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Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016) movie poster

Plot Summary

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 91 min · English
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Directed by
Mandie Fletcher
Starring
Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Saunders, Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks

Following a public relations disaster, fashion-obsessed Edina and Patsy are forced to flee London and seek refuge on the glamorous French Riviera. While attempting to evade the relentless paparazzi, they devise a bold scheme to escape their problems and embrace a life of luxury, leading to hilarious and chaotic adventures along the way.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The ever-glamorous and self-indulgent Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and her best friend Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) are now in their 60s. Edina is still trying to keep her PR agency afloat in London, but it is rapidly losing both money and interest. The dynamic duo quickly realizes that Edina requires a miracle to salvage her faltering business and restore her reputation.

The film begins with Bubble (Jane Horrocks), Edina's long-suffering personal assistant, waking up a hungover Edina, who has once again returned home intoxicated from a fashion event. It dawns on Edina that she has a meeting to sign a deal for an autobiography that very day. Eager to share the news, Edina wakes up Patsy and explains how her book, which narrates the story of her fabulous life, will be "made into a film." Meanwhile, Patsy self-indulgently applies Botox.

However, trouble arises when the head of the company (Mark Gatiss) dismisses Edina's book as poorly written and expresses that there is little interest in her PR agency. While Patsy sets up a fashion event for designer Huki Muki, she learns that supermodel Kate Moss is changing her PR representative. Patsy hastily informs Edina, who is currently at a PR meeting with rival Claudia Bing (Celia Imrie). During an attempt to call Edina, Patsy's phone inadvertently remains on speaker, revealing Kate Moss's need for a new PR to Claudia.

At the fashion event, Edina brings along her interracial teenage granddaughter, Jane "Lola" Johnson (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), unaware that her daughter Saffron "Saffy" Monsoon (Julia Sawalha) is also navigating her newly single life with a night out. As Edina spots Kate Moss on the balcony overlooking the Thames, she rushes to connect with the supermodel. In her haste, Edina collides with Kate, causing her to tumble into the Thames, sparking widespread panic and chaos.

As the media descends upon the scene to cover Kate's presumed death, Edina, Patsy, and Lola find themselves in police custody. The following day, an upset Edina returns home to find an angry Patsy, who has been dismissed from her job due to the previous night's drama. In a bid to make amends, the two return to the Thames to search for Kate, utilizing Bubble in their frantic efforts. Unfortunately, their misguided actions lead to Bubble's supposed demise, prompting the trio to consider fleeing the country to escape the growing media frenzy. They enlist Lola to finance their getaway.

Arriving in Cannes, France, Edina and Patsy seek help from Patsy's former lover Charlie (Barry Humphries), but he turns them down. Instead, they reach out to Edina's estranged elderly mother (June Whitfield), who is busy celebrating a family member's birthday. At this gathering, they encounter the Richest Woman in the World. To win her over for a quick financial fix, Patsy adopts a male persona, "Pat" Stone. Miraculously, Patsy ends up marrying the Rich Woman, which sets the duo on a path of wealth and luxury, sharing a posh hotel with the likes of Dame Joan Collins and Dame Edna Everage, who both appear as themselves.

Meanwhile, Saffy arrives in Cannes with her boyfriend Nick (Robert Webb) desperately searching for Lola. Saffy discovers that Lola is with Edina and is informed of Edina's location by Emma Bunton, who spots the duo out in public. The plot thickens as it’s revealed that Bubble has actually become a millionaire and owns a lovely pavilion in Cannes, having embezzled from Edina's accounts for years.

Frustrated by Edina's reckless behavior, Lulu (Lulu) reports Edina and Patsy's whereabouts to the police, leading to a frantic chase through Cannes. The pair tries to escape in a comically small fish-market van but find themselves in trouble when the brakes fail, and they roll into an infinity pool at Bubble's villa. Just then, Saffy arrives, witnessing her mother and Patsy precariously sinking in the van. Edina, feeling guilty for her choices, expresses a desire to no longer run from her age or consequences. Saffy reassures her of her love, while Bubble reveals that Kate is indeed alive and did not drown.

