The Boxtrolls (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Snatcher wants to eliminate the Boxtrolls to earn a white hat and access to the cheese-tasting room in City Hall, both of which signify power and respect in Cheesebridge. His deeper motivation stems from having betrayed Eggs' father, an inventor, and wanting to silence the Boxtrolls who know his secret.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Snatcher is shown plotting against the Boxtrolls while ignoring his own moral doubts.

• archibald snatcher
• boxtrolls capture
• white hat
• cheesebridge
• motivation

The Boxtrolls are named because they wear discarded cardboard boxes as clothing. Each Boxtroll chooses a box that suits their personality, using them as both protection and disguise while living underground.

Foreshadowing: The Boxtrolls are first seen emerging from underground wearing boxes during the panic about the baby abduction.

• boxtrolls names
• cardboard boxes
• underground creatures

Eggs decides to venture to the surface after Snatcher captures Fish, his best friend and surrogate father. Driven by grief and frustration, he questions why the Boxtrolls always hide and chooses to fight back instead of remaining hidden underground.

Foreshadowing: Fish's capture directly triggers Eggs' decision to take action and disguise himself as a human.

• eggs
• surface
• fish capture
• boxtrolls hide

The white hat is a symbol of authority and respect in Cheesebridge. Lord Portley-Rind wears one, and Snatcher desperately wants one to gain status in the city. Rind promises Snatcher a white hat once he eliminates the Boxtrolls.

Foreshadowing: Snatcher is first seen seeking an audience specifically to obtain a white hat from Lord Portley-Rind.

• white hat
• lord portley-rind
• snatcher
• cheesebridge authority

Eggs was born human, the baby who was supposedly abducted by the Boxtrolls. However, he was raised entirely by Boxtrolls, particularly Fish, and has lived underground his entire life. The revelation that he may not be entirely human shocks both him and Winnie.

Foreshadowing: Winnie discovers that Eggs might not be human after following him into the Boxtrolls' lair.

• eggs identity
• human
• boxtrolls raised
• ababyt abduction

Eggs' father was an inventor who was friends with the Boxtrolls before they took Eggs in. Snatcher had betrayed and presumably killed Eggs' father, which is why the Boxtrolls rescued Eggs and raised him as their own. At the end, Eggs is reunited with his surviving father.

Foreshadowing: Fish reveals that they were once friends with Eggs' father and that Snatcher betrayed him.

• eggs father
• inventor
• snatcher betrayal
• fish

Snatcher is severely allergic to cheese but cannot resist tasting it. During the final confrontation, he finally tastes forbidden cheese and suffers a catastrophic allergic reaction that leads to his defeat. This is played as dark irony, he wanted access to the cheese room so badly that it becomes his undoing.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Snatcher engaging in cheese-tasting while ignoring warnings about his allergies.

• snatcher allergy
• cheese reaction
• final confrontation
• cheese tasting

Winnie helps Eggs after witnessing the Boxtrolls firsthand and realizing the rumors about them being monsters are completely false. After following Eggs into their lair, she sees they are gentle, kind creatures and decides to aid Eggs in exposing Snatcher's lies.

Foreshadowing: Winnie first sees Eggs during the festival and becomes intrigued by him before discovering the truth about the Boxtrolls.

• winnie
• eggs
• help
• boxtrolls truth
• lord portley-rind daughter

Mr. Trout and Mr. Pickles begin questioning their morality throughout the film as they witness Snatcher's increasingly cruel actions. They ultimately abandon him when they see his true wicked nature, choosing to protect the town instead of continuing to hunt the Boxtrolls.

Foreshadowing: The henchmen frequently muse about right and wrong while Snatcher becomes more obsessed.

• mr. trout
• mr. pickles
• snatcher henchmen
• change sides

During the gala at City Hall, Snatcher's disguise accidentally exposes Eggs, causing chaos. A massive wheel of Brie cheese rolls off and crashes into the lake, creating pandemonium that helps the Boxtrolls escape and contributes to Snatcher's downfall.

Foreshadowing: The gala was meant to be Eggs' moment to reveal the truth about the Boxtrolls.

• gala
• brie cheese
• cheesebridge
• chaos
• city hall

After Eggs exposes Snatcher's deception and proves the Boxtrolls are gentle creatures, the townspeople accept them. The Boxtrolls prove to be valuable community members with their invention skills, and Cheesebridge becomes a welcoming haven for them.

Foreshadowing: Eggs' plea for understanding during the final confrontation helps the townspeople see the truth.

• boxtrolls accepted
• cheesebridge
• community
• integration

Snatcher proposes to eliminate the Boxtrolls in exchange for a position of authority in Cheesebridge. Specifically, he wants a white hat, which signifies respect, and access to the prestigious cheese-tasting room in City Hall. Lord Portley-Rind agrees but insists Snatcher must first rid the village of Boxtrolls.

Foreshadowing: Snatcher presents his plan to Rind shortly after the baby abduction panic begins.

• deal
• lord portley-rind
• snatcher
• white hat
• cheese tasting room