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The Hunt (2020) movie poster

Timeline

The Hunt (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 90 min · English
Echo score 66
Directed by
Craig Zobel
Starring
Justin Hartley, Emma Roberts, Ethan Suplee, Macon Blair, Ike Barinholtz, J.C. MacKenzie
Budget
$14M

Twelve strangers awaken in a remote wilderness location, stripped of their memories and facing a terrifying ordeal. As they struggle to understand their situation and the dangerous environment surrounding them, they realize they are being hunted. They must work together to survive the escalating threat and uncover the dark reason for their confinement, confronting a relentless and unseen predator along the way.

Action Thriller Horror Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Hunt
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Hunt (2020)

Where can you watch The Hunt? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon MX Player, Amazon Prime Video Free and Cineverse: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

The Hunt Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Hunt (2020) 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. The Elite's Sinister Plans

    A group of wealthy elites, including Ted the Doctor, Athena Stone, and Richard, engage in a chilling discussion about their upcoming hunt for those they see as 'deplorables.' They meticulously plan their malevolent activities, showcasing their disdain and privilege over their chosen targets.

  2. Randy Awakens

    On Athena's private jet, flight attendant initiates a conversation with Richard when an unexpected event occurs. Randy, a stranger who should have remained asleep, awakens and quickly finds himself subdued by Ted, demonstrating the brutal hierarchy among the elites.

    Where
    Private Jet

  3. The Deplorables Arrive at Manor House

    A dozen strangers regain consciousness in a forest clearing known as Manor House, confused and without memories of how they arrived. Among them are Gary, Yoga Pants, Moses, and Crystal Creasey, who soon realize they were specifically selected for a deadly game due to their conservative ideologies.

    Where
    Manor House

  4. The First Victim

    The terrifying hunt begins as Yoga Pants becomes the first casualty, shot by an unseen sniper. This shocking event sets off a chain reaction of panic and violence among the strangers as they grapple with the reality of being hunted.

    Where
    Forest

  5. Deadly Booby Traps

    As the chase intensifies, Dead Sexy falls victim to a concealed booby trap, heightening the danger for the remaining group members. The realization sets in that they are not only being hunted but also facing lethal obstacles set up by the elites.

    Where
    Manor House

  6. The Landmine Incident

    The chaos escalates when Trucker Shane inadvertently triggers a landmine, leading to tragic consequences. The group's panic mounts as they realize how systematically their lives are being threatened.

    Where
    Forest

  7. Misleading Assistance at the Gas Station

    The group encounters what seems to be a safe haven at a gas station operated by Ma and Pa. Desperate for help, Staten Island calls for assistance, but the duo later reveals their true sinister intentions, attacking the strangers instead.

    Where
    Gas Station

  8. Crystal Takes Action

    In a pivotal moment, Crystal Creasey, realizing the threat posed by Ma and Pa, counterattacks and takes them down. This act of defiance emboldens her and marks a turning point in the group's hopes for survival.

    Where
    Gas Station

  9. The Train Escape

    After overcoming Ma and Pa, Crystal and Gary manage to board a train filled with refugees. However, their respite is short-lived as Croatian soldiers storm the train, plunging them further into peril.

    Where
    Train

  10. Confrontation with Crisis Mike

    Within the chaos on the train, Crisis Mike, a hunter in disguise, reveals his true identity, leading to a violent clash. Gary seizes a grenade from him, marking a shift in power dynamics among the survivors.

    Where
    Train

  11. Discovery of the Conspiracy

    Crystal, alongside Don, uncovers the reality of their situation — a larger conspiracy against them that involves the elite. This revelation deepens their resolve to fight back against their predatory hunters.

    Where
    Croatia

  12. Final Confrontation

    Crystal faces off against Athena in a climactic battle. In this intense struggle, she draws upon her inner strength, cleverly navigating the fight until she prevails, eliminating a key threat.

  13. The Jackrabbit and the Box Turtle

    Reflecting on her experiences, Crystal remembers a fable about resilience, giving her the courage she needs. This newfound determination empowers her as she prepares to escape, signifying her transformation throughout the ordeal.

