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Gunner

Gunner 2024

Box Office

$32K

Budget

$6M

Runtime

1 h 46 m

Language

english

English

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Gunner Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Gunner (2024). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.


Medal of Honor recipient, Lt. Colonel Lee Gunner Luke Hemsworth returns to his hometown after a long career in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Lee hopes to reconnect with his sons Travis Connor DeWolfe and Luke Grant Feely, and gets permission from his ex-wife Claire Yulia Klass to take them camping. Travis is resentful toward his father for disappearing during his last tour and for the death of his older brother, who died in Afghanistan. Lee’s brother Jon Barry Jay Minoff meets them at base camp as they take ATVs deep into the woods.

While hiking, the group discovers a hidden Triad drug lab and are discovered after Jon trips an IED, mortally wounding him. Lee fights off the Triads to buy time for his sons to escape. Travis and Luke are kidnapped by the Triads’ business partners, a ruthless biker gang led by Dobbs Ryker Mykel Shannon Jenkins. Lee tries to rescue them but is interrupted by a DEA raid and is arrested.

Lee breaks out of jail with help from Sheriff Bob Lilly John D. Hickman and tracks Dobbs to an abandoned lumber mill where he fights his way to his sons. Lee is able to free Travis but Dobbs escapes with Luke as the DEA arrives. Lee and Travis meet Kaylor, Sean Rogers, an Army Ranger whom Lee served with in Afghanistan. Kaylor tells Travis that Lee saved him from an ambush on his last tour but was captured by the Taliban and tortured for a year until he could escape.

Lee decides to break Dobbs’s father Kendrick Ryker Morgan Freeman out of prison to trade him for Luke. Lee parachutes into the prison disguised as a guard and starts a riot as cover to escape with Kendrick. Lee duct tapes a shotgun to Kendrick and arrives at Dobbs’s drug warehouse. As Dobbs agrees to swap his father for Luke, Kendrick stabs Lee and runs away but trips causing the shotgun to fire and kill him.

Dobbs takes Luke and escapes on a helicopter as Lee fights bikers to reach them. Lee manages to reach the helicopter but the pilot is killed as Lee and Dobbs fight. As the helicopter falls, Lee kills Dobbs by kicking him out of the helicopter and parachutes to safety with Luke. With his family safe and cleared by the DEA, Lee visits the grave of his eldest son.

Gunner Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Gunner (2024) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.


Homecoming and camping plan

Lee Gunner returns to his hometown after a long U.S. Army career, hoping to reconnect with his sons Travis and Luke. He seeks permission from his ex-wife Claire to take them camping, and must live with the memory of his eldest son's death in Afghanistan.

Lee's hometown

Family camping begins

The family sets up a base camp in the woods and is joined by Lee's brother Jon. The mood mixes longing with tension, as Travis resents his father for disappearing on his last tour.

Base camp in the woods

Discovery and tragedy in the woods

While hiking, the group stumbles onto a hidden Triad drug lab. Jon trips an IED, mortally wounding him, and Lee fights off the Triads to buy time for his sons to escape.

Woods near base camp

Abduction and arrest

Travis and Luke are kidnapped by the biker gang led by Dobbs Ryker. Lee tries to rescue them but a DEA raid interrupts the operation and he ends up arrested.

Woods near the Triad lab

Jailbreak to the lumber mill

With help from the Sheriff, Lee breaks out of jail and heads toward an abandoned lumber mill to recover his sons. The detour sets off a dangerous confrontation with the biker gang and their drug operation.

Jail and abandoned lumber mill

Rescue attempt at lumber mill

Lee fights through bikers at the lumber mill and manages to free Travis. Luke is captured by the gang and Dobbs escapes just as the DEA arrives.

Lumber mill

Sean’s visit and backstory

Lee reunites with Sean, an Army Ranger he served with in Afghanistan. Sean explains what happened and recounts how Lee saved him from an ambush and was tortured by the Taliban before escaping.

Base camp area

Parachute breakout for Kendrick swap

Lee decides to break Kendrick out of prison to trade him for Luke, parachuting in and triggering a riot as cover to escape with Kendrick. The plan hinges on the prison break succeeding so Luke can be swapped for Kendrick.

Prison

Betrayal and shotgun tragedy

During the escape, Kendrick stabs Lee and tries to flee. The shotgun strapped to Kendrick fires when he trips, killing Kendrick.

Prison

Dobbs’ helicopter escape and crash

Dobbs takes Luke and escapes on a helicopter. Lee fights through the biker hordes toward the helicopter as the pilot is killed, and he kicks Dobbs out of the craft as it begins to crash.

Drug warehouse to helicopter pad

Final rescue and clearance

Lee parachutes to safety with Luke and the pair are rescued from the crash site. The DEA clears them, confirming the family is safe.

Crash site and surroundings

Visit to eldest son's grave

With his family safe, Lee visits the grave of his eldest son to pay his respects. He reflects on the cost of his choices and the long road ahead.

Grave site

Gunner Characters

Explore all characters from Gunner (2024). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.


Lee Gunner (Luke Hemsworth)

A Medal of Honor recipient and former U.S. Army Special Forces officer. He is disciplined, protective, and relentless when it comes to safeguarding his family, but his years of service have left him emotionally scarred. His resolve drives the rescue mission, even at great personal risk.

🛡️ Protective 👨‍👦 Family-oriented 🧭 Disciplined

Kendrick Ryker (Morgan Freeman)

Dobbs Ryker’s father and a key player in the drug operation. He embodies a calculating, authoritative edge within the criminal world and becomes central to the attempted exchange. His presence raises the stakes and moral complexity of the pursuit.

