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Buddy Games (2020) movie poster

Timeline

Buddy Games (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 90 min · English
Echo score 33
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Starring
Josh Duhamel, Lucie Guest, Olivia Munn, Kevin Dillon, Elysia Rotaru, Nick Swardson

A group of friends, including Dan Bakkedahl, Kevin Dillon, Josh Duhamel, James Roday Rodriguez, and Nick Swardson, gather to remember a lost friend. They return to Spring Break, hoping to relive old times, but find themselves outmatched by a new generation of partygoers who are more tech-savvy and adventurous than they remember. The reunion quickly turns into a competition as they try to reclaim their party legacy.

Comedy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Categories
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Buddy Games Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Buddy Games (2020) 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. Buddy Games Tradition

    Bob and his friends kick off the annual Buddy Games, a series of thrilling challenges designed to boost camaraderie among them. This year, they aim to reignite their friendships through competitive events that range from paintball to eating contests.

  2. Shelly's Dominance

    Shelly emerges as the reigning champion, boasting an impressive six wins in a row. His recent victory over Bender in a paintball game further solidifies his status, creating a sense of rivalry among the friends.

  3. A Catastrophic Incident

    After a chaotic celebration, a joke by Bender and Nikki spirals out of control, leading to a tragic incident where Shelly loses both testicles. This secret remains buried, affecting Shelly's future and his relationships.

  4. Five Years Later

    Five years pass, and Shelly finds himself in a deep state of depression following his marriage's collapse. Concerned, Shelly's mother reaches out to Bob, imploring him to revive the Buddy Games to help motivate Shelly.

  5. Shelly's Conditions

    When Bob pitches the idea of the Buddy Games to Shelly, he hesitantly agrees but sets two strict conditions: his condition must remain a secret, and Bender cannot participate. This highlights the tension between the friends.

  6. Rising Tensions

    As Bob calls the group to join the games, his girlfriend expresses her disapproval, leading to a heated argument. She storms off in anger, symbolizing the strain Bob feels in balancing relationships and the traditional games.

  7. Bender Learns the Truth

    Despite being excluded, Bender learns about the Buddy Games and confronts Bob, who fabricates an elaborate story about a high entry fee to soften the blow. The revelation about Shelly's condition adds an emotional layer to their confrontation.

    Where
    Bob's mansion

  8. The Friends Gather

    The friends reunite at the cabin for the games, but the atmosphere shifts when Bender arrives uninvited, revealing his desperate measures to join, including selling his mother's belongings. This intensifies underlying tensions.

    Where
    cabin

  9. Kickoff of the Games

    The first day of the Buddy Games introduces a lineup of outrageous events, starting with an eating contest and including wild races and a slippery water slide. Bob wins the opening event thanks to Shelly's mishap at the finish line.

    Where
    cabin

  10. Challenging Events

    As the games proceed, the friends face increasingly bizarre challenges, including a bar stunt involving laxatives and an absurd contest with steaks and a komodo dragon. Shelly's unexpected success in the latter raises eyebrows.

    Where
    cabin

  11. Shelly's Deception

    The night before the final competition, Shelly spikes drinks with Bender's sperm, intensifying the competition's stakes. Meanwhile, Durfy's frustrations culminate in a dangerous encounter in the woods.

    Where
    cabin

  12. Conflict Escalates

    Chaos ensues as Shelly binds Bender to a tree, highlighting their escalating rivalry. The next morning, Shelly damages Bender’s sentimental van, revealing the personal stakes and conflicts brewing among the friends.

    Where
    cabin

  13. Climactic Showdown

    The final day arrives, leading to an intense showdown between Shelly and Bender across an open field. With Bob knocked out, the two engage in a fierce hand-to-hand battle, culminating in Bender's unexpected victory.

    Where
    open field

  14. Emotional Confrontations

    Post-competition, tensions peak when Tiffany proposes to Bob but is rejected, resulting in a fierce eruption of emotions. This confrontation leaves the group's dynamics further strained.

    Where
    cabin

  15. Aftermath and Revelations

    As the credits roll, surprising developments reveal Shelly's continuing distance from Bender, who retaliates by abducting her. This bizarre twist underscores their rivalry as Bender capitalizes on his winning.

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 12:07

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Timeline questions answered

Buddy Games Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Buddy Games (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

How did Shelly lose his testicles?

During a post-victory paintball celebration, Bender and Nikki jokingly suggested getting revenge on Shelly's weakest point. While Bender originally intended to shoot Shelly, Nikki stepped in at the last moment and pulled the trigger herself, causing Shelly to lose both testicles in a freak accident.

Foreshadowing: The chaotic celebrations after Shelly's paintball victory set the stage for the accident.

  • shelly
  • injury
  • paintball
  • testicles
  • nikki
Q2

What is Shelly's secret condition?

Shelly secretly lost both testicles in the paintball accident. He chose to keep this hidden from everyone, and the shame surrounding his injury contributed to his divorce from Nikki and his deep depression.

Foreshadowing: Shelly's sudden decline and divorce were hints at something traumatic.

  • shelly
  • secret
  • injury
  • testicles
  • divorce
Q3

Why does Shelly want Bender excluded from the Buddy Games?

Shelly blamed Bender for his injury and wanted nothing to do with him. When Bob initially excluded Bender from the games, it was to protect Shelly from confronting the person he held responsible for his tragic loss.

Foreshadowing: The tension between Shelly and Bender was visible from the start.

  • shelly
  • bender
  • exclusion
  • revenge
  • injury
Q4

What did Shelly put in the drinks?

The night before the final competition, Shelly spiked Bob, Bender, and Durfy's piña coladas with Bender's own sperm. This bizarre act of sabotage was Shelly's attempt to get revenge on Bender.