  14. Escape via Private Jet

    Having triumphed over her adversaries, Crystal dons Athena's clothes and takes to the sky on the elite's private jet. She engages in light conversation with the flight attendant, symbolizing her evasion from the atrocities she endured.

    Where
    Private Jet

Last updated: October 28, 2024 at 08:16

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Timeline questions answered

The Hunt Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Hunt (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why were the strangers selected for the hunt?

The strangers were not randomly chosen but specifically selected because of their conservative political beliefs. The wealthy elites who organized the hunt referred to their targets as "deplorables," revealing that the game was designed to target people based on ideology rather than random selection.

  • selection criteria
  • deplorables
  • conservative
  • hunters
  • victims
Q2

How did the elites transport the victims to the hunting grounds?

The victims were drugged and transported while unconscious to a remote forest clearing called Manor House. They awoke with no memory of how they arrived, gagged and bound, discovering keys that allowed them to break free.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene on Athena's private jet shows Randy waking up prematurely, establishing that the victims were being transported while unconscious.

  • transport
  • drugged
  • unconscious
  • manor house
  • kidnapped
Q3

Why do Ma and Pa attack the survivors at the gas station?

Ma and Pa were not helpful civilians but were secretly part of the hunting operation. They lured the survivors in with misleading information and assistance, then turned on them when they realized the strangers were becoming suspicious of the deception.

  • gas station
  • ma
  • pa
  • attack
  • trap
  • hunters
Q4

What happens to Gary after the train confrontation?

After Gary wrestles a grenade from Crisis Mike during the confrontation on the train, he later dies. Crystal discovers his tragic fate alongside Don, learning the full extent of the conspiracy against them.

  • gary
  • death
  • grenade
  • train
  • crisis mike
Q5

What motivates Crystal to fight back against the hunters?

After discovering Ma and Pa's deception and witnessing multiple friends being killed, Crystal decides to stop running and take action. She kills Ma and Pa, takes their walkie-talkie, and begins actively fighting back against the hunters instead of simply surviving.

  • crystal
  • fight back
  • survival
  • hunters
  • action
Q6

What is the significance of the Jackrabbit and the Box Turtle fable?

Crystal recalls the fable during her final confrontation with Athena. The story of a slower creature outsmarting a faster, overconfident one gives her the determination to keep fighting. It represents resilience against a powerful enemy and becomes her source of inner strength.

  • fable
  • jackrabbit
  • turtle
  • resilience
  • motivation
Q7

How does Crystal escape at the end of the movie?

After defeating Athena in hand-to-hand combat, Crystal patches her wounds, puts on Athena's clothes, and boards the elite's private jet. She flies away, even having a casual conversation with the same flight attendant from the film's beginning, escaping the hunting grounds entirely.

  • escape
  • private jet
  • athena
  • clothes
  • flight attendant
Q8

Who are the elites running the hunt and what is their relationship to the hunters?

The hunt is organized by wealthy individuals including Athena Stone, Ted the Doctor, and Richard. They are shown planning the hunt and discussing their targets as sport. The actual hunting is carried out by hired operators, soldiers, and drones, while the elites observe from a command bunker.

  • elites
  • athena
  • ted
  • richard
  • hunters
  • bunker
Q9

Why does Crisis Mike reveal he's a hunter on the train?

During the chaos when Croatian soldiers storm the train, Crisis Mike admits to being one of the hunters. This sudden revelation creates a violent confrontation where Gary manages to wrest a grenade from him, shifting the power dynamic.

  • crisis mike
  • hunter
  • reveal
  • train
  • croatian soldiers
Q10

What happens to Athena in the final confrontation?

Crystal faces Athena in a climactic hand-to-hand battle. After an intense struggle, Crystal prevails and kills Athena. This victory allows Crystal to take Athena's clothes and escape on the private jet.

  • athena
  • final battle
  • crystal
  • death
  • confrontation
Q11

Where are the victims being hunted?

The hunting grounds are located in Croatia. This is revealed when Crystal and Don discover they are in a foreign country, highlighting the international scope of the elite's operation.

