Logo What's After the Movie
The Entitled

The Entitled 2011

Test your knowledge of The Entitled with our quiz!

The Entitled Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Entitled (2011). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.


Paul Dynan, [Kevin Zegers], and his mother [Nola Augustson] are unemployed. At school, two students Jenna, [Tatiana Maslany], and Dean, [Devon Bostick], are aware they are two of a kind, harboring a dangerous contempt for the world around them. Paul, aiming to manipulate Jenna and befriend Dean, hatches a plan to kidnap three children from wealthy families for ransom.

The action shifts to a lakeside house where two men, Clifford Jones, [Stephen McHattie], and Richard Nader, [Ray Liotta], along with Clifford Jones’ driver, [Anthony Ulc], await a third man and, crucially, await their own kids. Elsewhere, Jenna, [Tatiana Maslany], and Dean, [Devon Bostick], abduct Jeff Vincent, [John Bregar], Nick Nader, [Dustin Milligan], and Hailey Jones, [Laura Vandervoort], bringing them to a hidden residence. Paul reappears after making different arrangements and calls Clifford’s house, demanding one million dollars from each father to be wired to an offshore bank account. Fearful, Clifford pays immediately and urges Richard to do the same. However, Richard’s transfer stalls when his agent reports there isn’t enough money, and Bob Vincent, who has not yet arrived, cannot be reached.

The captives are confined in a basement, blindfolded and tied. Paul lights a cigarette and tells Jenna to keep watch. Dean, eager for more cruel amusement, is disappointed not to be assigned a role in the plan. Paul contacts the fathers again and learns that the promised money will not come from Bob, who is late. A grim choice looms: Paul has vowed to kill the hostages if the ransom fails. Jenna, torn and morally collision-prone, shoots Jeff, Bob’s son, after overhearing a warning. The gunfire reveals the grim reality to the fathers, who realize Jeff is dead. Paul then ups the stakes, demanding two million dollars and warning that the other two will be killed if the money is not received. When Bob finally arrives, he wires the money but discovers it was mistakenly sent for Nick instead of Jeff.

Tension escalates as Paul contemplates an even more violent ending—blowing up the house—while Nick and Hailey, shaken by Jeff’s death and the discovery that his body lies beside them, manage a dangerous escape. The two children flee through the woods toward Clifford’s house. The kidnappers scramble to locate them, and Paul orders Jenna and Dean to find the kids but to kill them only if the money doesn’t arrive. Dean corners the children at the gas station and holds them at gunpoint; with the money now in transit, Paul reprograms the plan and instructs them to release the kids and meet at the gas station. Yet Dean, frustrated at not getting to wield real damage, fires at Nick and collapses, only to realize the gun he was given shoots blanks. The kids seize the chance to escape once more.

Jenna tracks the kids to the gas station, and Nick, acting in self-defense and anger, suffocates her with a chokehold. Nick and Hailey make it to Clifford’s house again, while Dean arrives at the gas station to find Jenna alive but injured; in a furious turn, he kills her. Paul then reveals to Jenna and Dean that he has framed them for the chaos. Leaving the house, Paul carries one of the three beer bottles, a quiet symbol of the plan’s twisted success. He manipulates the scene to appear as a struggle involving Clifford’s driver, playing the victim, and lights a match to illuminate Hailey’s face. When the police arrive and question everyone, Hailey and Nick choose not to name Paul as their kidnapper. They have no memory of hearing Paul’s voice as the kidnapper, leaving his true role hidden to them. The movie closes with Hailey and Nick watching the lights and the police cordon off the gas station as Paul departs with his father, the echoes of their ordeal fading into the night.

The Entitled Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of The Entitled (2011) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.


Planning the kidnapping

At school, Paul begins plotting a ransom kidnapping, aiming to manipulate Jenna and befriend Dean. He intends to seize three children from wealthy families and force their parents to pay. The plan marks the start of a descent into danger and deception.

School

Lakeside setup

Clifford Jones, Richard Nader, and their driver gather at a lakeside house, waiting for a third conspirator and for their own kids to arrive. The men prepare the logistics of the kidnapping and the ransom scheme. Tension mounts as the moment to act approaches.

Lakeside house

Abduction to the hidden residence

Jenna and Dean abduct Jeff, Nick, and Hailey and bring them to a hidden residence. The captives are restrained and taken out of sight, marking the execution phase of the plan. The captors’ cold efficiency reveals the gravity of the situation.

