The Firm

The Firm

Year: 2009

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Nick Love

DramaCrime

Set in the 1980s, teenage Dom is drawn into the charismatic world of football casuals by the firm’s leader Bex. His wit earns him a place among the boys, and he soon becomes part of the crew. When Bex’s gang clashes with rival firms and violence spirals, Dom decides to quit, only to find leaving street‑war culture is far harder than it seems.

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 (2009)

Trace every key event in The Firm (2009) 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

Lips nightclub confrontation

Bex moves to the front of the line at Lips, bumps Tel's shoulder, and the two exchange tense words. Bex headbutts Tel in the face and issues a challenge to Tel's friends. This early clash marks the start of a bitter feud between Bex's West Ham firm and Dom's circle.

Night Lips nightclub
2

Morning warning from Tel

Tel warns Dom that Bex is after them and that they have been named to Bex. Dom begins to grasp the severity of the feud and the danger ahead.

Morning
3

First meeting at the Lord Nelson

At the Lord Nelson pub, Dom apologizes for his friend group and explains they had no idea who Bex was and would have steered clear. Bex compliments Dom's courage, telling him he has guts to walk in and face him.

Evening The Lord Nelson pub
4

Dom meets Bex at his workplace and becomes acquainted

Dom discovers Bex's workplace at the Hunter Ashton and Clarke estate agency and the two begin to become acquainted. They later visit a sports shop where Bex buys Adidas Munich trainers and asks the worker to send a yellow Sergio Tacchini track top to his office. Bex then invites Dom to join his football team and tells him to wear sensible 'clobber'.

Later Hunter Ashton and Clarke estate agency; Sports shop
5

Dom joins the team; training and late arrival

Dom arrives late at the football game and is placed in goal. He lets in a goal but saves a vital penalty, earning the team's respect. Jay tells him he played a blinder and invites him to Portsmouth for the weekend; Dom accepts.

Weekend Local football pitch
6

Trigger's briefing and Bex's national firm pitch

Trigger visits Bex at work in his Porsche and tells him that Millwall's firm and Portsmouth's firm are meeting to discuss an alliance. Bex interrupts a subsequent pub meeting to pitch the idea of a national firm, but the top firms refuse to back him unless he and his firm can beat them in upcoming matches.

Day Bex's workplace; Pub meeting
7

Weekend trip to Portsmouth; confrontation

West Ham and Portsmouth firms meet at a Portsmouth pub for a confrontation that escalates into a melee as police arrive to break it up. Dom is punched in the face but remains on his feet and fights back.

Weekend Portsmouth pub
8

Dom's acceptance of West Ham identity

Back home, Bex visits Dom at work and tells him not to make plans for the weekend. Tel criticizes his tracksuit, but Dom asserts he's now part of the West Ham firm, and Bex invites him on the Europe trip.

Following day Dom's workplace
9

Gear theft and plotting

Dom and Jay steal a load of gear from a sports shop, signaling a deeper commitment to the firm's bravado. Later, some of the firm gather at Bex's house to discuss the possible national firm and the plan to go to Europe.

Weekend Sports shop; Bex's house
10

The blooding ritual

Bex proposes the 'blooding' ritual, pulling a Stanley knife to engrave the firm's emblem on Dom's forearm. The rest of the firm lick the symbol off their arms as a joke, revealing it was a prank.

Evening Bex's house
11

Ridicule at the Lord Nelson

During a night at the Lord Nelson, Dom is publicly ridiculed by a drunken Trigger for wearing the same tracksuit as Bex. Humiliated, he leaves the pub and skips the game, feeling isolated from the firm.

Evening The Lord Nelson pub
12

Ambushes, attack, and Bex's death

The firm heads to London Bridge to ambush the rival Yeti; Bex overpowers him and kicks him repeatedly, but the Yeti pulls a knife and stabs Bex in the stomach. Bex collapses as the fight ends, dying from the wound.

Night London Bridge
13

Police call and family shock

That night, police arrive at Bex's house. His wife, holding the baby, realizes Bex has been killed as she remains silent.

Night Bex's house
14

Epilogue: Dom's exit

In the epilogue, Dom dons the red tracksuit and goes to the Lord Nelson one last time. He sees the firm partying under Trigger's leadership and decides to leave for good, bumping into Tel as they walk away together.

Epilogue The Lord Nelson pub

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:45

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about dangerous subcultures like The Firm

Young men drawn into tight-knit, violent groups where camaraderie becomes a cage.If you liked The Firm's portrayal of football hooliganism, explore movies like this about young men drawn into tight-knit, violent brotherhoods. These films share a gritty, tense vibe, focusing on the thrill and peril of subcultural loyalty and the high cost of leaving.

grittytensebroodingconfrontationalanxiousoppressivemale-centric

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a protagonist, often young, as they are initiated into a charismatic but brutal group. The journey charts their rise in status within the group, followed by a dawning realization of the inescapable violence and moral compromises, culminating in a desperate and costly attempt to break free.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their intense, confrontational atmosphere and a focus on the complex dynamics of male bonding under pressure. They share a steady, escalating pacing that builds towards a climax where the protagonist's personal freedom clashes with the group's demands.

Movies with bittersweet escapes like The Firm

Stories where breaking free from a violent life leaves deep emotional scars.Fans of The Firm's ending, where freedom comes with trauma, will find similar stories here. These movies feature characters who escape violent worlds but are forever changed, offering a bittersweet and heavy viewing experience focused on the lasting impact of brutality.

bittersweetheavygrittytraumaticbroodingsomberviolent

Narrative Summary

The narrative arc involves a character deeply embedded in a world of violence—be it crime, gangs, or war—who reaches a breaking point. Their escape or survival is achieved, but the conclusion is profoundly bittersweet, overshadowed by the guilt, grief, or psychological damage inflicted by the journey.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups movies based on their shared emotional conclusion: a pyrrhic victory. The tone is consistently heavy, the intensity high, and the ending feel is squarely bittersweet, creating a cohesive experience for viewers interested in stories about the true, lasting price of survival.

Unlock the Full Story of The Firm

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Firm in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Firm is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Firm Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Firm, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Firm Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Firm

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Firm. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Firm

The Firm Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Firm that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Firm Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Firm

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Firm: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Firm

Similar Movies to The Firm

Discover movies like The Firm that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.