ABBA: The Movie

ABBA: The Movie

Year: 1977

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Lasse Hallström

ComedyDocumentaryDramaMusicSong and dance

Frontstage, Backstage & On The Road - Take The Tour A radio DJ in pursuit of an exclusive interview follows ABBA during their mega-successful tour of Australia.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen ABBA: The Movie yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – ABBA: The Movie (1977)

Trace every key event in ABBA: The Movie (1977) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Mission assigned: get an in-depth ABBA interview

Ashley Wallace, a naïve late-night DJ on Radio 2TW, is tasked by his boss with securing not just an interview but a dialogue with ABBA to air on the day they leave Australia. He has never conducted an interview before, which adds to the pressure and stakes of the mission. The assignment comes with a strict expectation of access across multiple cities.

Night shift Radio 2TW studio
2

Press credentials and ticket trouble

Ashley forgets his press card and struggles to buy a concert ticket, which immediately complicates his ability to get close to ABBA. The setback foreshadows the obstacles he’ll face throughout the tour. He grapples with the frustration of both professional and logistical hurdles.

Before ABBA leaves Sydney Sydney
3

Beginning the cross-country chase

Armed with a reel-to-reel tape recorder, Ashley begins following ABBA from city to city across Australia. He hopes to document candid moments and secure the much-anticipated dialogue, no matter the distance or difficulty. The journey clocks in as a makeshift but determined pursuit.

Sydney to Perth (on the road across Australia)
4

Public interviews about ABBA

While on the road, Ashley interviews members of the public about ABBA, collecting a mix of opinions. Most responses are positive, but a few express frustration or skepticism, including a man whose ABBA-obsessed son drives him mad and a girl who thinks ABBA are over the top. The segments provide a human counterpoint to the touring spectacle.

Various public spaces (Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne)
5

Run-ins with the bodyguard and the boss

Ashley faces repeated run-ins with ABBA’s protective bodyguard and his increasingly exasperated boss. The tension comes from trying to keep up with the group’s movements while not compromising his chance for a real interview. The obstacles heighten the sense of urgency and intrusion into his personal sanity.

Various locations along the tour
6

Stig Anderson helps set up a possible interview

In a lucky turn, Ashley meets Stig Anderson in the foyer of ABBA’s hotel and is offered help arranging an interview, plus tickets to that evening’s concert. The informal encounter signals a potential breakthrough after weeks of chasing. It injects a renewed sense of possibility into the mission.

Melbourne (during the tour) ABBA’s hotel foyer
7

Missed interview time after sleeping in

Despite the promise from Anderson, Ashley sleeps through the scheduled interview time and misses the chance to talk with ABBA that evening. The setback creates a further delay and heightens his anxiety about meeting the deadline. He must scramble for another opportunity before the radio show airs.

That evening Melbourne
8

A spontaneous elevator interview

Just as hope seems lost, Ashley encounters ABBA in an elevator and they give him an interview on the spot. The spontaneity in the moment provides the immediacy and authenticity the piece needs. He breathes a small sigh of relief as the interview is recorded for broadcast.

Later that night ABBA’s hotel/elevator area in Melbourne
9

Final edit in the back of a taxi

With only minutes to spare, Ashley makes the final edits in the back of a taxi on the way from the hotel to the airport. The clock ticks down as he pieces together the interview for transmission. The urgency mirrors the countdown to the radio show’s air time.

Minutes before departure Back of taxi, en route to the airport
10

ABBA depart Australia for Europe

ABBA leaves Australia for Europe as Ashley races the clock to deliver the broadcast. The departure marks the end of the physical chase but the start of the broadcast’s final leg. The rhythm of the journey now shifts to the studio and the airwaves.

As they depart Airport (departure point)
11

The interview airs live on Radio 2TW

Back at the Radio 2TW studio, Ashley loads the tape into the playback machine and prepares for the live broadcast. The moment arrives when the interview goes on the air, finally realizing the boss’s demand for a genuine dialogue. The crowd may hear the choppy, late-night chaos that led to success.

On-air Radio 2TW studio
12

Feeling of accomplishment and ongoing chaos ends

The broadcast marks the culmination of Ashley’s relentless pursuit, achieving a live interview despite missteps and a frantic itinerary. The film closes on a note of relief mixed with lingering pressure from balancing work and ambition. The success is tempered by the long, exhausting journey that preceded it.

End of broadcast Radio studio; general

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:04

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