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Timeline

Riders of Justice (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 116 min · Danish
Echo score 88
JustWatch #7,061 171
Directed by
Anders Thomas Jensen
Starring
Mads Mikkelsen, Roland Møller, Omar Shargawi, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Gustav Lindh
Budget
$5.3M

Following the death of his wife in a train accident, recently returned soldier Markus struggles to adjust to life as a single father. A surprising claim from a fellow survivor suggests the crash wasn't an accident, triggering Markus’s grief and transforming it into a relentless pursuit of justice. He embarks on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth and exact retribution on those responsible for the tragedy.

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 Riders of Justice
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Riders of Justice (2021)

Where can you watch Riders of Justice? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Philo, Hoopla and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Riders of Justice Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Riders of Justice (2021) 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. Markus's Loss

    Markus is profoundly affected by the tragic death of his wife, leaving him to grapple with intense sorrow. He is now responsible for raising their young daughter, Mathilde, which makes the situation even more daunting for him.

  2. Otto's Revelation

    An acquaintance named Otto approaches Markus with shocking news about his wife's death. He reveals that the tragic train accident was actually a premeditated murder linked to the notorious Riders of Justice motorcycle gang.

  3. The Investigation Begins

    Motivated by Otto's revelation, Markus enlists the help of hackers Lennart and Emmenthaler. Together, they delve deeper into the mystery, intent on exposing the truth behind the accident and seeking justice.

  4. The Key Clue

    Investigations reveal a crucial detail: a man who exited the train just seconds before the accident. It is discovered that this man is the sibling of the leader of the Riders, putting Markus on a dangerous path.

  5. The Confrontation

    Tensions escalate when Markus confronts the main suspect, who threatens him with a gun. In a moment of instinctive reaction, Markus kills the suspect, marking a significant turning point in their quest for justice.

  6. Discovery of Bodashka

    As Lennart discards the body of the suspect, he uncovers a young Ukrainian boy named Bodashka, ensnared by the Riders' malevolence. This new development complicates their quest and adds a layer of urgency to their mission.

  7. Riders' Retaliation

    The Riders retaliate against Markus and his team with a violent drive-by shooting. Markus, drawing on his training, fights back fiercely while protecting Bodashka, showcasing his resilience under pressure.

  8. Mathilde's Misunderstanding

    As the chaos unfolds, Mathilde grows suspicious of her father's secretive meetings with the hackers. She misinterprets their clandestine gatherings as group therapy sessions aimed at helping him cope with his grief.

  9. The Flawed Evidence

    During a critical planning session, Bodashka reveals that the suspect was never on the train. This shocking turn of events leads to the realization that the team was misled by a faulty facial recognition result.

  10. Markus's Despair

    Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the mistake and the unfolding violence, Markus sinks into despair. He allows his emotions to surface, crying for the loss of his wife and the impact on his family.

  11. Escalation of Violence

    The following day, the Riders escalate their violence, targeting Mathilde’s boyfriend through social media. They launch a surprise assault on Markus's home, leading to chaos but also revealing the strength of Markus’s resolve.

  12. Counterattack

    In a surprising twist, Otto, Lennart, and Emmenthaler return, now armed with combat skills akin to Markus's own. They join forces to repel the Riders’ attack, helping to rescue Mathilde and her boyfriend.

  13. Unity in Adversity

    After successfully fending off the Riders, the group finds strength in their unity. The experience bonds them, highlighting the importance of friendship and teamwork in times of crisis.

  14. Holiday Reconciliation

    As the holiday season arrives, Markus and Mathilde experience a heartfelt reconciliation. Surrounded by friends, they celebrate together, finding solace in shared love and the strength of their relationship.

  15. A Heartwarming Celebration

    The festive atmosphere brings laughter and joy, representing hope and healing for Markus and Mathilde. Their celebration is a testament to the enduring power of love and togetherness amidst hardship.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 18:13

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Timeline questions answered

Riders of Justice Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Riders of Justice (2021): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was the train accident actually a murder?

The train crash wasn't an accident, it was a planned assassination by the Riders of Justice motorcycle gang. Otto, who was on the train, revealed that the gang had orchestrated the crash, though the specific reason isn't fully detailed in the summary.

  • train accident
  • murder
  • riders of justice
  • otto
Q2

Why did Markus kill the suspect?

Markus killed the suspect during a confrontation when the man threatened him with a gun. In a moment of instinctive reaction fueled by grief and anger over his wife's death, Markus responded violently, marking a major turning point in his pursuit of justice.

  • markus
  • kill
  • suspect
  • self-defense
  • gun
Q3

Who is Bodashka in the movie?

