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Timeline

Triple Frontier (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 125 min · English
Echo score 70
JustWatch #10,532 18
Directed by
J.C. Chandor
Starring
Oscar Isaac, Ben Affleck, Adria Arjona, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund, Christine Horn
Budget
$115M

In the remote and lawless region of South America’s triple frontier, five former special operatives—Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal—come together for what they believe will be one last, lucrative mission. Driven by personal struggles and the promise of a life-changing score, the team quickly finds their operation spiraling into unforeseen danger. As the situation escalates, they are forced to confront their past mistakes, question their bonds, and make difficult choices in a relentless fight for survival against overwhelming odds.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (16)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Triple Frontier
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Triple Frontier (2019)

Where can you watch Triple Frontier? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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16 events in order · contains spoilers

Triple Frontier Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Triple Frontier (2019) 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. Pope's Mission in Colombia

    Santiago 'Pope' Garcia is deeply integrated into the fight against drug crime in Colombia as a private military adviser. During his operations, he crosses paths with an informant named Yovanna, who holds critical information about a notorious drug lord, Lorea.

    Where
    Colombia
  2. Yovanna's Proposition

    Yovanna proposes a risky exchange to Pope: she will provide critical intelligence about Lorea's location if Pope helps her and her brother escape the country. Her knowledge includes the whereabouts of Lorea's hidden cash, a fortune that could change everything for Pope and his team.

    Where
    Colombia
  3. Assembling the Team

    After learning of the cash's location, Pope returns to the United States to gather a team of former Delta Force comrades. He carefully selects team members with various skills, including Redfly, Ironhead, Ben, and Catfish, each motivated by the prospect of financial gain.

    Where
    United States
  4. Crafting the Plan

    The group meticulously devises a plan to raid Lorea's safe house, intending to do so while Lorea's family is attending church. They strategize to avoid violence while aiming to secure the hidden fortune and extricate Yovanna and her brother safely.

    Where
    United States
  5. The Safe House Breach

    Upon entering the safe house, the team discovers that Lorea and the anticipated cash are absent. They uncover that Lorea’s cash is ingeniously concealed within the very walls of the house, leading to a surprising twist in their operation.

    Where
    Jungle safe house
  6. Redfly's Greed

    As the team begins to collect the hidden cash, Redfly's greed propels him to push their luck further despite the urgency of the situation. He advocates for taking more risks, ignoring the fact that they are running out of time.

    Where
    Jungle safe house
  7. Confrontation with Lorea

    Just as the team believes they are in the clear, Lorea makes a surprise return. In the ensuing struggle, Ironhead is injured, leading to a fierce confrontation where Pope takes decisive action against Lorea to protect his team.

    Where
    Jungle safe house
  8. Fleeing the Scene

    With guards closing in, the team manages to eliminate the threats and set fire to the safe house. They regroup with Yovanna and her brother, securing an astonishing haul of $250 million as they prepare to leave the treacherous terrain behind.

    Where
    Jungle safe house
  9. Escaping via Helicopter

    The crew boards a private helicopter arranged by Ironhead's contact for their escape. However, worries surface regarding the helicopter's load capacity, especially during their flight over the treacherous Andes Mountains, prompting debates among the crew.

    Where
    Andes Mountains
  10. Helicopter Crisis

    Overloaded and struggling with mechanical issues, the helicopter's gearbox fails, leading to a catastrophic descent. In a desperate bid for survival, Catfish persuades the team to throw out the money to reduce weight and regain control.

    Where
    Remote area
  11. Landing Disaster

    The helicopter crash-lands in a coca farm, leaving the team shaken but mostly uninjured. However, they soon find themselves in a precarious situation, as local villagers mistake them for DEA agents, leading to heightened tensions.

    Where
    Coca farm
  12. Negotiating with Villagers

    To ingratiate themselves with the suspicious locals, Pope and Redfly offer a portion of their remaining bounty as a means to gain their trust. This uneasy agreement allows them to continue on their journey but underscores the risks of their choices.

    Where
    Coca farm
  13. Deadly Skirmish

    As the group makes their way down the mountainside, they are confronted by local survivors seeking revenge. In the ensuing chaos, Redfly is tragically killed, adding more sorrow to the mission and weighing heavily on the team's conscience.