  • croatia
  • location
  • hunting grounds
  • international
Q12

What does Crystal discover about the conspiracy against the survivors?

Crystal and Don uncover that the hunting operation is part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by wealthy elites who view certain people as "deplorables" worthy of being hunted for sport. The operation involves sophisticated technology, multiple locations, and coordination between elites and hired hunters.

  • conspiracy
  • elite
  • deplorables
  • exposed
  • operation

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Hunt, by Mood & Story

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

Brutal Survival Thrillers with Social Commentary like The Hunt

Ordinary people pushed to extremes against a corrupt system. Looking for movies like The Hunt that combine high-stakes survival with sharp social critique? This thread gathers films where ordinary people fight back against a corrupt system, blending visceral action with heavy emotional weight and dark commentary.

  • brutal
  • suspenseful
  • harrowing
  • cathartic
  • unrelenting
  • paranoid
  • Tone: dark, cynical
  • Pacing: fast, unrelenting
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with an ordinary individual or group thrust into a deadly situation orchestrated by a powerful, unseen enemy. The story is a linear struggle for survival, but the conflict is deeply personal and symbolic, representing a larger battle against systemic injustice. Victory often comes at a great personal cost.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their unique mix of unrelenting, high-intensity action, a uniformly dark tone, and a central theme of class warfare. The pacing is fast, the violence is graphic, and the emotional journey is heavy, resulting in a cohesive and brutal viewing experience.

The Hunt movie poster

The Hunt

2020
One Battle After Another movie poster

One Battle After Another

2025
Havoc movie poster

Havoc

2025
Seeking Justice movie poster

Seeking Justice

2012
Deadly Prey movie poster

Deadly Prey

1987
Class Warfare movie poster

Class Warfare

2001
The Hunt movie poster

The Hunt

2013
One Spoon of Chocolate movie poster

One Spoon of Chocolate

2025

Thrillers about being Hunted in Isolation like The Hunt

Characters trapped and hunted in a remote, hostile environment. If you enjoyed the premise of The Hunt, where characters are hunted in a remote setting, this thread features similar high-tension thrillers. Discover movies about deadly games, isolated survival, and the psychological terror of being prey against a ruthless opponent.

  • suspenseful
  • paranoid
  • claustrophobic
  • unrelenting
  • deadly game
  • trapped
  • Tone: tense, paranoid
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves characters waking up or arriving in a confined, often wilderness location with no memory or explanation. They must quickly decipher the rules of the deadly game they're in, often uncovering a conspiracy, while the threat escalates. The story builds through a series of tense encounters and traps, leading to a final confrontation with the hunters.

Why they belong together: These films share a core premise that generates a specific type of suspense: the tension of being hunted in a confined space. They feature a fast pace, high intensity, straightforward plots centered on escape, and a mood defined by paranoia and relentless brutality.

The Hunt movie poster

The Hunt

2020
Surviving the Game movie poster

Surviving the Game

1994
Deadly Impact movie poster

Deadly Impact

2010
Deadly Prey movie poster

Deadly Prey

1987
Carnage Park movie poster

Carnage Park

2016
High Lane movie poster

High Lane

2009
Cold Prey II movie poster

Cold Prey II

2008
Untraceable movie poster

Untraceable

2008

If you liked this

Movies Like The Hunt

Similar movies to The Hunt: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries
The Hunter movie poster

The Hunter

2012
Hunted movie poster

Hunted

2021
The Hunted movie poster

The Hunted

2003
The Hunting Party movie poster

The Hunting Party

2007
Happy Hunting movie poster

Happy Hunting

2017
Hunt movie poster

Hunt

2022
Death Hunt movie poster

Death Hunt

1981
Hunted movie poster

Hunted

2022
Night of the Hunted movie poster

Night of the Hunted

2023
Season of the Hunted movie poster

Season of the Hunted

2003
Hunter’s Blood movie poster

Hunter’s Blood

1986
Death Hunt movie poster

Death Hunt

2022

Every angle

The Hunt (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Hunt 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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