🕶️ Power 🔒 Calculated 🧭 Authoritative

Dobbs Ryker (Mykel Shannon Jenkins)

A ruthless biker gang leader and partner in the Triad drug operation. He is resourceful, volatile, and dangerous, driving much of the film’s action as he clashes with Lee during the pursuit. His ambitions threaten Lee’s family at every turn.

🔥 Threat 💥 Aggressive 🧩 Resourceful

Luke Gunner (Grant Feely)

Lee and Claire’s son who is forcibly separated from his father. He experiences fear and resilience as he endures captivity and the perilous escape sequence. His safety becomes the central objective of his father’s quest.

🧒 Resilient 🗺️ Child of conflict 🛡️ Protected

Travis Gunner (Connor DeWolfe)

Lee’s older son who harbors resentment over his father’s absence. He initially struggles with trust but shows courage as he helps in the escape and navigates the dangers of the pursuit.

👦 Struggling; 👨‍👦 Family 🏃‍♂️ Courage

Sean Keller (Maurice P. Kerry)

An Army Ranger who Lee served with in Afghanistan and who appears later to provide crucial context about Lee’s past. He reinforces the theme of camaraderie and the long shadows of war.

🪖 Veteran 🤝 Ally 🧭 Honest

Gunner Settings

Learn where and when Gunner (2024) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.


Time period

Present day

The events occur in a contemporary setting with modern military and law enforcement elements. The narrative features current equipment, tactics, and drug-trafficking dynamics, grounding the story in a believable, up-to-date timeframe. The tension arises from present-day crime and rescue operations rather than historical events.

Location

Home town, Rural woods, Abandoned lumber mill, Drug warehouse, Prison

The story unfolds across a rural home town and surrounding woods where a family camping trip turns into a pursuit. It moves through an abandoned lumber mill used by the Triads, then to a secured drug warehouse, and culminates in a prison riot setting. These varied locations emphasize isolation, danger, and the escalating stakes of Lee’s mission to reunite his family.

🏞️ Rural landscapes 🏚️ Abandoned sites 🚓 Law enforcement 🗺️ Multiple locations

Gunner Themes

Discover the main themes in Gunner (2024). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.


🛡️

Family

Lee’s primary motive is to protect his sons and repair a fractured family bond. The journey tests trust, patience, and the emotional costs of years apart. The theme centers on loyalty, reconciliation, and the lengths a parent will go to keep his children safe.

🎖️

Duty

Lee’s military background informs his relentless courage as he undertakes extreme risks. From jail breaks to undercover maneuvers and a riot, he treats protection of his family as a mission. The theme highlights discipline, sacrifice, and a sense of responsibility that persists beyond combat.

🔥

Sacrifice

The pursuit imposes heavy costs on all involved, with Kendrick’s death and other collateral dangers weighing on the outcome. Difficult choices force Lee to weigh personal safety against the lives of others. The theme explores what a person is willing to sacrifice for family and justice.

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Gunner Ending Explained

Unravel the ending of Gunner (2024) with our detailed explanation. Understand the final scenes, character fates, and unresolved questions.


Gunner concludes with a chaotic and somewhat nonsensical action sequence, where Lee fights off Dobbs’ men and ultimately ends up attacking Dobbs himself on a helicopter. In the final moments, Lee manages to kick Dobbs out of the chopper, causing it to spiral out of control. As the helicopter crashes, Lee quickly parachutes off with his son, effectively ending his dangerous pursuit and rescuing his family. This finale emphasizes Lee’s resilience and determination to protect his children at all costs, even if it means risking his own life.

Throughout the film, it is revealed that Lee’s kidnapping and injuries were not from enemies but from Al-Qaeda terrorists he was attempting to save a fellow soldier from. His family’s resentment towards him stems from his prolonged absence and the mysterious scars he hides, which hint at his hidden trauma. Now that the truth about his captivity is exposed, there’s a chance for Lee to reconnect with his family more honestly. The ending hints at a possible new chapter for him, as he considers accepting a local sheriff’s job, which would allow him to serve his community and stay close to his family, fulfilling his desire for redemption. Overall, the ending ties together Lee’s relentless fight to save his children with the hope of reconciliation and a fresh start, leaving his future open to new possibilities.

Gunner Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Gunner (2024). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.


In the quiet shadows of a once‑familiar hometown, a decorated veteran returns after years of service in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Lee Gunner carries the weight of medals and memories, and with them a restless need to make peace with the life he left behind. His homecoming feels both hopeful and tentative, a chance to rebuild bridges that were stretched thin by duty and loss.

The heart of his return centers on family, especially his two teenage sons, Travis and Luke. Their relationship is a delicate balance of admiration, resentment, and unspoken grief, especially after the disappearance of their older brother. With the reluctant blessing of his ex‑wife, Claire, the three set out on a simple camping trip that promises fresh air and a chance to reconnect away from the bustle of civilian life.

Beneath the canopy of pine and the rustle of the wilderness, the ordinary retreat begins to intersect with a darker reality. The remote woods hide whispers of a criminal cartel whose reach extends into the very landscape the family explores. As the forest reveals clues of illicit activity, the familiar comforts of home give way to an unsettling tension, testing Lee’s instincts and training.

The film unfolds with a gritty, pulse‑quickening tone that blends raw action with emotional stakes. It captures the stark contrast between a soldier’s disciplined precision and a father’s desperate yearning to protect. As the danger looms, the story teases a perilous journey—one where loyalty, courage, and the bonds of blood may be the only weapons against an unseen threat.

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