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Timeline

Airpocalypse (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 105 min · Chinese
Echo score 62
JustWatch #23,489 3
Starring
Yunpeng Yue, Yang Xiao, Xiao Shen-Yang, Yuan Chang, Benyu Zhang, Juan Du
Budget
$178M

A psychologist’s life unexpectedly intertwines with the God of Longevity, granting them extraordinary powers. Now tasked with saving the world, they reluctantly join forces with the deities Thunder, Lightning, Wind, and Rain. Together, this unlikely team embarks on a comedic quest to avert a looming apocalypse, constantly questioning their own sense of right and wrong along the way.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Airpocalypse
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Airpocalypse (2018)

Where can you watch Airpocalypse? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Midnight Pulp and Fawesome: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Airpocalypse Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Airpocalypse (2018) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Rise of En Sabah Nur

    In 3600 BC, a powerful mutant named En Sabah Nur rules ancient Egypt with formidable abilities. He can manipulate objects with telekinesis and improve the powers of others, ensuring his dominance over the land.

    When
    3600 BC
    Where
    Ancient Egypt
  2. Desperate Bid for Immortality

    Facing the decline of his health, Nur undergoes a ritual to transfer his consciousness into a younger mutant. However, his plans are thwarted by conspirators who cut off his access to sunlight, leading to a disastrous incomplete transfer.

    When
    3600 BC
    Where
    Pyramid
  3. Burial and Betrayal

    After his ritual fails, Nur is buried alive in a collapsing pyramid, while his devoted follower tries to protect his new form. His followers, known as the Horsemen of Apocalypse, meet their demise as a consequence of this betrayal.

    When
    3600 BC
    Where
    Pyramid
  4. Awakening in a New Era

    Fast forward to 1983, a cult uncovers Nur's burial site and accidentally revives him by restoring sunlight to his prison. Awakening in a vastly transformed world, Nur realizes he must reclaim his power to reshape humanity.

    When
    1983
    Where
    Egypt
  5. Recruiting Storm

    As Nur seeks to extend his influence, he recruits Ororo Munroe, a talented pickpocket from Cairo. He enhances her weather manipulation abilities, turning her into a key ally in his quest for domination.

    When
    1983
    Where
    Cairo, Egypt
  6. Raven's Discovery

    In East Berlin, Raven/Mystique finds herself in an underground fight club, where she discovers fellow mutants Angel and Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler. She rescues Kurt and seeks the help of Caliban to escape to America.

    When
    1983
    Where
    East Berlin
  7. Angel's Transformation

    Under Nur's influence, Angel undergoes a significant transformation, gaining powerful metal wings. He becomes a crucial member of Nur's growing team of formidable mutants, enhancing Nur's ambitions.

    When
    1983
  8. Xavier's Institute and Rising Threats

    As chaos unfolds globally, Xavier learns more about Nur's past from Moira MacTaggert, who approaches him for help. Meanwhile, young Jean Grey experiences ominous visions of impending doom tied to Nur's return.

    When
    1983
    Where
    Xavier's Institute
  9. Magneto’s Dark Return

    Erik Lehnsherr, living a quiet life in Poland, faces tragedy that ignites his previous identity as Magneto. Nur finds Erik and draws him back to his dark origins, solidifying Erik's loyalty to his cause.

    When
    1983
    Where
    Poland
  10. Global Crisis Unfolds

    As Nur amasses his Horsemen, Xavier uses Cerebro to locate Erik but is trapped in Nur's mental grasp. This manipulation nearly leads to the launch of global nuclear weapons into space, intensifying the stakes.

    When
    1983
    Where
    Xavier's Institute
  11. Institute Under Siege

    Xavier's school faces a devastating attack as Nur's forces confront them. Quicksilver arrives just in time to evacuate the students from a catastrophic explosion, showcasing the urgent need for a united front against Nur.

    When
    1983
    Where
    Xavier's Institute
  12. Daring Rescue Mission

    With key friends captured, Scott and Kurt embark on a daring rescue, aided by Wolverine. They engage in a climactic battle against Nur, who seeks to dominate the planet with Xavier's powers.

    When
    1983
  13. Jean Grey’s Awakening

    Guided by Xavier, Jean Grey learns to control her powers to confront Nur. In a fierce showdown, she unleashes her abilities, leading to Nur's eventual defeat and the restoration of balance.

