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Akron (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 88 mins · English
JustWatch #12,399
Directed by
Brian O’Donnell, Sasha King
Starring
Matthew Frias, Edmund Donovan, Andréa Burns, Joseph Melendez, Amy da Luz, Isabel Rose Machado

Benny, a college freshman at the University of Akron, Ohio, unexpectedly falls for fellow freshman Christopher at a football game. They begin a relationship, encouraged by their families and friends. However, a past tragedy involving their mothers is revealed, creating a significant challenge and threatening to separate the young couple.

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 Akron
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Akron (2015)

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

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Akron Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Akron (2015) 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. Accident at the supermarket

    In a busy supermarket, two families are shopping for groceries when tragedy strikes. Carol accidentally hits and kills Benny's brother Davey, leaving both families in shock and overwhelmed by grief. The incident creates a shared, painful memory that threads through their later lives.

    When
    Opening scene
    Where
    Supermarket
  2. Years pass; college life begins

    Years after the tragedy, Benny and Christopher meet again at the University of Akron where they play on opposing football teams. Their first encounter sparks an undeniable attraction between them. The contrast of their families' shared history shadows their budding relationship.

    Where
    Akron, Ohio
  3. First connection and numbers exchanged

    Benny and Christopher are drawn to each other and exchange phone numbers after their first meeting. They begin dating despite the lingering memory of their families' past. The relationship grows with a sense of secret understanding.

    Where
    University of Akron
  4. Date and official couple

    The two go on a date and officially become boyfriends. They start navigating their romance amid the weight of a history they didn't choose. Their willingness to support each other strengthens their bond.

    Where
    Akron, Ohio
  5. Nightclub outing

    Benny and Christopher, along with friends, go to a nightclub and end up spending the night together. The moment marks a deeper commitment and emotional closeness between them. They begin to envision a future together beyond secrecy.

    Where
    Nightclub
  6. Spring break plan: Florida trip

    As spring break nears, they decide to spend the week in Florida at Christopher's mother's home. Their families are supportive of the relationship, yet the couple remains mindful of their past. The trip promises a chance to grow closer away from campus life.

    Where
    Florida (Christopher's mother's home)
  7. Growing realization about the past

    Just before leaving for Florida, Christopher begins piecing together that his mother was the one who killed Davey. He starts seeing the history between the families more clearly. This revelation adds tension and secrecy to their planned trip.

    Where
    Akron
  8. Campground overnight and first intimacy

    During a short overnight camping stop on the way to Florida, Benny and Christopher consummate their relationship. The moment is tender and marks a milestone in their romance. It also deepens their commitment to one another.

    Where
    Campground (en route to Florida)
  9. Jacksonville discovery and confession

    When they visit Christopher's mother in Jacksonville, she discovers Benny's identity. She confesses her involvement in Davey's death, provoking a painful crisis that leads Benny to want to return home to Ohio. The revelation tests their relationship.

    Where
    Jacksonville, Florida
  10. Breakups and reconciliation resolve

    Benny briefly breaks up with Christopher twice as they quarrel with family pressures. Despite the strain, the couple finds reasons to reconcile and continues to pursue their relationship. The tension underscores how external histories threaten their bond.

    Where
    Akron, Ohio
  11. Arsenic and Old Lace stage production

    They attend a local stage production of Arsenic and Old Lace where Benny's sister Becca has a starring role. The event brings mixed emotions for Benny's parents as they confront his relationship with Christopher. It marks a moment of both pride and discomfort in the family dynamic.

    Where
    Akron, Ohio
  12. Parents confrontations on arrival

    Benny's parents Lenora and David see him arrive with Christopher and react with hurt and anger. Their perspectives are challenged as they must reckon with their own grief and acceptance. The confrontation reveals the depth of unresolved pain in the family.

    Where
    Akron, Ohio
  13. Christopher's mother's Akron visit and aims

    Christopher's mother travels to Akron with three objectives: honor Davey's grave, seek forgiveness from Benny's mother, and obtain a blessing for Benny and Christopher to see each other. Her visit highlights the fragile balance between guilt and reconciliation.

    Where
    Akron, Ohio
  14. Carol's mixed results and grief talk

    Carol's plans unfold with mixed results as she confronts her past and the consequences of Davey's death. The family dynamics show small steps toward healing and new boundaries. The scene emphasizes how grief continues to shape their decisions.

    Where
    Akron, Ohio
  15. Dinner invitation signaling tentative peace

    After a candid conversation about grieving and moving forward, Benny's mother invites Benny and Christopher to dinner. The invitation suggests a tentative, hopeful step toward reconciliation and family acceptance.

    Where
    Benny's home

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:54

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Timeline questions answered

Akron Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Akron (2015): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Carol hit and kill Davey at the supermarket?

The accident was completely accidental. Carol, Christopher's mother, was in a crowded supermarket when she accidentally struck Davey, Benny's brother, with her car in the parking lot. The tragedy occurred in a moment of chaos and proximity, leaving both families devastated by the unexpected loss.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene establishes the tragic connection between the two families long before Benny and Christopher meet.

  • car accident
  • davey death
  • supermarket
  • tragedy
Q2

How do Benny and Christopher meet at college?