    Where
    Mountainside
  14. Moral Reflection

    In the wake of Redfly's death, Pope urges the team to honor his sacrifice while reflecting on the moral decline they have experienced throughout the operation. Together, they decide to discard most of the cash they collected, keeping only what they can carry.

    Where
    Mountainside
  15. Final Escape and Guilt

    During a high-octane chase through the village, the team narrowly escapes with $5 million. They eventually reach the shore where a lawyer awaits to distribute their share, but overcome with guilt, they agree to donate their portions to Redfly's family.

    Where
    Village shore
  16. Pope's New Journey

    With their paths now diverging, Pope plans to head to Australia, where he hopes to reunite with Yovanna. He carries with him coordinates to hidden cash left in Peru, a solemn reminder of their harrowing adventure together.

    Where
    Australia

Last updated: November 15, 2024 at 16:11

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Timeline questions answered

Triple Frontier Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Triple Frontier (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Pope recruit his former Delta Force teammates for the heist?

Pope recruits his former teammates because he needs their specialized skills for a complex jungle operation. Each member brings unique abilities: Redfly's tactical experience, Ironhead's connections to secure transport, Ben's combat skills, and Catfish's piloting expertise. Additionally, Pope knows they are all financially desperate enough to take the risk, making them willing participants for what he frames as a low-risk opportunity.

  • pope
  • delta force
  • team
  • recruitment
  • heist
Q2

Why does Redfly insist on taking more money despite the growing danger?

Redfly's greed stems from his financial struggles as a struggling Realtor. After being out of the military for years without stable income, the prospect of $250 million represents a life-changing opportunity he can't walk away from. His obsession with the money blinds him to the escalating risks, leading him to push the team to stay longer than they should and ultimately contributing to the disaster.

  • redfly
  • greed
  • money
  • motivation
  • financial struggles
Q3

How does the helicopter become overloaded and crash?

The helicopter becomes overloaded because the team loads all $250 million in cash despite Catfish warning about weight limitations. When they also need to fly over the Andes Mountains, the combined weight of the money, fuel, and passengers exceeds what the aircraft can safely handle. The gearbox fails under the strain, causing the helicopter to plummet.

  • helicopter
  • overloaded
  • crash
  • andes
  • money weight
Q4

Why do the villagers at the coca farm mistake them for DEA agents?

The villagers mistake the team for DEA agents because they are Americans carrying massive amounts of cash in a remote cocaine-producing region. Given the U.S. government's known anti-narcotics operations in the area, the villagers assume these armed Americans must be law enforcement, leading to immediate hostility and suspicion.

  • villagers
  • dea
  • coca farm
  • mistaken identity
Q5

Why is Redfly forced to kill the villager at the coca farm?

Redfly kills the villager because tensions escalate when the locals become increasingly hostile upon learning the team has money. The villager attacks Redfly with a machete, forcing him to defend himself. This lethal confrontation marks a turning point where the team's situation shifts from attempting to avoid violence to actively committing it.

  • redfly
  • villager
  • kill
  • coca farm
  • escalation
Q6

How does Redfly die during the escape?

Redfly dies when local survivors seek revenge against the team after the coca farm confrontation. During a skirmish on the mountainside, the vengeful locals shoot and kill Redfly. His death serves as the tragic consequence of the team's moral descent and the violence they brought upon themselves throughout the operation.

  • redfly
  • death
  • villagers
  • revenge
  • mountainside
Q7

Why do the surviving team members give their money to Redfly's family?

The survivors give their money to Redfly's family out of guilt and moral reckoning. After witnessing Redfly's death and reflecting on how their greed led to tragedy, Pope, Ironhead, Ben, and Catfish feel they don't deserve the money. Donating their shares to Redfly's family represents their attempt at redemption and honoring his sacrifice.

  • redfly family
  • money
  • guilt
  • donation
  • redemption
Q8

Why does Pope keep the coordinates to hidden cash in Peru?

