The Firm

The Firm

Year: 1989

Runtime: 70 mins

Language: English

Director: Alan Clarke

DramaCrime

We come in peace, we leave you in pieces A seemingly respectable estate agent leads a double life as the head of a vicious, well-organised gang of football hooligans.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Firm 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 – The Firm (1989)

Trace every key event in The Firm (1989) 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

Opening clash with The Buccaneers

The film opens with The Buccaneers vandalising Bexy's Ford Sierra XR4x4 and spraying graffiti on the dressing room as Bexy and ICC prepare for a match. Yeti arrives in a white Volkswagen Golf GTi cabriolet and races across the football pitch, heightening the sense of imminent conflict. The confrontation sets the tone for the violent world the ICC inhabits.

Opening sequence Local football pitch
2

Bexy proposes a National Firm

With the European Championship approaching, Bexy envisions uniting rival firms into a single National Firm capable of facing international hooligan groups. He begins outreach to other gang leaders, using his charisma to rally support. The idea is bold and fraught with risk, threatening the existing power balance.

Pre-European Championship negotiations Tower Hotel, London
3

Tower Hotel meeting of rival firms

Bexy and other gang leaders converge in the Tower Hotel to discuss the National Firm plan. The leaders outwardly accept the concept, but the group resists Bexy becoming the unquestioned top authority. Tensions simmer as personalities jostle for influence within the proposed new structure.

Pre-European Championship negotiations Tower Hotel, London
4

Deal to prove leadership through clashes

The rival firms agree to clash with each other to decide who will lead the merged ICC into Europe. They understand that victory in these battles will determine the future hierarchy and cohesion of the national firm. The stakes are personal as much as strategic.

Post-meeting Tower Hotel vicinity and city streets
5

ICC survives early clashes

The ICC engages in violent skirmishes with other gangs and with the Buccaneers, showing resilience despite being outnumbered. Bexy uses his natural leadership to coordinate aggression and project authority among his men. The early victories bolster his standing within the ICC.

Pre-Euro clashes City streets and clash zones
6

Bexy defeats Yeti in a clash

During a clash with the Buccaneers, Bexy lands a brutal beating on Yeti, asserting dominance. The moment is tense as Yeti unexpectedly reveals a gun, leaving Bexy astonished and momentarily off guard. The fight hardens the rivalry between Bexy and Yeti.

During the clash On the street near the pitch
7

Yeti shoots Bexy

In a sudden turn of events, Yeti pulls a gun and fires, killing Bexy. The lethal betrayal reverberates through the ICC, abruptly ending Bexy’s leadership and altering the group's dynamic. The death casts a somber shadow over the upcoming Euro confrontation.

Moment of death During the same clash
8

Survivors honor Bexy in a pub

The remaining ICC members gather in a pub to honor Bexy as a hero and legend. They vow to carry on fighting European firms in his memory, insisting that his vision will endure even in his absence. The scene reinforces the romanticized but brutal mythology surrounding Bexy.

After Bexy's death Pub
9

Wife's critique of Bexy's life

Bexy's wife confronts the contrast between his violent role and his respectable job as an estate agent. She acknowledges the fear and stigma surrounding him, underscoring the dissonance between his public image and private life. Her perspective highlights the consequences of living a double life.

During the lead-up to or aftermath of clashes Bexy's home
10

Father's nostalgia and boasting

Bexy's father openly accepts the family’s violent lifestyle and proudly photographs the group, boasting of his era’s similar activities. He argues that their bloodthirsty ethic is a tradition rather than a problem. This perspective contrasts with Bexy’s wife and hints at a generational divide within the film’s world.

Flashback/parallel moment Family home
11

Legacy celebrated by rival firms

In the aftermath, hooligans from three firms praise Bexy as a visionary who tried to unite their rival groups. They acknowledge his death but insist violence will continue, reflecting a cyclical ethos of hooligan culture. The praise cements Bexy’s legacy as a symbol rather than a reformer.

Closing sequence Various locales and pubs
12

Fourth-wall break and camera crew attack

In the film’s closing moments, the hooligan actors break the fourth wall, attacking the camera crew with drinks and chanting aggressively. The meta moment makes clear that the events are not entirely fictional and comments on the performative nature of violence in football culture. The scene destabilizes the line between cinema and reality.

Closing moment Film set/credits scene

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:32

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The Firm Summary

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The Firm Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Firm

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Firm

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