Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

We're No Angels (1989) movie poster

Timeline

We're No Angels (1989) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1989 · 106 min · English
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Neil Jordan
Starring
Robert De Niro, Wallace Shawn, John C. Reilly, Sean Penn, James Russo, Ray McAnally
Budget
$20M

Two escaped convicts devise a comical plan to cross the Canadian border by disguising themselves as Catholic priests. They must maintain their elaborate charade while dealing with the challenges of their assumed roles, including navigating religious customs and unexpected romantic entanglements. The farcical situation unfolds as they desperately try to evade the law and keep their unlikely scheme from unraveling.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like We're No Angels
  6. 6 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

13 events in order · contains spoilers

We're No Angels Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of We're No Angels (1989) 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. Ned and Jim's imprisonment under a brutal warden

    In 1935, Ned and Jim are jailed on unspecified charges and subjected to brutal abuse by a ruthless warden. The Great Depression-era context foregrounds their grim confinement. The seeds of their later escape begin to form as they endure harsh conditions in prison.

    When
    1935
    Where
    state prison
  2. Bobby's escape from the electric chair ignites chaos

    A vicious killer named Bobby escapes the electric chair, triggering chaos that helps Ned and Jim slip away. The warden's attention centers on Bobby while the two inmates seize a chance to vanish. The escape hinges on a moment of law-and-order breakdown inside the prison.

    When
    1935
    Where
    prison
  3. Flight to a small upstate New York town near the border

    Ned and Jim flee to a small upstate New York town near the Canada–US border, seeking anonymity and safety. They hope to hide in plain sight by posing as respectable men on the run. The proximity to the border keeps their options precarious.

    When
    1935
    Where
    upstate New York town near Canada–US border
  4. Mistaken identity as priests draws them into a monastery

    The locals mistake them for a pair of priests expected at the local monastery, and the brothers decide to go along with the ruse. They begin to blend into religious life while trying not to draw attention. The warden's search complicates their cover and makes staying risky.

    When
    1935
    Where
    local monastery
  5. Border-crossing plans thwarted by misunderstandings and pursuit

    Misunderstandings and a persistent search party for Bobby make a trip across the bridge to Canada nearly impossible. Ned and Jim weigh the risks of continuing the disguise versus attempting escape. The tension between staying hidden and the external pursuit grows.

    When
    1935
    Where
    bridge to Canada
  6. The priests win trust at the monastery under Father Levesque

    Masquerading as priests, they are welcomed by Father Levesque and slowly gain the trust of the monastery's community. The ruse provides safety but deepens their moral conflict. They begin to inhabit the role of protectors rather than fugitives.

    When
    1935
    Where
    monastery
  7. A procession opens a route to the border

    An opportunity arises through a procession to the church's sister across the border, offering a potential way to cross. Each participating priest must bring someone who needs help, creating a fragile plan. The procession becomes a focal point where their fates intertwine with others' needs.

    When
    1935
    Where
    church and border crossing route
  8. Choosing Molly's deaf-mute daughter as the 'someone in need'

    They decide to bring Molly's deaf and mute daughter, the daughter of Molly, a local laundress and prostitute, to fulfill the requirements of the procession. The choice binds the fugitives to a vulnerable girl who can become a symbol of salvation. The plan hinges on the daughter's ability to communicate somehow again.

    When
    1935
    Where
    Molly's home
  9. Bobby is killed by police during the procession

    During the procession, Bobby is killed by police, removing an immediate threat and altering the dynamic of the fugitives' cover. The event marks a turning point in the dangers surrounding the priests and their mission. The town reels from the sudden violence amid the religious ceremony.

    When
    1935
    Where
    during the procession
  10. Ned saves Molly's daughter from drowning and she speaks

    Ned dives to save Molly's daughter from drowning, and the girl's rescue is followed by her ability to speak. The moment validates their decision to take her as the processional 'someone in need.' It also changes the dynamic of the protagonists' disguises.