With this revelation, Edina gains newfound clarity and escapes the van as reports of celebrations break out across nations acknowledging Kate's survival and Edina’s reinstated PR agency. The film concludes with a joyous montage of Edina's revived career and Patsy's candid confession to her wealthy spouse that she is not actually a man as they revel in the upbeat tune "This Wheel's on Fire," performed by the fabulous Kylie Minogue.

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 13:48

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Plot questions answered

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Edina push Kate Moss into the Thames?

Edina accidentally knocks Kate Moss into the Thames while rushing to connect with her at a fashion event. In her haste to speak to the supermodel about representing her PR business, Edina collides with her, causing Kate to tumble over the balcony and into the river below. The incident is portrayed as an accident rather than intentional, though it stems from Edina's desperate attempt to save her failing PR agency.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Patsy reveals that Kate Moss is looking for a new PR representative, setting up Edina's frantic pursuit.

  • kate moss
  • thames
  • pr agency
  • accident
  • fashion event
Q2

Why do Edina and Patsy flee to Cannes?

Edina and Patsy flee to Cannes to escape the media frenzy and legal trouble following Kate Moss's presumed drowning. After the Thames incident lands them in police custody and Bubble is reportedly killed during their misguided rescue attempt, the duo decides they need to leave England to avoid the growing scandal and paparazzi attention.

Foreshadowing: The media frenzy after the Thames incident escalates quickly, with news crews surrounding the police station.

  • cannes
  • escape
  • media
  • paparazzi
  • police
Q3

How does Patsy end up marrying the richest woman in the world?

Patsy marries the Richest Woman in the World by adopting a male persona called 'Pat' Stone. While attending a birthday celebration with Edina's estranged mother, Patsy poses as a man to win over the wealthy woman, successfully securing a marriage that provides them with financial security and access to a luxurious lifestyle in Cannes.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Patsy's former lover Charlie refuses to help them, pushing them to seek alternative funding from Edina's mother.

  • patsy stone
  • marriage
  • richest woman
  • cannes
  • financial scheme
Q4

What is Bubble's secret in the movie?

Bubble has been embezzling money from Edina's accounts for years and has become a millionaire. After Edina and Patsy flee to Cannes, Saffy discovers that Bubble actually owns a pavilion in Cannes and has accumulated significant wealth through her theft from Edina's failing PR agency.

Foreshadowing: Bubble's competence and unusual financial situation are hinted at earlier when she participates in the frantic Thames search without explanation.

  • bubble
  • embezzlement
  • millionaire
  • cannes
  • saffy
Q5

Why does Lulu report Edina and Patsy to the police?

Lulu reports Edina and Patsy's whereabouts to the police because she is frustrated with Edina's reckless behavior and the chaos it has caused throughout the film. After dealing with Edina's self-destructive tendencies and the resulting mayhem, Lulu decides to turn them in to authorities.

Foreshadowing: Lulu's frustration builds as Edina continues to make irresponsible decisions throughout the film.

  • lulu
  • police tip
  • revenge
  • frustration
Q6

What happens when Edina and Patsy's van crashes?

While fleeing from the police in Cannes, Edina and Patsy attempt to escape in a small fish-market van. The brakes fail and they roll into the infinity pool at Bubble's villa. Saffy witnesses the chaotic scene, leading to a heartfelt confrontation where Edina expresses her desire to stop running from her age and consequences.

Foreshadowing: The police pursuit intensifies after Lulu tips them off, creating the frantic chase scene.

  • van
  • pool
  • cannes
  • chase
  • saffy
Q7

Is Kate Moss actually dead in the movie?

Kate Moss is not dead in the movie. After all the chaos and media frenzy surrounding her presumed drowning, Bubble reveals that Kate Moss is alive and did not drown in the Thames. This revelation restores Edina's reputation and saves her PR agency.