Hidden residence

Ransom demanded by phone

Paul calls Clifford’s house and demands one million dollars from each father to be wired to an offshore bank account. The request heightens the stakes and signals the countdown has begun. The others grow increasingly anxious about the money’s arrival.

Clifford's house

Money transfer complications

Clifford pays the ransom, but Richard’s transfer stalls because there isn’t enough money, and Bob Vincent cannot be reached. The delay creates uncertainty about whether the captors’ threat will be carried out. The procedural delay tightens the noose around the hostages.

Clifford's house

Hostages confined

The captives are confined in a basement, blindfolded and tied, under watchful eyes. Paul lights a cigarette as he assigns Jenna to monitor the group. The claustrophobic confinement intensifies the danger the children face.

Basement, hidden residence

The grim ultimatum

Paul informs the fathers that if the money does not arrive, he will kill the hostages. The plan’s violence becomes a real possibility, and the fathers race to secure the funds. The moral line between coercion and murder feels dangerously thin.

Basement / phone lines to Clifford's house

Jeff is shot

A warning is overheard and Jenna shoots Jeff. The brutal act makes the consequences of the ransom plan undeniable for the fathers, who realize the danger is now personal. Jeff’s death shatters any remaining illusions about mercy.

Basement, hidden residence

Ransom escalates

Paul ups the stakes to two million dollars and warns that others will be killed if the money does not arrive on time. The plan appears to be spiraling out of control as desperation takes over. The captors tighten their grip on the situation.

Basement

Money wired – by mistake to Nick

Bob wires the money, but the transfer is mistakenly sent to Nick instead of Jeff. The misdirection creates a new twist in the hostage crisis, influencing who is perceived as the ransom target. The delay continues as the family fights to get the funds corrected.

Clifford's house / money transfer point

Escape into the woods

Nick and Hailey manage a dangerous escape and flee toward Clifford’s house through the woods. The siblings’ survival instincts push them to seek safety and a potential ally, changing the power dynamics of the confrontation. The captors scramble to locate them.

Wooded area toward Clifford's house

Gas station confrontation

Dean corners Nick and Hailey at a gas station, holding them at gunpoint as the money starts moving. Paul reprograms the plan and instructs the captors to release the children and meet at the gas station. The standoff widens as authorities draw closer.

Gas station

Jenna killed by Nick

Nick, acting in self-defense and anger, suffocates Jenna. The violent act completes the shift from manipulation to lethal action within the captors’ circle. Hailey witnesses the mounting danger and fear grows.

Gas station / vicinity

Dean’s deadly act

Dean arrives at the gas station to find Jenna alive but injured and then kills her in a furious moment. The chaos leaves the truth of who planned the kidnapping in doubt and heightens the tension in the police investigation.

Gas station

Police arrival and escape

When the police arrive, Hailey and Nick choose not to name Paul as their kidnapper, having no memory of hearing his voice. Paul exits the scene with his father, leaving the truth unresolved and the ordeal fading into night.

Gas station / Police scene

The Entitled Characters

Explore all characters from The Entitled (2011). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.


Paul Dynan (Kevin Zegers)

A calculating, ambitious schemer who masterminds the kidnapping for ransom. He controls people through manipulation, fear, and the illusion of innocence. He aims to bind others to his plan, and his framing of the others reveals his callousness.

🧠 Calculating 🎯 Manipulative 💰 Ambitious

Jenna (Tatiana Maslany)

A bright but morally torn student who participates under pressure. She alternates between following orders and questioning the plan, exposing a conscience constantly tested by fear and coercion.

🧭 Ambitious 🕊️ Moral conflict 🔪 Dangerous

Dean Taylor (Devon Bostick)

A thrill-seeker who craves real power and violence; He seeks a role in the chaos and escalates as he pursues cruelty and dominance.

🔥 Impulsive 🗡️ Violent 🎭 Unpredictable

Clifford Jones (Stephen McHattie)

A determined father figure who collaborates in the scheme and pushes for the ransom, even as the situation spirals beyond control. He faces moral strain balancing his child's safety with ruthless tactics.

👔 Protective 🧠 Calculating 🕵️‍♂️ Complicit

Richard Nader (Ray Liotta)

A fatherly partner whose fear of loss drives him to arrange the ransom, though he is hampered by delays and competing demands. He becomes a reluctant participant whose absence or lateness heightens tension.

