Bottoms (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

PJ and Josie start the fight club as a scheme to get closer to their crushes, Brittany and Isabel. They pretend to be former juvenile delinquents to seem interesting and intimidating, hoping this persona will attract the cheerleaders. The idea comes from Hazel, who mentions self-defense training, and PJ uses this as a way to recruit girls and spend time with their intended targets.

• fight club
• PJ
• Josie
• motivation
• Brittany
• Isabel
• Hazel

Hazel discovers that her mother, Mrs. Callahan, is involved with Jeff when she finds evidence of their relationship. This revelation shocks her and creates a rift in her friendship with PJ and Josie, since Jeff had been dating Isabel while also seeing Hazel's mother.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Hazel mentions her mother's change in behavior, hinting at something going on in her personal life.

• Hazel
• Jeff
• Mrs. Callahan
• affair
• discovery

Hazel plants a bomb under Jeff's car as revenge for his infidelity. After learning that Jeff was cheating on Isabel and also dating her own mother, Hazel becomes angry and plants the bomb. The explosion occurs just as Josie and Isabel are about to share their first kiss, interrupting the moment.

Foreshadowing: Hazel's discovery of her mother's affair with Jeff sets up her motivation for revenge.

• Hazel
• bomb
• Jeff
• revenge
• car explosion

PJ and Josie fabricate stories about juvenile detention to make themselves seem more interesting and dangerous to the other students, particularly to attract Brittany and Isabel. The lie helps them recruit other girls to join the fight club and adds credibility to their fake self-defense training business.

• juvenile detention
• lie
• PJ
• Josie
• credibility
• recruitment

Jeff has a severe pineapple allergy, which Hazel uses to her advantage during the climactic football game. She uses knowledge of this allergy to help the girls' plan work, incorporating it into their strategy to counter Jeff's retaliation against the football team.

Foreshadowing: The film sets up Hazel's knowledge of Jeff's personal details through her earlier interactions and discovery of his relationship with her mother.

• pineapple
• allergy
• Jeff
• finale
• strategy

Tim, Jeff's friend, becomes suspicious of the fight club and confronts PJ and Josie about their lie regarding juvenile detention. Jeff and Tim threaten to expose the deception unless Hazel fights Tucker. During the showdown, the truth about PJ and Josie's motivations comes to light, causing chaos and unraveling their elaborate scheme.

• fight club
• exposed
• Tim
• Jeff
• truth
• Tucker

PJ confronts Hazel because she believes Hazel's reckless decision to plant a bomb went too far and put everyone in danger. The confrontation escalates emotionally, and PJ crosses a line by insulting Hazel's mother, devastating Hazel and further straining their friendship.

• PJ
• Hazel
• confrontation
• explosion
• friendship

After reflecting on their experiences and gaining insight from Rhodes, Josie realizes they should fight back against the cruel pranks directed at their own football team. They team up with PJ and gather other girls to protect their team from Jeff's retaliation during the critical football game.

• football team
• help
• game
• PJ
• Josie
• Rhodes

During a fight club training session, Josie accidentally punches PJ in the face, causing a bloody nose. This creates a heated moment of confrontation between the two friends, highlighting the tension and chaos of running the fight club while managing their complicated lies and relationships.

• Josie
• PJ
• training
• blood
• fight club

Josie and Isabel's relationship grows after Josie helps Isabel by offering her a ride home and standing up to Jeff. Josie later confides in Isabel about Jeff's affair with Hazel's mother, deepening their bond. Their connection culminates in a heartfelt van conversation and an almost-kiss that gets interrupted by the car explosion, though they eventually share a passionate kiss at the end.

• Josie
• Isabel
• relationship
• kiss
• connection

Mr. G, a school faculty member, agrees to mentor PJ and Josie despite dealing with his own personal issues. He helps guide the fight club sessions and steps in when situations become chaotic. His involvement adds legitimacy to the club and provides the girls with much-needed adult guidance, even if imperfect.

• Mr. G
• mentor
• fight club
• guidance