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Children of the Corn (1984) movie poster

Timeline

Children of the Corn (1984) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1984 · 92 min · English
JustWatch #3,013 19
Directed by
Fritz Kiersch
Starring
Linda Hamilton, Peter Horton

In a remote rural area, a disturbing phenomenon grips a small town where children have turned against their parents. Led by the influential 12-year-old Eden, the young residents believe they are fulfilling a divine purpose by eliminating the adults. As the adult population dwindles, a resourceful high school student finds themselves as the last hope for the community, facing a terrifying and violent rebellion led by Eden and the town’s children.

Thriller Horror Cast, crew & box office
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 Children of the Corn
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Children of the Corn (1984)

Where can you watch Children of the Corn? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, ARROW and fuboTV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Children of the Corn Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Children of the Corn (1984) 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. Introduction to Gatlin

    The story begins in the eerie fictional town of Gatlin, Nebraska, narrated by a character named Job. This seemingly peaceful town hides a dark history of young cultists who have taken control over the community.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  2. Economic Collapse

    Gatlin's economy relies heavily on agriculture, particularly its cornfields. One fateful year, the corn crop fails, leading the inhabitants to turn to desperate prayers for a successful harvest.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  3. Emergence of the Boy Preacher

    During this time of desperation, a mysterious boy preacher named Isaac Chroner emerges. He captivates the town's children with ominous prophecies about a deity known as 'He Who Walks Behind The Rows.'

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  4. The Cult's Rise

    With his lieutenant Malachai by his side, Isaac incites the children to revolt against the town's adults. This results in a tragic uprising where all the adults in Gatlin are brutally slain.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  5. Sacrifices to the Dark God

    In the aftermath of the uprising, the remaining children form a sinister cult. They capture any adults who enter their territory, offering them as sacrifices to appease their malevolent deity.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  6. Arrival of Burt and Vicky

    Three years later, Burt and Vicky are traveling through Nebraska towards Burt's new job as a physician in Seattle. Their journey takes a dark turn when they accidentally hit one of the cult's children while driving.

    Where
    Nebraska

  7. Concealing the Crime

    In a state of panic after the accident, Burt and Vicky decide to conceal the child's body in their trunk. This choice puts them in grave danger as they remain oblivious to the cult's presence.

    Where
    Nebraska

  8. The Mechanic's Betrayal

    The couple seeks help from an old mechanic, who is under duress from the cult and offers little assistance. His ultimate demise at the hands of the cult foreshadows the dangers that lie ahead for Burt and Vicky.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  9. Trapped in Gatlin

    Burt and Vicky eventually find themselves trapped in Gatlin after a desperate search for help. They are confronted by the cult and the vengeful spirit 'He Who Walks Behind The Rows,' leading to a fierce struggle for survival.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  10. Rescue of Job and Sarah

    In their effort to escape the cult's grasp, Burt and Vicky manage to rescue Job and his sister Sarah. Together, they realize they must find a way to fend off the evil forces controlling the children.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  11. Vicky's Capture

    Things take a dire turn when Vicky is captured by Malachai, who intends to sacrifice her to their dark deity. The tension escalates as Malachai's loyalty to Isaac begins to waver.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  12. Climactic Confrontation

    As night descends, Burt bravely ventures into the darkness to rescue Vicky during a gruesome ritual. In a climactic showdown, he confronts Malachai, challenging the children's blind faith in their false god.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  13. Isaac's Revenge

    In a surprising twist, Isaac's reanimated corpse, influenced by 'He Who Walks Behind The Rows,' exacts revenge on Malachai, sealing the fate of the cult. This dark act deepens the chaos gripping the town.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  14. The Escape Plan

    As storms gather ominously above, Burt and Vicky lead the frightened children to safety within a barn. Job reveals a crucial Bible verse that suggests destroying the cornfield is the key to stopping the chaos.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

  15. Destruction of the Cornfield

    In a desperate final act, Burt ignites the cornfield using a Molotov cocktail, which seems to banish the sinister demon once and for all. The flames consume the cursed crops as they make their escape from Gatlin.

    Where
    Gatlin, Nebraska

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 21:30

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Timeline questions answered

Children of the Corn Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Children of the Corn (1984): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the children of Gatlin kill all the adults?

The children were manipulated by Isaac Chroner, a boy preacher who emerged during a time of crop failure. He convinced the town\'s children that eliminating the adults was necessary to appease a malevolent deity called 'He Who Walks Behind The Rows,' promising this would restore their failing corn harvest.

