Year: 1998
Runtime: 97 mins
Language: English
Director: Richard Sears
When everything in life goes to pot, artist and chronic smoker David falls for the beautiful Serena. Their romance thrives until David's house burns down. Unwilling to face the negativity, Serena leaves for New York with rocker‑junkie Tommy. Isolated, David turns to marijuana and his eclectic friends to cope with the loss of his home and love.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Bongwater yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Bongwater (1998), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
David is a stoner living in Portland, Oregon. After having previously sold marijuana to a woman named Jennifer, he is introduced to her friend, the tempestuous Serena, who is immediately disliked by his friends, Robert and Tony, a gay couple.
[Serena] develops a liking to [David] after seeing the artwork he does in his spare time, and encourages him to make a career for himself. After moving into his house, she introduces him to Mary, the daughter of a local gallery owner who falsely claims to be an art curator.
[Serena] becomes frustrated with [David]‘s lack of ambition, and decides to move to New York City with Tommy, a punk rocker and paranoid heroin addict. Before she leaves, she and [David] get into a fight, which ends in her burning down his house.
In New York, Serena becomes increasingly frustrated with [Tommy]‘s paranoid antics. She meets Bobby one afternoon in a diner, and he invites her to move in with him in his apartment, which she discovers is actually a squat in the East Village.
In Portland, [David] begins a romance with [Mary], and moves in with [Robert], [Tony], and [Jennifer]. While hiking with [Mary], [David] runs into his friend Devlin, who is running a spiritual retreat in the woods, where they partake in LSD. While [Mary] marches through the woods with [Devlin], [David] has a hallucination in which his deceased Mom brings him lunch.
In New York, [Serena] and [Jennifer] attend a party, where Serena is date raped. The following day, she confesses to [Jennifer] she wants to return to Portland. They return the next day, but Serena is disheartened soon after when she discovers [David] and [Jennifer] having sex.
Several days later, [David] attends a 1980s-themed party with [Jennifer], [Robert], and [Tony], which is busted by police. He flees to the rooftop, where he finds [Serena] sitting alone. She confronts him about him having sex with [Jennifer], and he asks her if she’s planning on staying in Portland. She tells him she isn’t sure, and that she doesn’t want to become too comfortable there again. She apologizes for the fire she set at [David]‘s house. They kiss, and then witness a UFO floating above them in the sky.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:21
Don't stop at just watching — explore Bongwater in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Bongwater is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Bongwater with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.