    When
    1983
  14. Reestablishing the Institute

    In the aftermath of their battle with Nur, Xavier begins to rebuild his institute. He intends to train a new generation of mutants, including Scott, Jean, and others, fostering hope for the future.

    Where
    Xavier's Institute
  15. The Essex Corporation's Threat

    In a post-credits scene, agents of the Essex Corporation invade the Weapon X facility. This intrusion hints at future dangers related to mutant experimentation, leaving the audience with an enticing cliffhanger.

    Where
    Weapon X facility

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 08:54

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Timeline questions answered

Airpocalypse Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Airpocalypse (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did En Sabah Nur's consciousness transfer fail?

The ritual required sunlight to complete the consciousness transfer into a younger mutant. However, Nur's conspirators betrayed him by severing his access to sunlight during the process, causing the transfer to be incomplete. This resulted in his physical death and the loss of his Horsemen followers, though his consciousness survived in a weakened state, allowing him to be buried and eventually revived.

Foreshadowing: Nur's reliance on solar energy was established early in the film as the source of his immense power.

  • en sabah nur
  • apocalypse
  • consciousness transfer
  • ritual failure
  • sunlight
Q2

Why did Magneto agree to join En Sabah Nur?

Erik Lehnsherr was living peacefully in Poland under a false identity when tragedy struck - his daughter was killed and his wife was murdered by a mob. This devastating loss reignited his anger and despair. Nur found Erik at Auschwitz, the site where his mutant powers first manifested, and used this traumatic memory to manipulate him, promising that together they could create a world where mutants would never be persecuted again.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Erik's deep trauma from Auschwitz as a defining weakness that Nur exploits.

  • magneto
  • erik lehnsherr
  • apocalypse
  • recruitment
  • auschwitz
Q3

How was Jean Grey able to defeat Apocalypse?

Jean Grey had been having visions of Apocalypse's return and was initially frightened by her own growing powers. Professor Xavier guided her to embrace and control her abilities, particularly her telepathic and telekinetic powers. During the final battle, Jean fully unlocked her abilities, creating a powerful psychic force that overwhelmed Apocalypse. With help from Cyclops and the other X-Men, she destroyed him by turning his own powers against him.

Foreshadowing: Jean's disturbing visions of an ominous force appeared early in the film, foreshadowing her role in stopping Nur.

  • jean grey
  • apocalypse
  • phoenix
  • defeat
  • battle
  • xavier
Q4

What caused the global nuclear weapons to launch into space?

En Sabah Nur used his psychic powers to trap Xavier inside his own mind and hijacked Cerebro, the mutant-locating device. Through this connection, Nur gained access to global nuclear arsenals and triggered their launch into space. This was meant to demonstrate his power and force humanity to submit to his vision of world reconstruction. Xavier was able to break free from Nur's mental grip just in time to redirect the weapons away from Earth.

Foreshadowing: Nur's stated goal of destroying and rebuilding human civilization set up this extreme demonstration of power.

  • nuclear weapons
  • cerebro
  • xavier
  • nur
  • launch
  • space
Q5

Why did Storm join En Sabah Nur's side?

Ororo Munroe was a pickpocket living on the streets of Cairo when En Sabah Nur found her. Recognizing her latent mutant ability to manipulate weather, Nur amplified her powers significantly, transforming her into an incredibly powerful weather controller. Grateful for this enhancement and believing in Nur's promise of mutant supremacy, Ororo became his loyal Horseman, serving as his second-in-command.

Foreshadowing: Nur's established ability to enhance other mutants made Storm an ideal candidate for recruitment.

  • storm
  • ororo munroe
  • apocalypse
  • recruitment
  • weather powers
Q6

How was En Sabah Nur revived in 1983?

A cult in Egypt discovered Nur's buried pyramid and accidentally revived him by restoring sunlight to his tomb. When sunlight hit his preserved body, Nur's consciousness completed its transfer into his new younger body, awakening him after thousands of years. His return immediately caused a global seismic tremor, announcing his presence to the world.

Foreshadowing: The 3600 BC sequence established that sunlight was essential to Nur's survival and power.

  • apocalypse
  • revival
  • sunlight
  • cult
  • egypt
  • 1983
Q7

What was En Sabah Nur's plan for the world?

En Sabah Nur believed that humanity had become corrupt and needed to be destroyed so mutants could rebuild civilization in his image. He viewed himself as a god who had guided humanity throughout history and saw the modern world as a failure that required his intervention. His plan involved gathering powerful mutants (the Horsemen), eliminating现有的世界领袖, and using Xavier's psychic powers to broadcast his control globally.

