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SuperFly (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 116 min · English
Echo score 53
JustWatch #12,570 15
Directed by
Director X.
Starring
Jason Mitchell, Allen Maldonado, Lex Scott Davis, Michael Kenneth Williams, Omar Chaparro, Big Boi
Budget
$16M

A ruthless cocaine kingpin, Youngblood Priest, plans one final, lucrative score before leaving the criminal underworld. As he orchestrates his ambitious plan, he finds himself facing dangerous adversaries, including powerful cartel bosses, corrupt police officers, and disloyal allies. Priest must use all his cunning and skill to outwit his enemies and secure his freedom in a high-stakes battle for survival.

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 SuperFly
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch SuperFly (2018)

Where can you watch SuperFly? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

SuperFly Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of SuperFly (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. Young Priest's Early Life

    Youngblood Priest, starting at the tender age of eleven, is introduced to the drug trade in Atlanta. Under the mentorship of Scatter, he gradually climbs the ranks to become a young cocaine kingpin.

    Where
    Atlanta
  2. Life with Two Girlfriends

    Priest navigates a complex personal life, maintaining relationships with two girlfriends, Georgia and Cynthia. Their presence provides both support and added tension to his already dangerous lifestyle.

  3. Confrontation at the Strip Club

    A violent incident unfolds when Juju from the rival gang Snow Patrol approaches Cynthia at her workplace. This confrontation escalates into chaos, resulting in Juju unintentionally shooting an innocent bystander instead of Priest.

    Where
    Strip Club
  4. Priest's Kindness Amid Chaos

    Despite his dangerous lifestyle, Priest shows unexpected compassion by financially supporting the victim of the shooting. This action underscores his internal struggle with the violence surrounding him.

  5. Resolution to Exit the Drug Trade

    After reflecting on the chaos of the night, Priest confides in Eddie about his desire to leave the drug business. They discuss the risks involved, and despite initial doubts, Eddie agrees to support Priest's decision.

  6. Scatter's Refusal

    Priest approaches his mentor Scatter for help in leaving the drug trade, but is met with a flat refusal. This moment solidifies Priest's isolation and increases the stakes of his decision.

  7. Betrayal within the Ranks

    Tensions rise when Fat Freddie, one of Priest's associates, is caught cheating, leading to a betrayal that allows Snow Patrol to track him down. This incident hints at the fragility of loyalty in the drug game.

  8. Fat Freddie's Demise

    In an unexpected turn of events, Fat Freddie is ambushed by Snow Patrol right after a confrontation with a corrupt cop. His refusal to cooperate with Detective Mason seals his fate, leading to tragic consequences.

  9. Detective Mason's Blackmail

    Detective Mason intensifies her pursuit of Priest by blackmailing him with evidence of his illicit activities. This confrontation creates tension, leading to a violent fallout with his trusted right-hand man, Eddie.

  10. Priest's Desperate Escape Plan

    Amid escalating threats, Priest scrambles to secure passports for Georgia and Cynthia, hoping to escape their violent lifestyle. However, a fateful meeting with his drug supplier disrupts his plans dramatically.

  11. Betrayal and Tragedy

    During a meeting, Adalberto, Priest’s drug supplier, betrays Scatter, leading to his shocking demise. This event sends shockwaves through Priest's world, complicating his already precarious situation.

  12. Cynthia's Heartbreaking Death

    In a devastating retaliation from Snow Patrol, Cynthia is killed, leaving Priest in deep mourning. This loss ignites a desire for vengeance and a radical transformation in Priest and Georgia.

  13. Symbolic Act of Rebirth

    In their grief, Priest and Georgia destroy their former mansion with Molotov cocktails, marking a symbolic break from their horrific past. This act signifies their rebirth and determination to reclaim their lives.

  14. Final Confrontations

    As tensions erupt between old allies and adversaries, Priest faces a series of violent confrontations. The climactic battles result in significant casualties on both sides, reshaping the landscape of the drug trade.

  15. A New Beginning

    The film concludes with Priest experiencing peace aboard a cruise in Montenegro. Having settled scores and secured his future, he finds solace, reflecting on his tumultuous journey and the cost of his choices.

    Where
    Montenegro

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 17:13

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Timeline questions answered

SuperFly Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

What motivates Priest to want to leave the drug business?

After a confrontation at the strip club where Juju from Snow Patrol accidentally shoots an innocent bystander while aiming at Priest, he has a profound realization about the dangers of his lifestyle. This traumatic event triggers his decision to exit the drug trade entirely, as he vows never to face such a situation again.

Foreshadowing: The strip club incident serves as the catalyst that sparks Priest's desire for change.

  • Priest
  • drug trade
  • exit
  • strip club
  • Juju
  • Snow Patrol
Q2

Why does Scatter refuse to help Priest leave the drug business?

Scatter, Priest's mentor who introduced him to the drug trade at age eleven, flatly denies any assistance when Priest approaches him about leaving. Scatter is deeply entrenched in the criminal underworld and represents the old guard who cannot imagine any other way of life.

  • Scatter
  • mentor
  • refusal
  • drug business
  • Atlanta
Q3

How does Cynthia die in the movie?

Cynthia is killed during a retaliatory attack by Snow Patrol against Priest. After the gang tracks down Priest's associates through information leaked by Fat Freddie's betraying girlfriend, Snow Patrol strikes and murders Cynthia in the violence that follows.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tensions with Snow Patrol, including Juju's confrontation at the strip club, set the stage for this tragic retaliation.