Bodashka is a young Ukrainian boy discovered by Lennart when he disposes of the suspect's body. The boy had been kidnapped and trapped by the Riders of Justice gang, adding urgency to the team's mission and becoming a symbol of the gang's cruelty.

  • bodashka
  • ukrainian boy
  • kidnapped
  • riders of justice
Q4

What was the flawed evidence twist in Riders of Justice?

Bodashka reveals that the main suspect was never actually on the train. The team had been misled by a faulty facial recognition result that Lennart and Otto pressured Emmenthaler into accepting, sending the investigation down the wrong path.

  • facial recognition
  • false evidence
  • bodashka
  • investigation error
Q5

Why did Mathilde think the meetings were group therapy?

Mathilde became suspicious of her father's secretive meetings with the hackers. She misinterpreted their clandestine gatherings as group therapy sessions meant to help Markus cope with his grief over losing her mother.

  • mathilde
  • group therapy
  • misunderstanding
  • grief
Q6

How did Otto and the hackers know how to fight?

In a surprising turn, Otto, Lennart, and Emmenthaler re-emerge during the Riders' attack with combat skills comparable to Markus's military training. It's implied they either had hidden training or learned quickly, turning the tide against the gang.

  • otto
  • lennart
  • emmenthaler
  • combat
  • fight skills
Q7

Why did the Riders target Mathilde's boyfriend?

The Riders escalated their attack by targeting Mathilde's boyfriend through social media, then launched a surprise assault on Markus's home. This was retaliation against Markus and his team for their investigation and the earlier confrontation.

  • mathilde
  • boyfriend
  • social media
  • retaliation
  • riders attack
Q8

How does Riders of Justice end?

Markus, Otto, Lennart, and Emmenthaler successfully repel the Riders' attack and rescue Mathilde and her boyfriend. The group finds unity through their ordeal. During the holiday season, Markus reconciles with Mathilde, and they celebrate together with friends, finding healing through connection and forgiveness.

  • ending
  • holiday
  • reconciliation
  • mathilde
  • found family
Q9

Why did Otto approach Markus with the truth?

Otto approached Markus because he was an acquaintance who happened to be on the same train as Markus's wife during the crash. He possessed knowledge about the Riders of Justice and chose to reveal that the accident was actually a premeditated murder, setting Markus on his path of vengeance.

  • otto
  • acquaintance
  • train
  • revelation
  • motivation
Q10

Who is the leader of the Riders of Justice?

The leader of the Riders of Justice is referenced indirectly through their sibling relationship to the suspect. The investigation reveals that the man who exited the train seconds before the catastrophe was the sibling of the gang's leader, making the case deeply personal.

  • riders of justice
  • leader
  • sibling
  • gang

Movie threads

More Movies Like Riders of Justice, by Mood & Story

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

Vigilante movies driven by grief like Riders of Justice

Stories where a profound personal loss ignites a dangerous quest for revenge. If you liked the raw emotional drive in Riders of Justice, explore more movies where a devastating personal loss propels a character into a vigilante mission. These films blend heavy emotional weight with tense action, focusing on the psychological cost of revenge.

  • grieving
  • vengeful
  • tense
  • cathartic
  • violent
  • urgent
  • Tone: tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a catastrophic personal loss that breaks the protagonist's world. This event catalyzes a descent into a violent underworld, pitting their raw skills and grief against a systemic enemy. The journey often questions the very concept of justice and whether revenge can ever truly bring peace.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core premise: trauma as the engine for action. They balance high-stakes, intense confrontations with a deeply melancholic character study, creating a coherent experience of cathartic but morally complex vengeance.

Action dramas with found family like Riders of Justice

High-stakes action where a broken individual finds unexpected connection and healing. For viewers who enjoyed the unique blend of brutal action and heartfelt connection in Riders of Justice, this list features movies where a group of misfits bands together during a crisis. These stories offer a cathartic mix of tense thrills and emotional healing.

  • found-family
  • cathartic
  • tense
  • violent
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • Tone: tense, cathartic
  • Pacing: fast, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A lone wolf or grieving individual is thrust into a conflict that forces them to collaborate with an unlikely team of outsiders. Through shared danger and vulnerability, this makeshift 'family' provides the support needed to confront the enemy and, in the process, begin to heal old wounds, resulting in a bittersweet victory.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies that masterfully balance two tones: the urgency and violence of a thriller with the warmth and catharsis of a drama. The shared vibe is defined by this specific emotional mix—tense and violent yet ultimately human and hopeful.

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Every angle

Riders of Justice (2021) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Riders of Justice in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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