Foreshadowing: Nur's monologue about guiding civilization from the shadows established his messianic complex.

  • apocalypse
  • world domination
  • plan
  • reconstruction
  • mutants
Q8

How did Quicksilver save the students from the explosion?

When En Sabah Nur's forces attacked Xavier's institute, Peter Maximoff (Quicksilver) arrived just as the building was about to explode. Using his superhuman speed, he evacuated all the students from the building in seconds, placing them safely outside before the explosion occurred. This act demonstrated his switch from neutral curiosity to actively helping the X-Men.

Foreshadowing: Quicksilver's established speed ability made this rescue possible, though his previous neutrality suggested he might not intervene.

  • quicksilver
  • peter maximoff
  • explosion
  • students
  • xavier institute
Q9

What did the Essex Corporation want at the Weapon X facility?

In the post-credits scene, agents of the Essex Corporation invaded the Weapon X facility, likely seeking to acquire mutant DNA and experimentation subjects for their secret projects. This hints at a larger organization that has been collecting mutant genetic material, setting up potential future storylines involving mutant experimentation and the creation of new threats.

Foreshadowing: Weapon X was established as a facility known for mutant experimentation, making it a target for those seeking mutant genetic material.

  • essex corporation
  • weapon x
  • post-credits
  • mutant experimentation
Q10

Why did Apocalypse specifically recruit Storm, Magneto, Psylocke, and Angel?

En Sabah Nur selected mutants whose powers complemented his own goals for world domination. Storm's weather manipulation could cause global-scale disruption. Magneto's magnetic powers made him nearly unstoppable and could destroy technology. Psylocke's psychic blade abilities made her a deadly assassin. Angel's newly enhanced metal wings provided aerial superiority. Together, they formed the perfect team to overthrow governments and establish mutant rule.

Foreshadowing: Nur's history of surrounding himself with powerful Horsemen demonstrated his strategic approach to building an army.

  • horsemen
  • storm
  • magneto
  • psylocke
  • angel
  • recruitment
  • team

Movie threads

More Movies Like Airpocalypse, by Mood & Story

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

Comedic Superhero Team Movies Like Airpocalypse

Reluctant gods and heroes use humor to cope while saving the world from total destruction. If you enjoyed the mix of world-saving action and character humor in Airpocalypse, you'll like these movies. This list features films where superhero or god-like teams, often reluctant allies, use comedy to break the tension while facing down apocalyptic threats. Find similar stories of epic battles balanced with laugh-out-loud moments.

  • action-packed
  • heroic
  • apocalyptic
  • comedic
  • thrilling
  • dramatic
  • Tone: tense, heroic, comedic
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a team recruitment and assembly arc, where disparate characters with unique powers are brought together for a common, world-saving goal. The journey is as much about the team learning to work together and cracking jokes as it is about the final, explosive confrontation with a powerful villain.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their unique blend of the superhero team-up and apocalypse genres, infused with a consistent comedic tone. They share a pattern of high-intensity action, heavy emotional stakes, and a fast pace, all punctuated by humor that comes from the characters' personalities and interactions.

Mythological Action Adventure Movies Similar to Airpocalypse

Mortal and divine forces clash in a fast-paced, complex battle for humanity's future. For viewers who liked the blend of gods, powers, and modern crisis in Airpocalypse, this list features similar high-concept adventures. Discover movies where deities, elemental forces, or ancient myths are central to a complex, action-packed plot with high emotional stakes and a tense, fast-paced narrative about saving the world.

  • epic
  • intense
  • mythological
  • apocalyptic
  • dramatic
  • thrilling
  • Tone: tense, dramatic, epic
  • Pacing: fast, complex
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically involve a human protagonist unexpectedly entangled with divine or primordial forces, granting them great power and a greater responsibility. The story is a quest that is both physical and philosophical, forcing characters to confront difficult questions of right and wrong while navigating a complex web of alliances and threats.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific vibe: the fusion of mythological/fantastical elements with contemporary, high-intensity action scenarios. They are united by complex world-building, a fast pace, heavy emotional weight, and a central theme of powerful beings intervening in a world on the brink of destruction.

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Movies Like Airpocalypse

Similar movies to Airpocalypse: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Airpocalypse (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Airpocalypse 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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