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Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie (2014) movie poster

Timeline

Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 115 mins · English
Directed by
Kevin Finn
Starring
David Dastmalchian, Stephen Mendel, Jeremy Suarez, Whitney Moore, Time Winters, Robbie Rist

Inspired by the popular web series, this film follows a disgruntled gamer who must confront his anxieties and the worst video game ever created to protect his fans. What begins as a routine journey quickly escalates into a chaotic and unexpected adventure filled with comedic mishaps and challenges.

Action Adventure Comedy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie (2014)

Where can you watch Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie (2014) 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. Buried in 1983: ET Cartridges in Alamogordo

    In 1983, two million copies of ET for the Atari 2600 were dumped in a landfill outside Alamogordo, New Mexico, creating a legendary relic of a failed game. The discovery of the buried cartridges becomes the film's central mystery and a symbol of industry hype gone awry. The event casts a long shadow over the present day plot.

    When
    1983
    Where
    Alamogordo, New Mexico

  2. Mandi's Pitch for EeeTee 2

    In the present day, Mandi, a sharp Cockburn Industries executive, pitches a sequel built on deliberate poor quality to exploit a cult following. Her plan hinges on tapping into nostalgia and a viral review from the Angry Video Game Nerd. The pitch foreshadows a corporate driven expedition to uncover ET's buried past.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Cockburn Industries Headquarters

  3. Nerd's Burnout and Dilemma

    The Nerd is wrestling with burnout after years of warning gamers away from bad releases, yet his audience keeps buying his broadcasts. At GameCops, he faces pressure to promote mediocre titles, deepening his internal conflict. He wonders if reclaiming ET's legacy could redeem him or ruin him.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    GameCops Office

  4. Decision to Investigate Alamogordo

    The Nerd decides to travel to Alamogordo to investigate the buried ET cartridges and, if the conspiracy is real, review ET on air for his followers. Cooper and Mandi join the expedition, with Cockburn Industries fully funding the mission. The trio sets out with a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Alamogordo region

  5. The Road Tangle: Death Mwauthzyx Rumors

    On the road to Alamogordo, Cooper reveals his belief in a super-being named Death Mwauthzyx who could erase existence. The group's presence also draws the attention of McButter and General Onward, who suspect alien scouting. A chaotic misfire heightens the danger as they flee.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Desert road

  6. Arm Loss on the Run

    During the pursuit, General Onward accidentally blows off his own left arm with a grenade, creating a dramatic distraction that helps the trio escape. The incident marks a turning point in the chase and escalates the stakes. The group presses on toward Alamogordo while the authorities regroup.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Desert road

  7. Warshaw, Zandor, and the Area 51 Link

    The trio's search for Howard Scott Warshaw leads them to Dr. Zandor, who reveals an astonishing idea: ET’s level design functions as a map of Area 51. He explains Warshaw received the code to meet Atari's five-week deadline and helped finish the game, while the government buried the cartridges. The revelation reframes the mystery around the buried tech.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Area 51 region

  8. Mandi Captured and Warshaw's Motive

    Zandor's tale hints at a motive against a government that abducted and silenced an alien Warshaw hoped to free. Back near Alamogordo, McButter captures Mandi, complicating the mission and raising the stakes for the trio.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Alamogordo outskirts

  9. Rally, Warshaw, and Infiltration

    At a public rally in Alamogordo, Cockburn's leaders promise to dig up ET cartridges, while Warshaw appears with a conflicting claim about the past. The Nerd disguises himself as an alien and infiltrates Area 51 as General Onward pushes to force him to play ET, escalating the tension.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Alamogordo

  10. Fuji Missile and the Rescue

    In the Area 51 confrontation, a missile is launched at Mount Fuji, severing Onward's arm in the chaos. The alien rescues the Nerd during the countdown as Death Mwauthzyx begins to emerge, redirecting the pursuit toward Las Vegas.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Mount Fuji vicinity

  11. Vegas Showdown: Tower Battle

    In Las Vegas, Mandi and Cooper confront McButter atop the Eiffel Tower, where McButter falls to her death. Death Mwauthzyx captures Mandi and Cooper, tightening the grip on the heroes as they race toward a final plan.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Eiffel Tower, Las Vegas

  12. Endgame: Cartridges, Space, and Closure

    The alien summons every ET cartridge to assemble a makeshift spacecraft, and the Nerd and his ally rush toward Las Vegas to stop Death Mwauthzyx's cataclysm. Onward is slain, and a laser from the Nerd ricochets off a satellite dish, sending Death Mwauthzyx fleeing into space. The group regroups in Alamogordo as fans cheer, the Nerd reviews ET for his audience, and the alien departs.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Alamogordo

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:35

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Timeline questions answered

Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie (2014): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does the Nerd finally decide to review the original ET game?

The Nerd has avoided reviewing ET for years because the game's infamous failure haunted him as a child. After experiencing burnout from years of warning gamers about bad releases while his audience still buys everything he promotes, he sees investigating the buried cartridges as a chance to reclaim his credibility and confront the nostalgia that has plagued the gaming industry.

  • angry video game nerd
  • et review
  • burnt out
  • alamogordo
  • cartridges
Q2

What is Death Mwauthzyx and how does it become a threat?

Death Mwauthzyx is a super-being Cooper believes can erase existence. The entity is released when Mount Fuji is destroyed during the chaos at Area 51. It captures Mandi and Cooper, binding their fates to its apocalyptic plan to destroy Earth until the Nerd defeats it with a ricocheting laser.

