Free Fire 2017
Directed by
Ben Wheatley
Made by
A24
Free Fire Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Free Fire (2017). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
On a cold night in 1978, as Stevo tells Bernie that he was beaten up the day before by the cousin of a woman he assaulted, the group is driving to meet IRA members Chris and Frank. The crew gathers outside a Boston warehouse with intermediary Justine, and a representative, Ord, leads them inside. The group is there to buy guns from arms dealer Vernon and his associates, Martin, Harry, and Gordon. Despite tensions between the two groups and Vernon supplying the wrong rifles, the weapons are unloaded from a van and Chris’ group hands over the money in a briefcase.
Stevo realizes that Harry was the one who beat him up the day before, and refuses to go near him, irritating Frank. Harry eventually notices and lashes out at Stevo, furthering the tensions between the groups. Stevo seemingly apologises, but then brags about what he did to Harry’s cousin. Infuriated, Harry shoots Stevo in the shoulder. Both groups split off and begin shooting at each other. Martin, who was holding the briefcase, is grazed by a bullet in the head and collapses. The briefcase now lies in the open, with Vernon attempting to coerce his men to get it.
Bernie is shot in the back by Vernon as he attempts to leave and dies shortly after. Soon, two hit-men with rifles begin shooting at both groups. One of them, Jimmy, is killed, and the other is recognised by Ord as Howie, who explains that he was hired to kill everyone and take the money. Before Howie can reveal who hired him, he is shot dead by Chris’s group. Chris, defending Justine, requests that Vernon’s group let her go. Gordon crawls after her, intent on killing her.
As the shooting continues, a telephone rings in one of the offices. Realising that they can call for backup, Chris sends the wounded Frank to the office, pursued by a wounded Vernon. Gordon chases Justine to the warehouse entrance, but she manages to kill him. As Chris, Ord, Stevo and Harry engage in another shootout, Vernon is severely burned by a fire set by Frank but manages to kill him as he reaches the phone.
Martin suddenly regains consciousness and begins deliriously shooting at his own group. He reveals that he planned to double-cross Vernon and hired Howie and Jimmy to kill the others. Martin gets the briefcase, but soon dies from his injuries. After getting past Ord and Harry, Chris reaches the office and kills Vernon. Using the phone to call his associates, Chris is cut off by Ord while Harry distracts Stevo. Returning to the warehouse, Justine takes Jimmy’s rifle but passes out.
Leary, an associate, arrives at the warehouse in search of his IRA comrades, but is beaten to death by Harry. Taking the briefcase, Harry attempts to escape in the van while being fired at by Stevo and Ord. Harry runs over Stevo’s head, killing him, but not before Stevo shoots Harry through the bottom of the van, killing him as well. The fire Frank caused spreads and the sprinklers come on. Exhausted and out of bullets, Ord and Chris agree to stop fighting, take the money, and attempt to escape before the inevitable arrival of the police.
Justine shoots Ord in the head and, unintentionally, Chris in the stomach. As Chris lies on the ground, succumbing to his wounds, Justine tells him she regrets that he got in the way. They exchange some last banter, and Justine limps towards the exit with the money, but the sound of sirens grows louder. When red and blue flashing lights appear under the bottom of the exit, Justine realizes that although she survived, she will not escape.
Free Fire Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Free Fire (2017) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Deal setup outside the Boston warehouse
On a cold night in 1978, Stevo tells Bernie he was beaten the day before by the cousin of a woman he assaulted, setting a tense mood. The group drives to meet IRA members outside a Boston warehouse to buy guns from Vernon and his associates, with Justine serving as intermediary through Ord. The weapons are unloaded from a van and the money is exchanged in a briefcase, despite mounting tensions between the factions.
Tension thickens as Stevo learns who beat him
Inside the warehouse, Stevo realises Harry beat him the day before, which irritates him and strains the deal. Harry notices the animosity and lashes out, worsening the mood. The exchange devolves from negotiation into simmering hostility between the groups.
Harry shoots Stevo
Harry lashes out and shoots Stevo in the shoulder, inflaming hostilities. The act breaks any fragile calm and sends the room into a fresh round of gunfire. The conflict now threatens the entire deal and the money.
The first shootout erupts; Martin grazed
With tensions boiling, both groups open fire and chaos spreads around the warehouse. Martin, who holds the briefcase, is grazed in the head as the bullets fly and he collapses. Vernon tries to coerce his men to grab the briefcase amid the confusion.
Bernie is shot escaping
Vernon shoots Bernie in the back as he tries to leave, and Bernie dies soon after. The loss deepens the grudge between the factions and fuels the violence. The briefcase sits open and a coveted prize for all sides.
Jimmy killed; Howie revealed as hired gun
Two hit-men enter the fight. Jimmy is killed early, and Howie reveals that he was hired to kill everyone and take the money. Before Howie can name his employer, he is shot dead by Chris's group, ending that threat before it can be fully revealed.
Chris defends Justine; Gordon targets her
Chris shields Justine as Vernon’s group closes in on her escape. Gordon crawls after her toward the warehouse entrance, intent on killing her. The standoff between the factions intensifies around Justine.
Phone call possibility; backup discussed
A telephone rings in one of the offices, signaling a chance to call for reinforcements. Chris sends the wounded Frank toward the office, pursued by a wounded Vernon. The call for help lingers as gunfire rattles the walls.
Justine eliminates Gordon
Justine reaches the warehouse entrance and kills Gordon, breaking his pursuit. She snatches the moment to limp toward the exit with the money. The chaos continues to swirl around the remaining players.
Vernon burns Frank; Vernon kills Frank reaching the phone
As Chris, Ord, Stevo, and Harry clash again, Vernon is severely burned by a fire Frank started but manages to kill Frank as he reaches the phone. The fiery distraction complicates the escape plan. The money and the firing line remain in flux.
