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Around the World in 80 Days (2004) movie poster

Timeline

Around the World in 80 Days (2004) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2004 · 120 min · English
JustWatch #19,426 2
Directed by
Frank Coraci
Starring
Jackie Chan, Jim Broadbent, Steve Coogan
Budget
$110M

A wealthy British inventor wagers he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. Joined by his resourceful valet and a determined French police detective, he embarks on a fast-paced and exciting journey filled with unexpected challenges and colorful characters as they race against the clock across continents.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Around the World in 80 Days
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Around the World in 80 Days (2004)

Where can you watch Around the World in 80 Days? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Disney Plus, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Around the World in 80 Days Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Around the World in 80 Days (2004) 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. Bank Robbery and Escape

    Lau Xing, a Chinese man, successfully robs the Bank of England and attempts to escape the police. As he observes the police searching for him, he adopts the alias 'Passepartout' and becomes a valet to Phileas Fogg.

    Where
    Bank of England
  2. Challenge at the Royal Academy of Science

    Phileas Fogg faces ridicule from other esteemed scientists including Lord Kelvin at the Royal Academy of Science. In a fit of rage, Fogg places a bet to travel around the world in 80 days, propelling them into an adventure.

    Where
    Royal Academy of Science
  3. Setting Off on the Adventure

    Phileas and Passepartout take a carriage and leave London after encountering Inspector Fix, a corrupt officer intent on stopping them. They begin their journey by traveling towards Paris.

    Where
    London
  4. Paris Encounter and Rescue

    In Paris, Passepartout evades agents sent by General Fang while Phileas meets Monique, an aspiring artist. After a brief struggle, they escape Paris in a hot-air balloon.

    Where
    Paris
  5. Visit to Turkey

    Upon reaching Turkey, they meet Prince Hapi, who becomes infatuated with Monique. Using a parody statue of Hapi as leverage, Passepartout and Phileas bargain for Monique's release.

    Where
    Turkey
  6. India and Disguise

    Arriving in India, Passepartout discovers a bounty on his head and they disguise themselves as local women. They are attacked by General Fang's men but manage to escape using clever tactics.

    Where
    India
  7. Return to China

    In China, Passepartout guides Phileas and Monique to his village, where they learn about the local conflict concerning the stolen Jade Buddha. Tensions rise as they realize Passepartout's true identity.

    Where
    China
  8. Village Attack and Rescue

    The village is besieged by General Fang's militia. In a courageous fight alongside his fraternity, Lau Xing helps drive out the attackers, restoring peace and the Jade Buddha.

    Where
    Lau Xing's Village
  9. San Francisco Encounter

    Phileas travels to San Francisco alone but is tricked and robbed. Lau Xing and Monique reunite with him, assisting in his journey as they continue to New York.

    Where
    San Francisco
  10. The Wright Brothers' Discussion

    In the desert, Phileas meets the Wright brothers and they exchange ideas on flying machines. Inspired by Wilbur's plans, Phileas suggests modifications that lean into his inventor's passion.

    Where
    Desert
  11. New York and Final Showdown

    Arriving in New York, they face an overwhelming crowd and more of Fang's agents. A climactic battle ensues in a workshop, but they lose precious time, risking their chance to win the bet.

    Where
    New York
  12. Race Against Time

    Phileas and the team realize they may still catch a ship to England and work together to build a makeshift flying machine. With urgency, they take to the skies in an effort to reach their goal.

    Where
    Airspace over London
  13. Arrival in London

    The aircraft crash-lands in front of the Royal Academy of Science, just as the clock strikes noon. With everyone against him, Lord Kelvin falsely claims victory, but the truth soon comes to light.

    Where
    Royal Academy of Science
  14. The Bet is Won

    In a surprising turn, Phileas realizes he has arrived a day early. The revelation that they crossed the international date line allows him to win the bet, leading to a heartfelt moment with Monique.

    Where
    Royal Academy of Science
  15. Lord Kelvin's Downfall

    Just as Kelvin attempts to escape, he is apprehended due to his treachery against Queen Victoria, sealing his defeat. Phileas celebrates his win and newfound love, embracing Monique as they rejoice.

    Where
    Royal Academy of Science

Last updated: January 13, 2025 at 13:49

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Timeline questions answered

Around the World in 80 Days Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Around the World in 80 Days (2004): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Phileas Fogg wager to travel around the world in 80 days?