💼 Calculating 🧠 Distant ⚖️ Guilty by association

Nick Nader (Dustin Milligan)

A captive who resists, acts in self-defense, and ultimately survives alongside Hailey, choosing not to name Paul and leaving questions about guilt unresolved.

🧠 Wary survivor 💪 Resilient ⚖️ Self-preserving

Hailey Jones (Laura Vandervoort)

One of the captives who endures fear, escapes with Nick, and shows quiet resolve. She bears trauma but ultimately withholds the agent of the crime by not naming Paul.

💪 Resilient 🧭 Traumatized 🔒 Secretive

Bob Vincent (Victor Garber)

Jenna's father whose concern and timing around the ransom influences the investigation and the course of events. He wrestles with responsibility and protection for his family.

💼 Worried Father 🧠 Strategist 🤝 Responsible

Jeff Vincent (John Bregar)

Bob's son who becomes the victim of the kidnapping. His death marks a turning point in the plot and amplifies the moral stakes for all involved.

🔫 Victim 💔 Tragic ⚠️ Catalyst

Driver (Anthony Ulc)

Clifford's driver who assists in moving the plan forward. He remains a secondary instrument rather than a driver of the action.

🚗 Driver 🧭 Co-conspirator

The Entitled Settings

Learn where and when The Entitled (2011) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.


Location

Lakeside house, hidden residence, basement, gas station

The action unfolds across a secluded lakeside house and a hidden residence, with a basement where the captives are confined. A gas station becomes a key crossroads later, as pursuit and deception intersect outside the secluded property. The remote locations create a claustrophobic, high-stakes environment that amplifies fear and manipulation.

🎬 Contemporary crime 🗺️ Remote setting ⏳ Tense atmosphere

The Entitled Themes

Discover the main themes in The Entitled (2011). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.


🎭

Power & Manipulation

The plot centers on Paul's ability to bend others to his will through money, leverage, and calculated moves. He orchestrates every detail of the kidnapping and uses fear to maintain control over his accomplices and victims. The story reveals how a determined, young mind can weaponize vulnerability into a chilling form of power.

⚖️

Moral Ambiguity

Characters drift in shades of guilt as they choose between self-preservation and ethical lines. Jenna's reluctant complicity and Nick's survival instincts test what counts as responsibility. The outcome blurs lines between victim and perpetrator, leaving viewers to question intent and accountability.

💥

Violence & Consequences

Escalation from kidnapping to murder and near-ruin shows how fragile life becomes under pressure. The violence triggers a chain reaction, forcing characters to confront the real cost of coercive schemes. The ending underscores that actions have lasting, unintended consequences.

🪪

Deception & Framing

Deception drives the narrative, with Paul manipulating events and framing others for the chaos. The attackers' careful misdirections complicate law enforcement and memory, leaving truth obscured. The finale hints that memory can be unreliable, letting the true instigator escape attribution.

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

The Entitled Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Entitled (2011). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.


In a quiet suburb where financial strain gnaws at everyday life, Paul Dynan dreams of a fresh start for his family. With his mother, Nola Augustson, struggling to make ends meet, Paul feels the pressure of responsibility pressing harder than ever. The world he inhabits is one of cracked foundations—jobs are scarce, bills pile up, and the promise of security seems forever out of reach. This uneasy backdrop fuels a restless determination that pushes him toward a risky, high‑stakes gamble.

Enter Jenna and Dean, two sharp‑eyed teens whose own disdain for the world mirrors Paul’s desperation. Their restless energy and willingness to blur moral lines pull them into the orbit of Paul’s plan, creating a volatile mix of youthful bravado and seasoned desperation. The tension between their cynical outlooks and the earnest, if misguided, hope Paul clings to sets the stage for uneasy alliances, whispered strategies, and a palpable sense that every decision could tip the fragile balance they all walk.

The plot’s heartbeat is a single night that stretches long and dark, where the ordinary veneer of wealth and privilege meets the raw edge of a family’s yearning for stability. Three affluent fathers, each accustomed to a life of comfort, find themselves pulled into a dangerous game that forces them to confront hidden truths about what truly matters. The atmosphere crackles with suspense, as the ticking clock of a looming deadline heightens every exchange, promising that the choices made under the pressure of night will reverberate long after sunrise.

Through its moody cinematography and a tone that wavers between tense thriller and intimate character study, the film invites viewers to linger on the quiet moments of doubt and resolve. It asks what lengths a person will go to protect those they love, and how quickly the lines between right and wrong can blur when desperation becomes the only language spoken.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.