  • Cynthia
  • Snow Patrol
  • death
  • revenge
  • killing
Q4

Why does Adalberto kill Scatter?

During a meeting arranged by Scatter for Priest to meet drug supplier Adalberto, Adalberto eliminates Scatter upon realizing Priest has been engaging in deceptive business practices. The betrayal stems from business distrust rather than any personal vendetta.

Foreshadowing: Scatter's insistence on the meeting despite Priest wanting out of the business hints at the danger ahead.

  • Adalberto
  • Scatter
  • betrayal
  • killing
  • drug supplier
Q5

What does Detective Mason want from Priest?

Detective Mason, a corrupt cop, blackmails Priest using damning evidence that links him to criminal activities. She threatens to expose his illicit operations unless he cooperates, creating panic and forcing Priest into increasingly desperate circumstances.

  • Detective Mason
  • blackmail
  • corruption
  • police
  • evidence
Q6

What happens to Fat Freddie in the film?

Fat Freddie is ambushed by Snow Patrol after being tracked down through information his betraying girlfriend disclosed. When Detective Mason confronts him and demands he cooperate against Priest, Freddie refuses to talk. Both he and his new girlfriend Rochelle are then murdered by Snow Patrol to ensure his silence.

  • Fat Freddie
  • Snow Patrol
  • murder
  • silence
  • betrayal
Q7

Why does Priest burn down his mansion with Georgia?

After Cynthia's devastating death, Priest and Georgia craft Molotov cocktails and set fire to their former mansion. This act serves as a symbolic rebirth, representing their definitive break from the violent criminal lifestyle that has caused them so much loss.

  • mansion
  • Molotov cocktails
  • rebirth
  • symbolism
  • fire
  • Georgia
Q8

Why does Eddie turn against Priest?

Eddie, Priest's trusted second-in-command who initially supported Priest's desire to leave the drug business, feels betrayed when Detective Mason's blackmail creates chaos. The stress and suspicion lead to a violent altercation where Eddie attacks Priest, leaving him unconscious.

  • Eddie
  • betrayal
  • fight
  • Detective Mason
  • conflict
Q9

How does Priest end up in Montenegro?

After surviving the violent confrontations, losing Cynthia, and settling scores with enemies including the corrupt cop Franklin (who murdered Freddie), Priest escapes to Montenegro. He lives peacefully aboard a cruise ship with Georgia, having secured his future through his final lucrative score.

  • Montenegro
  • cruise
  • escape
  • freedom
  • ending
  • Georgia
Q10

What happens during the strip club confrontation with Juju?

Juju from the rival gang Snow Patrol approaches Cynthia at the strip club, not knowing she's connected to Priest. When he discovers the connection, Juju confronts Priest but fires wildly, accidentally striking an innocent bystander instead. This incident directly leads to Priest's decision to leave the drug trade.

  • Juju
  • strip club
  • Cynthia
  • shooting
  • bystander
  • Snow Patrol
Q11

How does Snow Patrol find out about Priest's operations?

Snow Patrol learns about Priest's whereabouts through information divulged by Fat Freddie's girlfriend, who cheats on him and betrays Freddie to the rival gang. This leak allows Snow Patrol to track Freddie and launch attacks on Priest's organization.

  • Snow Patrol
  • Fat Freddie
  • betrayal
  • girlfriend
  • tracking
  • information

Movie threads

More Movies Like SuperFly, by Mood & Story

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

One Last Job Crime Thrillers like SuperFly

A high-stakes heist or deal that promises freedom, but at a terrible cost. If you liked the high-stakes escape plan in SuperFly, you'll enjoy these movies about criminals attempting a final, lucrative score. These stories share a fast pace, gritty underworld settings, and the heavy emotional toll of trying to leave a life of crime behind.

  • high stakes
  • ruthless
  • betrayal
  • tense
  • cynical
  • escape
  • Tone: dark, cynical
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a clear arc: the conception of an ambitious final plan, the assembly of a crew or resources, and the execution fraught with unforeseen obstacles. The central conflict isn't just pulling off the job, but surviving the fallout from enemies and former allies who feel betrayed by the protagonist's desire to leave.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared 'one last job' plot structure, high-tension pacing, and exploration of themes like loyalty, greed, and the dream of redemption. They deliver a specific type of catharsis, whether the escape is clean or stained with loss.

Gritty Street Crime Dramas like SuperFly

Brutal stories of power, betrayal, and the fight to stay on top. For viewers who enjoyed the gritty, anxious world of SuperFly, this thread collects movies that explore the harsh realities of the drug trade and street-level power struggles. These films are characterized by their violent realism, dark tone, and focus on survival above all else.

  • gritty
  • violent
  • anxious
  • street life
  • corruption
  • ruthless
  • Tone: dark, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, tense
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is often a straightforward, escalating conflict for control of a territory or business. The protagonist, often a kingpin or enforcer, must constantly assert dominance through cunning and violence, facing challenges from ambitious underlings, rival gangs, and corrupt authorities. The journey is less about a single goal and more about weathering a continuous storm of threats.

Why they belong together: This thread unites movies through their immersive, dark depiction of the criminal underworld. The shared elements are a gritty aesthetic, a fast and tense pace, heavy emotional weight from the violence and betrayal, and a focus on the harsh rules of survival in a lawless environment.

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Movies Like SuperFly

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Every angle

SuperFly (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about SuperFly 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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