in the toxic alien forest of Prospect, explore more movies with a similar gritty survivalist vibe. These films feature characters pushed to their limits in dangerous, unforgiving environments, often with a focus on raw suspense and the harsh reality of life on the frontier.

  • gritty
  • survivalist
  • suspenseful
  • desolate
  • tense
  • claustrophobic
  • Tone: dark, tense, desolate
  • Pacing: steady, suspenseful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear survival journey where characters, often outsiders or prospectors, must overcome a hostile environment and rival factions. The plot is driven by immediate physical threats, forcing characters to rely on their wits and forge pragmatic alliances to secure a future.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core experience of high-stakes survival in a bleak, immersive setting. They feature a steady, suspenseful pace, a dark and desperate tone, and a heavy emotional weight centered on the primal need to endure.

Bittersweet Survival Arcs Like in Prospect

Emotional journeys where characters find resilience through sacrifice and survival. For viewers who appreciated Cee's emotional journey in Prospect—losing her father but finding her own strength—this collection highlights movies with similar heavy emotional arcs. These stories focus on characters who survive devastating events and emerge with a bittersweet but resilient hope for the future.

  • melancholic
  • heavy
  • tense
  • hopeful
  • bittersweet
  • coming of age
  • Tone: dark, melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a catalyst of severe loss or betrayal that forces a protagonist, often young, into a fight for survival. The emotional arc is central, moving from dependence and loss through a trial by fire, culminating in a conclusion that is more about resilient independence than simple victory.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their heavy emotional weight, driven by themes of loss and the psychological cost of survival. They balance a dark tone with a ultimately hopeful, if bittersweet, resolution centered on a character's internal growth and newfound resilience.

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Every angle

Prospect (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Prospect 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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