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War (2007) movie poster

Timeline

War (2007) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2007 · 103 min · English
JustWatch #1,152 4
Directed by
Philip G. Atwell
Starring
Jason Statham, Jet Li, Nadine Velazquez

Driven by a desire for justice, FBI agent Jack Crawford embarks on a relentless quest to avenge the death of his partner, killed three years prior by the dangerous assassin known as Rogue. Rogue’s actions trigger a violent conflict between rival Chinese and Japanese crime organizations, escalating the stakes for Crawford. His pursuit becomes an all-consuming obsession, pushing him to question his own sense of duty and ultimately forcing him to confront the unsettling truth behind Rogue's actions and motivations.

Action Thriller Crime Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like War
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch War (2007)

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

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

War Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of War (2007) 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 World is Watched

    The film opens with a narration by Morgan Freeman, introducing the concept that humanity is unaware of the advanced intelligence observing them. These beings are planning an invasion while humanity remains complacent about its dominance on Earth.

    When
    Early 21st century

  2. Family Reunion

    Ray Ferrier, a crane operator in New York City, has his estranged children, Rachel and Robbie, dropped off by their mother, Mary Ann, who heads to Boston. This reunion sets the stage for the challenges they will face together amidst impending chaos.

    Where
    New York City

  3. The Car Incident

    Robbie takes Ray's car without permission, prompting Ray to go in search of him. During his search, he notices a strange wall cloud and various electrical devices begin to malfunction due to unusual lightning.

    Where
    New York City

  4. Emergence of the Tripod

    Ray discovers a hole in the ground where a massive Tripod emerges, displaying its destructive capabilities. It unleashes lethal heat rays on bystanders, leading to chaos and destruction in the town.

    Where
    New York City

  5. Fleeing the Destruction

    After narrowly escaping the attack, Ray quickly gathers his children and drives away in a car repaired by Manny, the local mechanic. They seek refuge at Mary Ann's house as the Tripod wreaks havoc.

    Where
    New York City

  6. The Boeing Crash

    As morning breaks, Ray finds a crashed Boeing 747 that the Tripods have downed, creating further destruction. He learns about the Tripods' long-prepared invasion by viewing footage captured by a news team.

    When
    Morning
    Where
    New York City

  7. Journey to Boston

    Ray decides to flee to Boston to find Mary Ann but faces numerous challenges during their escape. They encounter a mob that forces them to abandon their car just before escaping a Tripod attack on a ferry.

    Where
    Hudson River

  8. Military Encounter

    Upon reaching Boston, Ray witnesses the military's efforts to combat the Tripods. Robbie, fueled by a desire to fight back, leaves with the military while Ray and Rachel are devastated by his departure.

    Where
    Boston

  9. Seeking Shelter

    Ray and Rachel find temporary refuge with a stranger named Harlan Ogilvy, whose family was killed by the aliens. While hiding, they witness the Tripods spreading a disturbing red weed across the landscape.

    Where
    Harlan's Basement

  10. The Horrors of the Tripods

    Ray and Rachel are horrified when Harlan undergoes a mental breakdown after witnessing the Tripods harvesting human blood for the red weed. In a desperate move, Ray kills Harlan to save them from being discovered.

    Where
    Harlan's Basement

  11. Captivity and Escape

    After being detected by a probe, Ray and Rachel are captured by a Tripod. In a courageous act, Ray uses grenades to blow up the Tripod from the inside, leading to their escape and the release of other prisoners.

    Where
    Inside a Tripod

  12. The Turning Point

    Ray and Rachel arrive back in Boston to find the red weeds dying and the Tripods acting erratically. Their observations lead to an opportunity as they alert soldiers, leading to an attack that brings one Tripod down.

    Where
    Boston

  13. Confronting the Alien

    Ray approaches the fallen Tripod and discovers an alien within it as it dies. This moment signifies a major shift in the battle between humans and the aliens who invaded their world.

    Where
    Boston

  14. Reunion with Family

    In a moment of relief, Ray and Rachel reunite with Mary Ann and Robbie at her parents' house. Their survival brings hope amidst the destruction and showcases the resilience of their family.

    Where
    Mary Ann's Parents' House

  15. A Message of Survival

    The film concludes with Freeman's voiceover reflecting on mankind's triumph over the invaders, emphasizing that despite the devastation, humans have earned their right to survive through resilience and cunning.

Last updated: December 31, 2024 at 18:09

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Timeline questions answered

War Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of War (2007): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Ray kill Harlan in the basement?

Ray kills Harlan because he has a violent mental breakdown after witnessing the Tripods harvest human blood and tissue to feed the red weed. Harlan's unstable behavior and loud outbursts risk revealing their hiding spot to the aliens, which would mean certain death for Ray and Rachel. Ray makes the agonizing choice to silence Harlan permanently to protect his daughter.

  • harlan death
  • ray kills
  • basement
  • human harvest
  • mental breakdown
Q2

What was the red weed and why were the aliens harvesting humans?

The red weed is an alien organism that the Tripods spread across the landscape after invading. The aliens harvest human blood and tissue to use as fertilizer for the red weed, which appears to be part of their ecosystem or colonization process. This horrifying revelation shows the aliens view humans merely as resources for their own biological expansion.

  • red weed
  • alien harvest
  • human blood
  • fertilizer
  • tripods
Q3

How were the Tripods defeated at the end?