Pope keeps the Peru coordinates because they represent a connection to Yovanna, who has already gone to Australia. The hidden cash serves as both a financial safety net and a symbolic reminder of the traumatic journey they shared. It also suggests Pope hasn't completely abandoned his greedy mindset despite the ordeal.

  • pope
  • peru
  • coordinates
  • yovanna
  • australia
  • hidden cash
Q9

Why does Ironhead arrange the helicopter escape route over the Andes?

Ironhead arranges the helicopter through an old contact, but the route over the Andes Mountains proves dangerous because it's longer and requires the aircraft to operate at its absolute weight limit. The choice of route, driven by his connection, ultimately contributes to the mechanical failure when combined with the excessive cash weight.

  • ironhead
  • helicopter
  • andes
  • escape route
Q10

Why does the team discard most of the money after Redfly's death?

The team discards most of the cash as a symbolic act of moral reckoning and to lighten their load for easier travel. After Redfly's death makes them confront the destructive power of their greed, they realize the money isn't worth more lives. They keep only what they can personally carry, signaling their attempt to break free from the curse of the fortune.

  • discard cash
  • mountainside
  • greed
  • moral reckoning
  • survival
Q11

How does Yovanna know the location of Lorea's safe house and hidden cash?

Yovanna knows about Lorea's safe house and hidden cash because she was personally connected to the drug lord. She was likely a partner or associate who had access to his operations, which is why she knew exactly where the money was hidden within the walls of the safe house. This inside knowledge is what makes her valuable to Pope.

  • yovanna
  • lorea
  • safe house
  • hidden cash
  • informant
Q12

Why does Pope plan the heist to avoid killing anyone?

Pope designs the heist to occur while Lorea's family attends church, ensuring minimal resistance. He wants to complete the operation quietly without violence to reduce legal consequences and moral weight. However, the plan fails when Lorea returns unexpectedly, forcing the team into violence they intended to avoid.

  • pope
  • bloodless plan
  • church
  • heist
  • no violence

Movie threads

More Movies Like Triple Frontier, by Mood & Story

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

Heists Gone Fatal like Triple Frontier

Carefully planned scores that spiral into chaos and survival. If you liked the intense downward spiral in Triple Frontier, explore more movies about heists that go fatally wrong. These stories feature skilled crews whose perfect plans collapse, leading to desperate fights for survival and heavy moral consequences, similar to the journey of the ex-soldiers in Triple Frontier.

  • heist gone wrong
  • desperate
  • paranoid
  • moral dilemma
  • survival
  • cautionary tale
  • Tone: tense, gritty, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic escalation
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a meticulous, high-reward plan. The initial success is short-lived, as a single mistake, betrayal, or twist of fate triggers a catastrophic chain of events. The narrative then becomes a survival thriller, where the characters are forced to confront the true cost of their ambition amidst escalating violence and internal conflict.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared narrative arc: a promising heist that devolves into a fight for survival. They share a high-tension tone, fast pacing driven by escalating danger, and a heavy emotional weight centered on themes of greed, loyalty, and the brutal consequences of one's actions.

Brotherhood Under Fire like Triple Frontier

Tight-knit teams pushed to the breaking point by extreme circumstances. Fans of the intense male camaraderie in Triple Frontier will find more movies about teams whose bonds are tested under fire. These films focus on the dynamics of a tight-knit group, often ex-military or professionals, as they face extreme pressure, moral decay, and the heavy cost of survival, much like the team in Triple Frontier.

  • male camaraderie
  • moral decay
  • survivalist
  • brotherhood
  • trust
  • sacrifice
  • Tone: tense, heavy, morally complex
  • Pacing: steady, with intense bursts
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a cohesive unit entering a high-pressure scenario. As external dangers mount, internal cracks begin to show, fueled by differing morals, personal ambitions, or the sheer stress of survival. The journey becomes as much about the group's psychological unraveling as it is about overcoming the external threat, often culminating in a bittersweet reckoning.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their central focus on group dynamics under duress. They share a tense tone, heavy emotional weight derived from fracturing relationships, and a common theme of exploring the limits of loyalty and trust when survival is on the line.

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Every angle

Triple Frontier (2019) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Triple Frontier 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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