    When
    1935
    Where
    near the church/processional route
  11. Jim befriends a young monk and stays to study priesthood

    Jim forms a bond with a young monk and decides to remain in the monastery to become an actual priest. The decision marks a personal transformation and a new path away from the fugitives' escape plot. He commits to a life of religious service.

    When
    1935
    Where
    monastery
  12. Ned heads to Canada with Molly and her daughter

    Ned resolves to leave with Molly and her daughter for Canada, seeking safety and a fresh start beyond the border. The trio begins a precarious new life while the warden's pursuit likely continues to hunt them in memory. The escape finally moves into a long-term exile.

    When
    1935
    Where
    Canada
  13. Ending: Jim remains at the monastery; Ned starts a new life in Canada

    In the film's closing moments, Jim stays at the monastery to follow his calling as a priest, while Ned departs across the border with Molly and her daughter to begin a new life in Canada. The story leaves the two fugitives living separate fates, united only by a shared past. The warden's threat fades into the background as each man pursues his chosen path.

    When
    1935
    Where
    Monastery

Last updated: February 18, 2026 at 23:43

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

We're No Angels Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of We're No Angels (1989): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why do Ned and Jim pretend to be priests?

After escaping during the chaos when Bobby escapes the electric chair, Ned and Jim flee to a small upstate New York town near the Canadian border. When locals mistake them for priests expected at the local monastery, they go along with the disguise as a practical way to hide in plain sight while figuring out how to cross into Canada.

Foreshadowing: The escape happens during a moment of prison chaos when the warden's attention is diverted to Bobby's situation.

  • prison escape
  • disguise
  • priests
  • monastery
  • border crossing
Q2

Why do they choose Molly's daughter for the procession?

The procession to the sister church across the border requires each participating priest to bring someone in need. Ned and Jim select Molly's deaf-mute daughter to fulfill this requirement, hoping it would provide a way to safely cross the border while maintaining their cover.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, they learn about the procession requirements from Father Levesque, creating the opportunity.

  • Molly's daughter
  • procession
  • border crossing
  • monastery
  • requirements
Q3

How does Molly's daughter start speaking after being saved?

During the procession, Ned saves Molly's daughter from drowning. After the rescue, the girl is able to speak for the first time, gaining the ability to talk despite being deaf and mute before. This dramatic moment validates their decision to bring her along and becomes a turning point in the story.

Foreshadowing: The choice to bring a deaf-mute girl sets up the possibility for a miraculous recovery.

  • drowning rescue
  • deaf-mute
  • miracle
  • speaking
  • Molly's daughter
Q4

Why does Jim decide to stay at the monastery?

Jim befriends a young monk at the monastery who encourages him to consider staying and becoming a real priest. This friendship and the quiet, purposeful life at the monastery appeal to Jim, leading him to choose a path of religious service rather than continuing to flee or heading to Canada with Ned.

Foreshadowing: The young monk first approaches Jim early in their stay at the monastery.

  • Jim
  • young monk
  • monastery
  • priesthood
  • transformation
Q5

Why does Ned go to Canada with Molly and her daughter?

After the events at the procession, including saving Molly's daughter and witnessing the transformation in her, Ned decides to leave for Canada with Molly and her daughter. He seeks safety and a fresh start beyond the border, while also wanting to protect and provide for them.

Foreshadowing: Ned's act of saving the girl directly leads to his bond with Molly and her daughter.

  • Canada
  • Molly
  • new life
  • border
  • escape
Q6

What happens to Bobby during the procession?

Bobby, the vicious killer who escaped the electric chair, is killed by police during the procession. His death removes an immediate threat to Ned and Jim and changes the dynamic of the manhunt, shifting the warden's attention away from Bobby and back toward the escaped convicts.

Foreshadowing: Bobby's earlier escape creates chaos that enables Ned and Jim's initial escape.

  • Bobby
  • killed
  • police
  • procession
  • escaped convict
Q7

Why is the warden still searching for Ned and Jim?