Martin's double-cross comes to light; briefcase claimed
Martin regains consciousness and begins deliriously shooting at his own group. He reveals that he planned to double-cross Vernon and hired Howie and Jimmy to kill the others. He grabs the briefcase, but dies soon after from his injuries.
Chris reaches the office and kills Vernon
After getting past Ord and Harry, Chris reaches the office and kills Vernon, securing control of the money. He uses the phone to call his associates, but Ord cuts the line while Harry distracts Stevo. The final confrontation looms as the warehouse burns around them.
Leary arrives; Harry intercepts
Leary arrives at the warehouse in search of his IRA comrades, but Harry beats him to death. Taking the briefcase, Harry attempts to escape in the van while Stevo and Ord fire at him. Stevo is killed when Harry runs over him, and Harry is mortally wounded by Stevo's return fire.
Final stand and the sirens approach
The fire spreads and sprinklers come on as Ord and Chris decide to stop fighting and take the money, attempting to escape before the police arrive. They push toward the exit while the sounds of sirens grow louder. The endgame unfolds with the clock ticking on their fate.
Justine's exit attempt ends in tragedy
Justine shoots Ord in the head and unintentionally hits Chris in the stomach. As Chris lies wounded, she tells him she regrets getting in the way. She limps toward the exit with the money, but the approaching police signals that she will not escape.
Free Fire Characters
Explore all characters from Free Fire (2017). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Justine (Brie Larson)
A sharp, calculating intermediary who navigates the deal with cool detachment. She remains focused on her own survival and the money, manipulating others and turning unexpectedly violent when needed. Her ruthlessness becomes a survival tool in a room where every decision could be deadly.
Chris (Cillian Murphy)
The composed organizer who coordinates the group and keeps a level head under pressure. He fights to secure the money and protect his allies, but he’s willing to take drastic actions to ensure a payoff. His calm demeanor masks a calculating, strategic streak.
Vernon (Armie Hammer)
A ruthless arms dealer who orchestrates the exchange and clamps down on any threats to the deal. He prioritizes control and profit, using intimidation to keep others in line. His fate is tied to the chaos he helps unleash when the money and weapons become exposed.
Ord (Sharlto Copley)
The intermediary who tries to manage the deal from the inside and call for backup. He’s pragmatic and occasionally volatile, able to pivot as the room spins toward violence. He becomes a casualty of the escalating power struggle.
Free Fire Settings
Learn where and when Free Fire (2017) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1978
The events take place on a cold night in 1978, placing the story in late 1970s urban America. The era is marked by gunrunning and factional tensions, reflected in the urgent, illicit arms deal. The confined, gritty environment amplifies the tension typical of heist and standoff dramas of that period.
Location
Boston, Massachusetts
Set inside a Boston warehouse on a cold 1978 night, the shootout unfolds in a claustrophobic, dimly lit space. The setting contrasts the outside winter chill with the interior's smoky, improvised atmosphere as men exchange fire. The warehouse's open space becomes a makeshift battlefield where money, weapons, and loyalties collide.
Free Fire Themes
Discover the main themes in Free Fire (2017). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Violence
Conflict erupts from a simple gun deal and escalates into a relentless, close-quarters shootout. The film uses the confined space to magnify brutality and the fragile nature of trust. Each character’s actions reveal how quickly violence becomes a language of survival rather than choice. The dynamic shows how violence reshapes loyalties and destinies in an instant.
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Betrayal
The deal evolves into a web of double-crosses, where allies turn on each other to grab the money. Loyalty shifts as individuals chase personal gain, driving the plot toward its double-crossing climax. Deceit is woven into every interaction, with plans unraveling under pressure. The halfway point is often the height of betrayal rather than a negotiated outcome.
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Greed
The promise of the cash in the briefcase fuels suspicion and manipulation. Characters weigh risk against reward, often choosing self-preservation over group safety. The film uses greed to justify brutal choices and shifting alliances. In the end, the pursuit of money accelerates the demise of nearly everyone involved.
Free Fire Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Free Fire (2017). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the chill of a late‑night Boston winter, an isolated warehouse becomes the unlikely stage for a high‑risk arms exchange. The building’s stark, empty walls echo with the quiet of a city that never sleeps, while outside the dim streetlights cast long shadows over a group of strangers gathered for a transaction that promises quick cash and even quicker danger. The atmosphere is taut with anticipation, each pause hinting that the fragile agreement could unravel at any moment.
Among the participants, Chris arrives as a seasoned operative with a reputation for resolve, while Justine serves as the uneasy liaison tasked with keeping the meeting on track. Stevo brings a volatile edge, his history of grudges simmering beneath a rough exterior, and Ord steps in as the pragmatic representative of his side, trying to maintain order amid growing tension. Across the warehouse, Vernon oversees the inventory, his demeanor cool but his patience thin, hinting at the high stakes that bind all parties together. Each character carries their own motives, loyalties, and scars, setting the scene for a delicate dance where any misstep could tip the balance.
The tone is relentless and gritty, a blend of claustrophobic suspense and raw, unfiltered aggression. The warehouse’s confined space amplifies every nervous glance and whispered warning, turning ordinary interactions into potential flashpoints. The cinematography favors muted palettes and stark lighting, underscoring the moral grayness that pervades the encounter. Dialogue crackles with thinly veiled threats, and the ever‑present hum of unseen weapons adds a constant, low‑level dread.
As the night deepens, the fragile truce begins to fray, and the participants find themselves caught between the allure of a quick payout and the instinct to survive. Alliances shift like shadows, and the air grows thick with the promise of chaos, leaving the audience poised on the edge of a gun‑metal storm that could erupt at any instant.
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