Benny and Christopher meet as college freshmen at the University of Akron during a flag football game between opposing teams. There was an immediate mutual attraction, and they exchanged phone numbers, eventually going on a date and becoming boyfriends.

Foreshadowing: The meeting is set up by their coincidental enrollment at the same university years after the tragedy.

  • college meeting
  • flag football
  • university of akron
  • first date
Q3

What does Christopher discover about his mother?

Christopher pieces together the troubling truth that his own mother, Carol, was the driver who accidentally killed Benny's brother Davey years earlier. This revelation connects their families through the shared trauma they didn't know they had.

Foreshadowing: Christopher's growing suspicion builds as they prepare for their Florida trip, adding tension to their relationship.

  • christopher's mother
  • carol
  • davey death
  • family secret
Q4

Why does Benny break up with Christopher after learning the truth?

After Christopher's mother confesses to being involved in Davey's death during their visit to Jacksonville, Benny becomes distraught and wants to return home to Ohio. The painful revelation causes him to briefly break up with Christopher twice as family tensions erupt.

Foreshadowing: The Jacksonville confession directly triggers Benny's emotional crisis and temporary separation from Christopher.

  • breakup
  • jacksonville confession
  • family conflict
  • grief
Q5

Why are Benny's parents angry about Christopher?

Benny's parents, Lenora and David Cruz, feel hurt and angry when they see Benny arrive with Christopher at his sister Becca's play. Their reaction stems from unresolved grief over Davey's death and the painful reminder that Christopher's mother was responsible, making it difficult for them to accept the relationship.

Foreshadowing: The tension at the Arsenic and Old Lace performance highlights the family's struggle to reconcile their grief with Benny's new relationship.

  • lenora cruz
  • david cruz
  • family acceptance
  • arsenic and old lace
Q6

Why does Christopher's mother travel to Akron?

Carol makes three deliberate trips to Akron: to pay respects at Davey's gravesite, to ask Benny's mother Lenora for forgiveness, and to seek their blessing for Benny and Christopher to continue seeing each other. Her visit represents an attempt at accountability and reconciliation.

Foreshadowing: Carol's visit is the culmination of her guilt and desire to make amends for the accident years earlier.

  • carol welling
  • akron visit
  • forgiveness
  • gravesite
Q7

What happens at the final dinner invitation?

After a quiet, reflective conversation with her husband about processing grief, Lenora Cruz invites Benny and Christopher over for dinner. This invitation signals a tentative shift toward healing and represents a cautious, hopeful step toward family acceptance despite the painful history they share.

Foreshadowing: The dinner invitation is the payoff for the family's gradual journey toward reconciliation throughout the film.

  • dinner invitation
  • lenora cruz
  • reconciliation
  • family healing
Q8

How does the Florida trip affect Benny and Christopher's relationship?

The spring break trip to Florida was meant to deepen their relationship, but it becomes complicated when Christopher's mother recognizes Benny in Jacksonville and confesses her role in Davey's death. The revelation tests their bond but ultimately strengthens their commitment to each other.

Foreshadowing: The Florida trip marks both a high point of intimacy and the lowest point of their relationship's crisis.

  • florida trip
  • jacksonville
  • intimacy
  • confession

Movie threads

More Movies Like Akron, by Mood & Story

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

LGBTQ Romance and Healing Movies like Akron

Young queer love stories that blossom despite a backdrop of shared grief and family history. If you enjoyed the tender relationship and emotional challenges in Akron, explore these movies like it. This collection features similar heartfelt LGBTQ+ romance stories where young love is tested by shared family trauma and the journey toward forgiveness and healing.

  • heartfelt
  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • tender
  • grieving
  • Tone: hopeful, tender, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern typically follows two characters as they fall in love, only to discover an unexpected, painful connection between their families or pasts. The story then becomes about whether their new relationship can survive the weight of this old tragedy, focusing on communication, vulnerability, and the difficult path to reconciliation, both within the couple and with their families.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific emotional blend: the hopeful sweetness of a new, supportive LGBTQ+ romance is intricately woven with the melancholic weight of a past loss. The pacing is steady and character-driven, allowing the emotional stakes to feel authentic rather than melodramatic.

Bittersweet Coming-of-Age Movies like Akron

Young adult journeys where first love and personal growth are shadowed by unresolved grief. Fans of Akron's blend of young love and family grief will appreciate these similar bittersweet coming-of-age stories. Discover movies where characters navigate first relationships and self-discovery while carrying the weight of a past tragedy, resulting in poignant and emotionally resonant journeys.

  • bittersweet
  • introspective
  • heartfelt
  • grieving
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • Tone: bittersweet, heartfelt, introspective
  • Pacing: steady, reflective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow young protagonists as they experience pivotal firsts—first love, first independence—while simultaneously confronting a foundational loss or family secret. The central conflict is internal and external: integrating this painful history into their emerging adult identity. The resolution often involves acceptance and a mature understanding that happiness and sadness can coexist.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their specific emotional tone: a bittersweet blend of hopefulness for the future and melancholy for the past. They share a moderate pace that allows for introspection and character development, focusing on the complex emotional landscape of young adults dealing with more than typical teenage angst.

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Movies Like Akron

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Every angle

Akron (2015) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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