Bigger (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Joe's mother Anna believed he was wasting his future on a pointless hobby. She was practical and wanted him to focus on stable, traditional pursuits rather than what she saw as a fleeting obsession with physical culture. This opposition stemmed from her earlier disappointment when Joe was born, she had wanted a girl and never fully accepted his rebellious, ambitious nature.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Anna expressing fury that Joe was not born a girl, establishing her dismissive attitude toward her son from the very beginning.

• Anna Weider
• Joe Weider
• mother
• opposition
• bodybuilding
• family conflict

Joe and Kathy's marriage fell apart due to the overwhelming demands of his growing fitness business. As Joe invested more time and energy into building his magazine empire and training center, the strain on their relationship became unbearable. The film depicts their separation as Joe prioritized his ambitions over his marriage, leaving Kathy to feel neglected and unimportant.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Joe meeting Kathy at the university library, but as his business ambitions grew, he had less time for their relationship.

• Kathy Weider
• marriage
• separation
• Joe Weider
• business strain

Joe discovered Arnold as a promising young bodybuilder through his work with the Mr. Olympia contest. Recognizing Arnold's exceptional talent and charisma, Joe took him under his wing and coached him, helping Arnold develop not just his physique but also his unique appeal that would later make him a superstar in both bodybuilding and acting.

Foreshadowing: Joe's creation of Mr. Olympia was specifically designed to find and promote elite bodybuilding talent like Arnold.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Joe Weider
• Mr. Olympia
• meeting
• partnership
• bodybuilding

Joe created Mr. Olympia after facing regulatory obstacles when trying to enter his models into the Mr. Universe contest. Rather than accept the restrictions, he decided to establish his own competition. Additionally, Joe was driven by a competitive spirit and wanted a platform to showcase the best bodybuilders and prove that his magazine could host the ultimate bodybuilding event.

Foreshadowing: The 1951 timeline shows Joe preparing his models for Mr. Universe only to encounter barriers that prompted his innovative response.

• Mr. Olympia
• contest
• creation
• Joe Weider
• competition
• Mr. Universe

Joe featured an African-American model on his magazine cover to promote inclusivity and challenge the racial norms of the fitness industry. This bold move was controversial at the time and drew criticism from peers like Bill Hauk, but Joe saw it as an extension of his belief that fitness should be accessible to everyone regardless of race.

Foreshadowing: This decision reflects Joe's earlier experiences with discrimination as a Jewish man, making him more aware of the importance of breaking down barriers.

• African American model
• magazine cover
• racial inclusion
• Bill Hauk
• controversy
• fitness industry

When World War II began, Joe wanted to enlist alongside his brother Ben, believing they should serve together. However, Ben refused, insisting that his contribution through his work was more valuable than military service. This disagreement created tension between the brothers, though Ben's decision ultimately reflected his practical approach to supporting the war effort in his own way.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes the brothers' close bond from childhood, making their disagreement over military service a significant emotional moment.

• World War II
• Ben Weider
• Joe Weider
• enlistment
• conflict
• brothers

Joe moved to California because he saw an opportunity to merge his fitness business with the burgeoning celebrity culture there. After partnering with Roy Hawkins, Joe recognized that Los Angeles was the ideal place to grow his fitness empire, as the area already had strong connections to health and wellness trends, including figures like Jack LaLanne.

Foreshadowing: The partnership with Roy Hawkins was a turning point that gave Joe the resources and confidence to expand westward.

• California
• Los Angeles
• Joe Weider
• move
• business expansion
• celebrity culture
• Roy Hawkins

Joe's boss discriminated against him because Joe was Jewish. When Joe refused to reveal his religion, his boss initially dismissed him from the job. This anti-Semitic treatment was a direct example of the prejudice Joe faced throughout his early career, reinforcing his determination to succeed on his own terms.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Joe's Jewish identity as a source of bullying in his youth, making workplace discrimination a continuation of the anti-Semitism he had always faced.

• discrimination
• Jewish
• Joe Weider
• workplace
• boss
• anti-semitism

Joe discovered bodybuilding after stumbling upon a magazine by Bill Hauk that was centered around physical culture. Inspired by images of a strongman at the circus from his childhood and motivated to improve himself after facing financial struggles and bullying, Joe began training with makeshift weights determined to transform his body and his life.

Foreshadowing: The flashback to 1932 Montreal shows young Joe and Ben watching a strongman at the circus, planting the seed for his future passion.

• bodybuilding
• weightlifting
• Bill Hauk
• magazine
• start
• inspiration

Joe and Ben left home with the support of their father Louis, who believed in Joe's ambitions despite their mother's objections. The brothers wanted to pursue their dreams independently, with Joe focused on building his fitness empire while Ben supported him. Their departure marked a turning point where they began their serious pursuit of the fitness business.

Foreshadowing: The family conflict scene earlier established the divide between their mother's disapproval and their father's pride in Joe's achievements.

• Joe Weider
• Ben Weider
• leave home
• family
• father
• independence