The Tripods' force fields eventually collapsed, making them vulnerable to attack. Ray notices birds circling the Tripods, indicating the protective shields had failed. He alerts nearby soldiers who launch a coordinated assault on the weakened Tripod. After the machine falls, the alien inside dies from injuries, and the red weed begins to wither, suggesting the aliens were biologically dependent on Earth in some way.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, the Tripods are shown to have advanced force fields that deflect human weapons.

  • tripod defeat
  • force field
  • birds
  • soldiers attack
  • alien dies
Q4

Why does Robbie leave with the military?

Robbie is driven by a desire to fight back against the alien invaders and prove himself as a hero. His obsession with heroism leads him to make the rash decision to join the U.S. military's counter-offensive against the Tripods. Despite Ray's efforts to prevent it, Robbie leaves with the military, and his fate remains uncertain for much of the film until the reunion at the end.

  • robbie joins military
  • heroism
  • fight back
  • ray prevents
Q5

What was the significance of the birds around the Tripods?

The birds circling the Tripods was a visual cue that the aliens' protective force fields had collapsed. Earlier in the invasion, the force fields made the Tripods nearly invincible against human weapons. When Ray notices the birds freely flying around the machines, he realizes they are now vulnerable, which allows the military to successfully attack and bring one down.

  • birds
  • force field
  • tripod vulnerability
  • military attack
Q6

Why did the aliens arrive using lightning?

The aliens rode down inside lightning strikes to reach Earth, using this phenomenon as their method of atmospheric entry. This is revealed when the strange wall cloud produces electromagnetic pulses and lightning that opens pathways for the Tripods to emerge from holes in the ground. The news footage explains that the aliens had been planning their invasion for a long time, using lightning as a covert delivery method.

  • aliens
  • lightning
  • arrival
  • em pulse
  • invasion plan
Q7

What happened to the military's counter-attack against the aliens?

The military's counter-offensive was completely unsuccessful. Despite marshaling forces for a coordinated attack against the Tripods, the military's efforts proved fruitless. The Tripods easily destroyed military units with their heat-rays, and Robbie's fate becomes uncertain after he separates from his family during the failed offensive. The aliens' advanced technology made human military forces ineffective.

  • military attack
  • failed counter-offensive
  • heat-rays
  • robbie fate
Q8

How did Ray and Rachel escape from inside the Tripod?

Ray deliberately gets captured by the Tripod to rescue Rachel. Once inside with other prisoners, he uses grenades he had hidden to initiate an uprising. The captives successfully blow up the Tripod from within, destroying the machine and freeing themselves. This desperate plan works because the Tripods did not search the prisoners for weapons.

  • captured
  • tripods
  • grenades
  • escape
  • prisoners
  • uprising
Q9

What was the purpose of the alien probes?

The alien probes were used to locate and capture human survivors. When an alien probe discovers Ray and Rachel hiding in Harlan's basement, it leads to their capture by a Tripod. The probes actively search houses and buildings to find humans, presumably for harvesting or processing as part of the alien colonization effort.

  • alien probe
  • capture humans
  • search
  • tripods

Movie threads

More Movies Like War, by Mood & Story

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

Revenge Action Movies Like War

Protagonists pushed to the edge by a personal vendetta against a formidable foe. If you liked the relentless pursuit and high-stakes conflict in War, explore more movies where a personal vendetta drives the action. These films feature determined protagonists facing off against powerful criminal organizations, blending intense action with a heavy emotional weight.

  • vengeful
  • tense
  • obsessive
  • grim
  • determined
  • action-packed
  • Tone: tense, grim
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a character, often a law enforcement agent or a wronged individual, who is driven by a personal loss to pursue a specific target within a sprawling criminal network. The journey is linear and focused, escalating in intensity as the protagonist gets closer to their goal, often forcing them to confront their own methods and motivations.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a single-minded revenge arc set within a world of criminal conflict. They share a tense tone, fast pacing, high intensity, and a heavy emotional core centered on loss, duty, and obsession.

Action movie poster

Action

2019
Rebellion movie poster

Rebellion

2009
Hard to Kill movie poster

Hard to Kill

1990
Raw Deal movie poster

Raw Deal

1986
Invisible Target movie poster

Invisible Target

2007
Retribution movie poster

Retribution

2023
Violent City movie poster

Violent City

1970
Faster movie poster

Faster

2010

High-Stakes Protection Thrillers Similar to War

Characters pushed to their limits while fighting to shield others from overwhelming danger. For viewers who enjoyed the themes of protection and survival in War, this collection features movies centered on a desperate fight against overwhelming odds. These stories are defined by their high intensity, fast pacing, and the heavy emotional burden of keeping someone safe.

  • protective
  • desperate
  • anxious
  • urgent
  • overwhelmed
  • survival
  • Tone: desperate, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, overwhelming
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is a relentless chase or siege, where the protagonist must use all their skills and endurance to outmaneuver a powerful threat. The focus is on survival and sacrifice, with the safety of others serving as the primary motivation, often leading to a climactic confrontation that tests their resolve.

Why they belong together: These films are united by the core theme of protection under extreme duress. They create a similar viewing experience through non-stop action, a pervasive sense of danger, and a deep emotional investment in the safety of the characters being protected.

High Risk movie poster

High Risk

1995
Hunt to Kill movie poster

Hunt to Kill

2010
Most Wanted movie poster

Most Wanted

1997
Fire with Fire movie poster

Fire with Fire

2012
Action movie poster

Action

2019
Dangerous Passion movie poster

Dangerous Passion

1990
Deadly Heroes movie poster

Deadly Heroes

1993
Hard Target movie poster

Hard Target

1993

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Every angle

War (2007) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about War in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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