Foreshadowing: Cooper mentions his belief in Death Mwauthzyx early in the road trip, hinting at the cosmic threat to come.

  • death mwauthzyx
  • super being
  • apocalypse
  • cooper
  • laser
Q3

Why does General Onward lose both of his arms during the movie?

General Onward accidentally blows off his own right arm with a grenade while chasing the trio in the desert, providing the distraction they need to escape. Later, during the Area 51 confrontation, a missile launched at Mount Fuji severs his left arm in the chaos. He is ultimately slain while trying to stop the Nerd.

  • general onward
  • arm loss
  • grenade
  • missile
  • mount fuji
Q4

What is the connection between ET and Area 51 in the movie?

Dr. Zandor reveals that ET's level design functions as a precise map of Area 51. The explanation is that Warshaw received code to meet Atari's five-week deadline and, seeking revenge against a government that allegedly abducted and silenced an alien he wanted to free, incorporated the map into the game. The government buried the cartridges to hide this secret.

  • et
  • area 51
  • howard scott warshaw
  • dr zandor
  • conspiracy
Q5

How does the alien use the ET cartridges to build a spaceship?

Dr. Zandor reveals he hid the alien's ship's metal inside the millions of ET cartridges buried in the Alamogordo landfill. The alien summons every copy of the game to assemble a makeshift spacecraft, creating a surreal beacon in the desert that enables the final rescue mission to Las Vegas.

  • et cartridges
  • alien ship
  • metal
  • alamogordo
  • spacecraft
Q6

Why does Mandi push McButter off the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas?

Mandi fights to keep McButter away from the Nerd and Cooper during the Las Vegas confrontation. After a battle atop the Eiffel Tower, Mandi ultimately causes McButter's fall to her death, eliminating the soldier who had previously captured Mandi and been pursuing the group throughout their journey.

  • mandi
  • mcbutter
  • eiffel tower
  • las vegas
  • death
Q7

What happens to Cooper and Mandi after Death Mwauthzyx captures them?

Death Mwauthzyx captures both Mandi and Cooper, binding their fates to its apocalyptic plan. They remain captive until the Nerd defeats Death Mwauthzyx. After the threat is averted, the group reunites in Alamogordo, and Cooper and Mandi share a kiss, marking their romance's resolution.

  • cooper
  • mandi
  • capture
  • death mwauthzyx
  • kiss
Q8

How does the laser bouncing back defeat Death Mwauthzyx?

The Nerd fires a laser toward Death Mwauthzyx's satellite dish. The beam ricochets through the dish, travels into space, and somehow returns to strike the device again with dizzying consequences. Confused and disoriented by the repeated attack, Death Mwauthzyx laughs wearing Groucho Marx glasses and flees Earth's orbit, abandoning its destructive plan.

  • laser
  • satellite dish
  • ricochet
  • death mwauthzyx
  • groucho marx glasses
Q9

Why does the Nerd review ET at the very end of the movie?

After defeating the apocalyptic threat and reuniting with his friends, the Nerd finally turns his attention to the original ET cartridge, delivering a heartfelt review for his devoted audience. This moment represents his closure with the game that haunted him since childhood and ties back to the central question of what makes a game truly timeless versus merely a curiosity.

  • nerd reviews et
  • ending
  • heartfelt
  • fans
  • closure

Movie threads

More Movies Like Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, by Mood & Story

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

Satirical Fan Culture Adventures like Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie

Comedic journeys where passionate fans collide with absurd corporate conspiracies. If you liked the blend of chaotic adventure and fandom satire in Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, you'll enjoy these movies. They feature ordinary fans thrust into extraordinary, comedic situations involving the things they love, often leading to absurd conspiracies and heartfelt celebrations of niche communities.

  • satirical
  • nostalgic
  • comedic
  • earnest
  • adventurous
  • quirky
  • Tone: whimsical, satirical
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a dedicated fan's routine being disrupted by a bizarre event tied to their passion. This sends them on an unpredictable adventure where they encounter exaggerated versions of corporate villains, conspiracy theories, and fellow fans, leading to a climax that reaffirms the positive spirit of their community.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on fan culture as a catalyst for adventure, their use of satire to critique corporate greed, and their lighthearted, comedic tone that finds humor in the collision between earnest fandom and absurd reality.

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Chaotic Improvised Quests like Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie

Fast-paced adventures where nothing goes to plan, leading to comedic mishaps and unexpected growth. Fans of the fast-paced, anything-can-happen adventure in Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie will love these stories. They capture the vibe of a simple plan spiraling into hilarious chaos, filled with slapstick humor, eccentric characters, and a sense that the heroes are making it up as they go along.

  • chaotic
  • adventurous
  • slapstick
  • improvised
  • fast-paced
  • comedic
  • Tone: whimsical, comedic
  • Pacing: fast, unpredictable
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a straightforward goal that immediately becomes complicated by a cascade of mishaps, eccentric side characters, and unforeseen challenges. The plot is less about a meticulous plan and more about surviving the chaos, with the protagonist's resilience and humor being their greatest assets, leading to personal growth amidst the absurdity.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific pacing and tone: a fast, unpredictable sequence of events, a lighthearted approach to danger, and a core of humor that ensures the chaos feels fun rather than stressful. The focus is on the journey's amusing detours, not a perfectly executed plot.

Delta Farce movie poster

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2007
Apocalypse Clown movie poster

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Scavenger Hunt movie poster

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Loose Loot movie poster

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Total Dhamaal movie poster

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Fun2shh… Dudes in the 10th Century movie poster

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Every angle

Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Angry Video Game Nerd: 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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