Foreshadowing: Shelly's growing obsession with revenge had been building throughout the games.

  • shelly
  • drinks
  • spiked
  • bender
  • revenge
Q5

How did Bender win the Buddy Games?

In the final showdown between Shelly and Bender, both men donned protective gear for a cat-and-mouse chase. After Bob was knocked out, Shelly initially gained the upper hand, but Bender displayed incredible reflexes by snatching an arrow in mid-motion. The battle ended with Bender prevailing in hand-to-hand combat and claiming the cash prize.

Foreshadowing: Bender had been using cunning tactics throughout the competition.

  • bender
  • winner
  • final
  • competition
  • victory
Q6

Why does Shelly destroy Bender's van?

Shelly deliberately damages Bender's sentimental van, which belonged to his late mother, as part of his escalating vendetta against Bender. This act highlights the depth of Shelly's bitterness and willingness to hurt Bender emotionally.

Foreshadowing: The rivalry between Shelly and Bender had been intensifying throughout the games.

  • shelly
  • bender
  • van
  • damage
  • revenge
Q7

Who actually caused Shelly's injury?

Although Bender initially took the blame, it was actually Nikki who pulled the trigger that day. She stepped in at the last moment when Bender was about to shoot Shelly, causing the catastrophic accident that led to Shelly losing both testicles.

Foreshadowing: Bender's guilt was apparent, but the truth remained hidden for years.

  • nikki
  • shooter
  • truth
  • shelly
  • accident
Q8

Why does Bender abduct Shelly at the end?

After winning the Buddy Games, Bender retaliates against Shelly's ongoing hostility by abducting him. He reveals he used part of his winnings to purchase artificial testicles, using this bizarre gesture as the final twist in their ongoing rivalry.

Foreshadowing: Their rivalry had escalated throughout the entire film.

  • bender
  • shelly
  • abduction
  • artificial testicles
  • ending
Q9

Why does Bob reject Tiffany's proposal?

Tiffany proposes to Bob after the games conclude, but Bob firmly rejects her. This triggers a fiery confrontation where Tiffany unleashes a torrent of pent-up emotions on Bob and his friends, exposing deeper relationship issues.

Foreshadowing: Tiffany had disapproved of Bob joining the Buddy Games from the beginning.

  • bob
  • tiffany
  • proposal
  • rejection
  • breakup
Q10

Why does Durfy go into the woods?

Durfy, frustrated by his friends mocking a commercial he was in featuring Durfy, storms off into the woods. There he suffers a savage attack by a rabid animal, though his friends later convince him to perform spontaneously, which revitalizes his acting career.

Foreshadowing: Durfy's frustration with his failing acting career was evident in his reactions to the mockery.

  • durfy
  • woods
  • animal attack
  • acting
  • frustration
Q11

Why did Shelly and Nikki divorce?

Shelly's marriage to Nikki crumbled after the traumatic accident that caused him to lose both testicles. Though Nikki was the one who accidentally shot him, the shame and resentment between them led to their divorce, leaving Shelly in a deep state of despair.

Foreshadowing: The accident occurred during a moment involving both Bender and Nikki.

  • shelly
  • nikki
  • divorce
  • accident
  • marriage

Movie threads

More Movies Like Buddy Games, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Buddy Games tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Absurd Reunion Competition Movies like Buddy Games

Films where friends reunite and dive into chaotic, immature competitions. If you enjoyed the chaotic games in Buddy Games, you'll love these movies featuring friends reuniting for outlandish competitions. These comedies blend immature hijinks with themes of brotherhood and recapturing youth, perfect for fans of raucous, competitive humor.

  • competitive
  • brotherhood
  • chaotic
  • immature
  • absurd
  • raunchy
  • Tone: light, raunchy
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a group of friends, often estranged or dealing with past baggage, who reconvene. The reunion quickly becomes a catalyst for a structured (or unstructured) competition, where over-the-top challenges serve as a backdrop for resolving old tensions and reaffirming bonds through immature but hilarious antics.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core premise of friendship tested through absurd physical comedy and competition. They feature a fast pace, a light tone, and a specific brand of chaotic, male-centric humor focused on reclaiming a sense of youth and camaraderie.

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Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!

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Beerfest

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Man-Child Melancholy Comedies Similar to Buddy Games

Comedies where immature men confront the realities of growing up. For viewers who liked the underlying themes in Buddy Games, this list features comedies about immature men facing adulthood. These movies blend laugh-out-loud hijinks with a poignant look at friendship, regret, and the struggle to move on from the past.

  • immature
  • bittersweet
  • nostalgic
  • regret
  • brotherhood
  • growing up
  • Tone: light, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters who are clinging to their youth, often through elaborate games or refusal to accept adult norms. Their journey involves a series of comedic failures that slowly force them to acknowledge their arrested development, leading to a mixed ending where some growth is achieved, but not without a wistful look back at simpler times.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their unique blend of broad, often crude comedy with a melancholic undertone. They share a specific vibe: the humor comes from immaturity, but the emotional core comes from the characters' dawning realization that they can't stay young forever, creating a mix of laughter and slight sadness.

Oh, Men! Oh, Women! movie poster

Oh, Men! Oh, Women!

1957
A Severed Head movie poster

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1971
Naughty @ 40 movie poster

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Extreme Movie movie poster

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ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi movie poster

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Waiting for the Hearse movie poster

Waiting for the Hearse

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Boy Meets Girl movie poster

Boy Meets Girl

1938
They All Laughed movie poster

They All Laughed

1981

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Buddy Games

Buddy Games appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories
Disastrous Party Comedies movies

Disastrous Party Comedies

Disastrous party comedy movies
Bad Plan Comedies movies

Bad Plan Comedies

Comedies about friends with a bad plan

Every angle

Buddy Games (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Buddy Games 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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