Phileas Fogg made the wager in a moment of rage at the Royal Academy of Science. When Lord Kelvin dismissed new discoveries and the bank robbery was being discussed, Fogg declared he was glad the bank was robbed because it was a relic of the past. He then challenged the notion that the age of innovation was over by betting that he could circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, with the stakes being the position of Minister of Science.

Foreshadowing: This wager was foreshadowed by Fogg's earlier achievement of breaking the 50-mph speed limit, proving he was capable of impossible inventions.

  • phileas fogg
  • wager
  • 80 days
  • lord kelvin
  • bet
  • royal academy
Q2

How did Lau Xing become Passepartout?

After robbing the Bank of England, Lau Xing found himself trapped with police searching for him. He cleverly adopted the alias 'Passepartout' and assumed the role of a valet to Phileas Fogg, using the new identity to escape detection while working for the wealthy scientist.

Foreshadowing: The name 'Passepartout' (meaning 'passes through everything') hints at his ability to escape any situation.

  • lau xing
  • passepartout
  • valet
  • alias
  • bank robbery
  • disguise
Q3

Why is Lord Kelvin against Phileas Fogg?

Lord Kelvin is a self-satisfied scientist who proclaims the age of innovation is over. He dismisses Fogg's inventions and is threatened by new discoveries. Beyond professional jealousy, Kelvin has a secret connection to General Fang, he received the Jade Buddha from her in exchange for military backing to help her conquer Lau Xing's village. When Fogg threatens his plans, Kelvin orchestrates schemes to capture Fogg and steal his glory.

Foreshadowing: Kelvin's dismissal of Fogg's achievements at the Royal Academy hints at his deeper antagonism.

  • lord kelvin
  • general fang
  • jade buddha
  • villain
  • conspiracy
Q4

What is the Jade Buddha and why is it important?

The Jade Buddha is a stolen artifact that General Fang had previously gifted to Lord Kelvin in exchange for military support to conquer Lau Xing's village. It symbolizes prosperity and is central to the conflict between Fang and Lau Xing's community. The stolen Buddha becomes a key motivation driving the action in China and the final showdown.

Foreshadowing: The Jade Buddha's significance is revealed when they reach China and learn about the local conflict.

  • jade buddha
  • general fang
  • artifact
  • stolen
  • village
  • china
Q5

How did Phileas Fogg arrive a day early to win the bet?

Phileas Fogg won the bet because he crossed the international date line during his journey. When traveling eastward around the world, you gain a day. This meant that when he arrived in London, it was actually one day earlier than he calculated. This surprising twist allowed him to win the wager despite everyone believing he had failed.

Foreshadowing: The complexity of international travel and time zones was hinted at throughout the journey.

  • international date line
  • early arrival
  • time zones
  • win bet
  • twist
Q6

Why did Phileas sacrifice his chance to board the ship in New York?

In New York, as they attempted to board a ship back to London, they faced a final confrontation with General Fang's minions. Despite the clock ticking and their chances of winning the bet diminishing, Phileas chose to help his friends during the battle, sacrificing his own opportunity to secure passage. This act demonstrated his loyalty and the bond forged through their shared trials.

Foreshadowing: Their earlier conversations about friendship and loyalty foreshadowed this sacrifice.

  • phileas fogg
  • sacrifice
  • ship
  • new york
  • loyalty
  • friends
Q7

How did Phileas Fogg build a flying machine at sea?

After missing their ship in New York, an old sailor offered them a vessel at sea. Using remnants and materials from the ship, Phileas ingeniously constructed a makeshift flying machine. His skills as an inventor and the inspiration from his conversations with the Wright brothers about flight designs enabled him to create this final desperate attempt to reach London in time.

Foreshadowing: Phileas's earlier meeting with the Wright brothers and his inventive nature set this up.

  • flying machine
  • ship
  • sea
  • aircraft
  • wright brothers
  • invention
Q8

Why is Inspector Fix chasing Phileas Fogg and Passepartout?

Inspector Fix is a corrupt police officer who is intent on stopping their journey. After the bank robbery at the beginning of the film, Fix becomes determined to thwart their adventure, partly due to his own motivations and partly because word of the heist spreads. He pursues them across multiple continents, often working against them despite their innocence.

