Risk

Risk

Year: 2017

Runtime: 92 min

Language: English

Director: Laura Poitras

Echo Score: 60

Budget: $25M

Documentary

Laura Poitras’s Risk offers a deeply personal look at the world of WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. Filmed over six years, the documentary chronicles Assange's fight against powerful institutions and the legal battles he faces. The film explores the complexities of his character, his unwavering beliefs, and the significant risks he takes while navigating a period of intense controversy and global impact.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Risk 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 – Risk (2017)

Trace every key event in Risk (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

Arrest and plan to testify against Moretti

Madolyn Harris arrests Winston in Alaska after he turns informant against the Moretti crime family. Winston demands full immunity and a secure witness protection deal, while Madolyn plans to bring him to New York to testify. The arrest sets the stage for a high-stakes transfer.

After arrest Alaska
2

Prepare to transfer Winston to testify in NYC

Madolyn plans to transport Winston to New York City so he can testify against Moretti. Caroline notes the defense lawyers are trying to run down the clock, pressuring for a quick return. The plan hinges on a timely and safe handoff despite logistical obstacles.

In Alaska, before departure Alaska
3

Plane chartered for the trip

Madolyn charters a small plane to take them from Alaska to Anchorage for the next leg to NYC. The pilot, Daryl Booth, explains that the aircraft's radio and GPS are frequently unreliable. The journey begins with mounting tension and secrecy.

During departure Alaska
4

Daryl's true identity revealed

While shackled, Winston spots that the pilot's license shows a different photo than the real Daryl Booth. He realizes the pilot is a hit man using Daryl's identity. He tries to warn Madolyn, but she cannot hear him through her headset.

During flight Plane
5

Hit-man Daryl attempts to kill

The impostor pilot reveals his orders to kill Winston and deliver them to a small airport for torture. He knocks Madolyn out and menaces Winston, who offers one million dollars in untraceable crypto to buy his silence. The plan is to extract information and eliminate the witnesses.

During flight Plane
6

Madolyn subdues the assailant

Madolyn uses a taser to subdue the attacker and takes control of the plane. Winston urges Madolyn to shoot Daryl, but she refuses to break the law and chooses to handle the situation within legal bounds. They regain the flight and continue toward Anchorage.

After taser Plane
7

Evidence of a personal stake

On Daryl's body they discover photos of Winston's mother's house, signaling that the mob already has leverage. Winston realizes his mother is in danger and that Moretti's people could exploit any weakness. This revelation intensifies the tension aboard the aircraft.

During flight Plane
8

Suspected leak within the Marshals

Madolyn learns that Daryl seems to know too much, suggesting a leak from within the U.S. Marshals. She contacts FBI Director Coleridge to verify, only to sense he may be compromised. The suspicion broadens the conspiracy and endangers the mission.

Mid-flight Plane
9

Coast navigation and coast approach

Hassan, a ground-based pilot, guides Madolyn on how to steer the plane and follow the coastline to Anchorage after losing GPS. He provides reassurance about timing and safety as they navigate danger. The plan becomes a coastal route to safety.

Mid-flight Alaska, coastline
10

Caroline's death and the escalating danger

Coleridge informs Madolyn that Caroline has been killed in a car accident, heightening the danger to the witnesses and to Madolyn herself. Winston's mistrust of the Marshals grows and the entire operation feels compromised. The fallout intensifies as Coleridge's loyalty to Moretti becomes clearer.

During flight
11

Daryl breaks free and strikes again

Daryl frees himself from the overhead handcuffs, stabs Winston, and attempts to strangle Madolyn with a seat belt. Madolyn nearly passes out, but Winston pulls the knife from his chest and allows her to shoot Daryl with a flare gun, incapacitating him. The fight threatens to derail the mission.

During flight Plane
12

Final crash landing and rescue of Winston

A US Navy F/A-18 escorts the plane to the coast and Hassan guides Madolyn to a quick landing as fuel runs low. Daryl regains consciousness and fights again, but Madolyn shoots him and he is run over by an ambulance after being thrown from the plane. Madolyn and Winston survive the crash.

Approach to landing Coast/near Anchorage
13

Coleridge and the fake paramedic twist

On the ground, a suspicious paramedic in the ambulance is revealed to be a hit-man under Coleridge's orders. Madolyn shoots the paramedic, exposing Coleridge's complicity and vowing to bring him down alongside Moretti. The film ends with a fragile victory and a vow to finish the case.

After landing Ambulance scene

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07

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Risk Summary

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Risk Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Risk

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Risk

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Risk Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Risk

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