The warden is determined to recapture all escaped inmates, including Ned and Jim. After Bobby's escape and the subsequent chaos, the warden maintains a persistent search party that complicates the convicts' plans to cross into Canada and forces them to maintain their priest disguises.

Foreshadowing: The warden is introduced as a brutal figure who subjects Ned and Jim to harsh treatment in prison.

  • warden
  • pursuit
  • manhunt
  • prison escape
  • search party
Q8

How do the locals mistake Ned and Jim for priests?

Ned and Jim arrive in the small town near the Canada-US border and the locals immediately mistake them for a pair of priests who were expected at the local monastery. The timing of their arrival aligns perfectly with the expected priests' arrival, and the townspeople simply assume they are the correct men.

Foreshadowing: The townspeople are expecting priests to arrive, creating the perfect opportunity for mistaken identity.

  • mistaken identity
  • priests
  • monastery
  • locals
  • arrival
Q9

What triggers Ned to save Molly's daughter from drowning?

During the procession, Molly's daughter falls into water and begins to drown. Ned dives in and rescues her in a courageous act of mercy. This moment shifts the story's direction, as Ned's willingness to risk himself for someone else demonstrates genuine transformation rather than mere self-interest.

Foreshadowing: The dangerous proximity to water during the procession route sets up this pivotal moment.

  • rescue
  • drowning
  • Ned
  • Molly's daughter
  • courage
  • mercy
Q10

Why do Ned and Jim flee to upstate New York?

After escaping during the chaos of Bobby's escape from the electric chair, Ned and Jim flee to a small upstate New York town near the Canadian border. They choose this location specifically because it offers proximity to Canada, providing a potential escape route if their cover is compromised.

Foreshadowing: The Great Depression-era setting creates desperation that drives their escape decisions.

  • escape
  • upstate New York
  • Canada border
  • fugitives
  • hiding

Movie threads

More Movies Like We're No Angels, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes We're No Angels tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with elaborate disguises and farcical deceptions like We're No Angels

Characters who must maintain a hilarious charade while their world spirals into chaos. If you enjoyed the mischievous charm of We're No Angels, you'll love these comedies centered on characters living a lie. This list features movies where a high-stakes con or disguise leads to hilarious complications and lighthearted chaos, perfect for fans of fish-out-of-water humor.

  • farcical
  • mischievous
  • comedic
  • impersonation
  • chaotic
  • lighthearted
  • Tone: lighthearted, mischievous
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically begin with a character or group adopting a new identity out of necessity, leading to a plot driven by the constant risk of exposure. The narrative unfolds through a series of escalating comedic set pieces where the characters must use their wits to maintain the ruse, often discovering unexpected aspects of themselves along the way.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a central farcical premise—the disguise. They blend steady pacing with medium intensity, creating a light, comedic tone where the primary tension comes from the possibility of the scheme unraveling, leading to cathartic laughs rather than real dread.

Movies about charming criminals finding redemption like We're No Angels

Flawed characters on the run discover unexpected purpose and a chance at a better life. Fans of the hopeful redemption arc in We're No Angels will enjoy these stories of flawed but good-hearted characters. These films blend crime and comedy with a light, optimistic tone, focusing on second chances and the humorous path to becoming a better person.

  • redemptive
  • hopeful
  • lighthearted
  • second chances
  • charming
  • comedic
  • Tone: hopeful, redemptive, lighthearted
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters with a criminal past who are forced into a new, ordinary environment. Through comedic interactions and facing challenges they didn't anticipate, they gradually shed their selfish motives and find genuine connection, leading to a happy ending where they choose a new, honorable path.

Why they belong together: This thread unites movies through their shared character arc: the redemption of a rogue. The tone is consistently light and hopeful, with a steady pace that allows for character growth. The emotional weight is kept manageable, ensuring the focus remains on comedic charm and positive transformation rather than heavy drama.

If you liked this

Movies Like We're No Angels

Similar movies to We're No Angels: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

We're No Angels (1989) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about We're No Angels 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app