Foreshadowing: Fix appears early, establishing his antagonistic role from the start.

  • inspector fix
  • police
  • chase
  • bank robbery
  • pursuit
Q9

Why is General Fang hunting Lau Xing?

General Fang is hunting Lau Xing because he is a local warrior from the village she plans to conquer. She possesses the Jade Buddha, which she gave to Lord Kelvin in return for military backing. Lau Xing stands as a threat to her plans, making him a primary target. Her militia, the Black Scorpions, is sent to capture or eliminate him throughout their journey.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Fang's threat early through mentions of her minions pursuing Passepartout.

  • general fang
  • lau xing
  • black scorpions
  • village
  • hunt
  • militia
Q10

Why does Monique join Phileas Fogg's journey?

Monique, an aspiring impressionist artist in Paris, joins the journey after meeting Phileas at the fake Edison convention. Her artwork captures 'impossible things,' which inspires Fogg's dreams of flight. She becomes romantically involved with Fogg and becomes an integral part of the team, contributing to their adventures across multiple continents.

Foreshadowing: Her artistic vision of impossible things foreshadows the flying machine's creation.

  • monique
  • artist
  • paris
  • impressionist
  • join journey
  • love interest
Q11

Why did Prince Hapi want Monique to become his wife?

In Turkey, Prince Hapi became infatuated with Monique upon meeting her. He intended to make her his seventh wife, creating a complication for the group. Passepartout and Fogg had to negotiate her release using a statue that humorously mimics Rodin's 'The Thinker' as leverage.

Foreshadowing: This subplot adds comedic tension while testing the group's problem-solving abilities.

  • prince hapi
  • turkey
  • monique
  • seventh wife
  • marriage
Q12

Why did Phileas Fogg travel alone to San Francisco?

After a disagreement stemming from discovering his friends' hidden identities, Phileas Fogg traveled alone to San Francisco. However, he was quickly tricked and robbed, leaving him penniless. Fortunately, he was reunited with Lau Xing and Monique, who helped him continue their adventure together.

Foreshadowing: The tension about hidden identities was building throughout their journey.

  • san francisco
  • alone
  • tricked
  • robbed
  • reunion

Movie threads

More Movies Like Around the World in 80 Days, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Around the World in 80 Days tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with globe-trotting adventure races like Around the World in 80 Days

High-stakes, fast-paced journeys across continents against a ticking clock. If you enjoyed the frantic pace and international escapades of Around the World in 80 Days, you'll like these movies. They feature high-stakes journeys, eccentric characters met along the way, and a constant push to beat the clock, offering a similar feel of lighthearted, fast-paced excitement.

  • adventurous
  • fast-paced
  • exciting
  • humorous
  • escapist
  • globetrotting
  • Tone: light, adventurous, humorous
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is driven by a high-concept premise, typically a bet or a challenge, that forces characters to travel the world at high speed. The plot is a linear sequence of action-packed set pieces in diverse locations, with obstacles solved through wit and improvisation. Character development is secondary to the forward momentum of the race.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core structure of a time-sensitive global quest. They are united by a light, adventurous tone, fast pacing that mirrors the urgency of the journey, and a focus on spectacle, humor, and the sheer fun of seeing characters overcome one improbable challenge after another.

Whimsical steam-punk adventure movies like Around the World in 80 Days

Eccentric inventors and fantastical contraptions in a slightly anachronistic world. Fans of the quirky inventor and fantastical vehicle elements in Around the World in 80 Days will enjoy these films. They share a lighthearted, optimistic tone and a world where anachronistic technology drives the adventure, creating a sense of wonder and humorous spectacle.

  • whimsical
  • inventive
  • quirky
  • optimistic
  • steampunk
  • lighthearted
  • Tone: whimsical, lighthearted, optimistic
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative often follows a brilliant but eccentric protagonist who uses their unconventional inventions to achieve an impossible goal or solve a major problem. The conflict is typically less about genuine danger and more about proving a point or winning a bet, resolved through cleverness and resourcefulness in a visually distinctive world.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies based on their unique aesthetic—a blend of historical charm and speculative technology—and their light, whimsical tone. They share a sense of optimistic escapism, where intelligence and creativity triumph, and the world itself is a character full of visual marvels and humorous anachronisms.

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Every angle

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