Foreshadowing: The media panic and search efforts create confusion, but the film never definitively shows Kate's death.

  • kate moss alive
  • thames
  • revelation
  • PR agency
Q8

How does Edina's career get revived after the scandal?

Edina's career is revived after Kate Moss is revealed to be alive. Once the truth comes out that Kate survived the Thames incident, the negative publicity reverses completely. Edina's PR agency is reinstated, and she regains her status in the fashion and PR world, leading to a celebratory montage of her revived career.

Foreshadowing: The film builds toward this reversal as the key to resolving all of Edina's problems.

  • career revival
  • PR agency
  • fame
  • success
  • kate moss
Q9

What confession does Patsy make at the end of the movie?

At the end of the movie, Patsy confesses to her wealthy spouse that she is not actually a man. Since Patsy originally married the Richest Woman in the World by posing as 'Pat' Stone, she reveals her true identity as a woman. Despite this revelation, the couple continues to celebrate happily together.

Foreshadowing: Patsy's male persona 'Pat' Stone was established when she tricked the Richest Woman into marriage.

  • patsy confession
  • marriage joke
  • reveal
  • comedy ending
Q10

Why does Saffy go to Cannes looking for Lola?

Saffy goes to Cannes looking for her daughter Lola because she is worried about the teenager's safety after learning she financed Edina and Patsy's getaway. Along with her boyfriend Nick, Saffy tracks them down to Cannes, ultimately arriving just in time to witness the van pool incident and reconcile with her mother.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Lola is enlisted to fund the escape, setting up Saffy's journey to find them.

  • saffy
  • lola
  • cannes
  • search
  • mother daughter

Movie threads

More Movies Like Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Glamorous Chaos and Midlife Escapades like Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Outrageous farces where fabulous disasters lead to lavish getaways. If you enjoyed the frantic, glamorous energy of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, you'll love these films. This list features similar comedies about outrageous midlife crises, fashion-fueled scandals, and chaotic attempts at escaping reality, all with a campy, upbeat tone and a happy resolution.

  • campy
  • glamorous
  • frantic
  • hilarious
  • upbeat
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, campy
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically begin with a self-inflicted scandal or a midlife crisis that forces the flamboyant protagonists to flee their comfortable lives. The plot is a fast-paced sequence of chaotic events, ridiculous plans, and chases, often set against a backdrop of luxury and fashion. The narrative arc is less about deep change and more about surviving the chaos with their signature style intact, leading to a happy ending where they emerge, perhaps unscathed and even more fabulous.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together for their shared vibe of exaggerated, campy humor centered around irresponsible but charismatic characters. They consistently blend high-stakes farce with a glamorous aesthetic, ensuring the tone remains light and the emotional weight minimal, resulting in a purely fun and escapist experience.

Movies with Farcical Friend Duos on the Run like Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Hilarious misadventures of inseparable friends fleeing their problems. Fans of the chaotic friendship between Edina and Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie will enjoy these films. Discover similar stories about eccentric best friends whose outrageous schemes land them in hot water, forcing them to flee while their unbreakable bond is the heart of the comedy.

  • hilarious
  • chaotic
  • frantic
  • buddy comedy
  • codependent
  • loyalty
  • Tone: light, humorous
  • Pacing: fast, variable
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative hinges on the chemistry between two central characters whose combined poor judgment sparks the central conflict. The plot is a vehicle for their banter and antics as they travel from one disastrous situation to the next. The story is less about the destination and more about the humorous journey, reaffirming their unique friendship through shared chaos before reaching a resolution that often leaves them exactly as they started, just with more stories.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their core focus on a specific type of comedic partnership. The similarity lies in the character dynamic: two friends who enable each other's worst tendencies, leading to farcical plots. The joy comes from watching their chaotic synergy, making the specific nature of their misadventures secondary to the strength of their bond.

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Every angle

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie 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.

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