Foreshadowing: The crop failure and desperate prayers foreshadow the children's willingness to accept Isaac's radical solution.

  • isaac chroner
  • he who walks behind the rows
  • cult
  • gatlin children
  • massacre
Q2

What is He Who Walks Behind The Rows?

He Who Walks Behind The Rows is the malevolent deity worshipped by the Gatlin cult. The children believe it lives among the corn and requires human sacrifices to keep the crops growing. It is an ancient, supernatural force that ultimately reanimates Isaac's corpse to continue its vengeance.

Foreshadowing: Isaac's prophecies about the deity ominously hint at its real supernatural presence throughout the story.

  • he who walks behind the rows
  • deity
  • corn
  • cult
  • supernatural
Q3

Why did Burt and Vicky hide the child's body in their trunk?

In a panic after accidentally hitting the boy with their car, Burt and Vicky made a desperate decision to conceal the body rather than report the accident. This moment of panic traps them in Gatlin and sets the tragic events in motion.

Foreshadowing: Their decision to hide the body directly leads them deeper into the cult's territory.

  • burt
  • vicky
  • hit child
  • trunk
  • panic
Q4

Why did Malachai turn against Isaac?

Malachai grew weary of Isaac's leadership and wanted power for himself. When Vicky was captured, Malachai defied Isaac's orders and intended to sacrifice her instead, revealing his ambition to lead the cult.

Foreshadowing: Tension between Isaac and Malachai is established early through their dynamic as leader and lieutenant.

  • malachai
  • isaac
  • betrayal
  • sacrifice
  • leadership
Q5

How was Isaac's corpse reanimated?

After Burt kills Isaac during the confrontation, 'He Who Walks Behind The Rows' animates Isaac's dead body to seek revenge on Malachai, demonstrating the deity's supernatural power and control over its followers even in death.

Foreshadowing: The cult's supernatural elements foreshadow that Isaac's death would not end his influence.

  • isaac reanimated
  • corpse
  • he who walks behind the rows
  • revenge
Q6

Why did burning the cornfield stop the supernatural chaos?

Job reveals that the cornfield was the source of He Who Walks Behind The Rows' power. By destroying the crops with a Molotov cocktail, Burt weakens or banishes the demonic entity, ending the supernatural threat and freeing the children from its influence.

Foreshadowing: The cornfields are central to the cult's worship throughout the entire film.

  • cornfield
  • burn
  • molotov cocktail
  • job
  • he who walks behind the rows
Q7

Why was Vicky captured by the children?

Vicky was captured by Malachai to be used as a human sacrifice to He Who Walks Behind The Rows. The cult regularly captures adults who enter Gatlin and offers them to their dark god.

Foreshadowing: The earlier mention of captured adults being sacrificed establishes Vicky's fate.

  • vicky
  • captured
  • sacrifice
  • malachai
  • cult
Q8

What happened to the mechanic Burt and Vicky tried to find?

The old mechanic was under duress from the cult and could not openly help Burt and Vicky. He was ultimately killed by the cult members, demonstrating the danger facing any adult who enters Gatlin.

Foreshadowing: The mechanic's nervous behavior and refusal to help foreshadows his grim fate.

  • mechanic
  • killed
  • cult
  • gatlin
Q9

What Bible verse did Job reveal to stop the chaos?

Job reveals a crucial Bible verse that instructs Burt and Vicky to burn the cornfield. This verse provides the solution needed to weaken He Who Walks Behind The Rows and end the supernatural chaos consuming Gatlin.

Foreshadowing: Job's knowledge of religious scripture is established early as he narrates the town's dark history.

  • job
  • bible verse
  • cornfield
  • destroy
  • demon
Q10

What happened in the final ambush scene?

As Burt, Vicky, Job, and Sarah attempt to escape, a surviving cult member ambushes Burt from the back seat of the car. Vicky quickly intervenes, allowing them to drive away. This ending leaves unresolved danger as the group escapes but the cult's remaining threat remains uncertain.

Foreshadowing: The film's mixed ending reflects the persistent danger of the cult's remaining members.

  • ambush
  • car
  • escape
  • cult member
  • vicky

Movie threads

More Movies Like Children of the Corn, by Mood & Story

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

Sinister Rural Horror Movies like Children of the Corn

Communities isolated in remote settings succumb to a hidden, evil force. If you liked the oppressive dread of Children of the Corn, explore more movies where isolated towns hide a dark secret. These films feature remote settings, fanatical communities, and protagonists discovering a malevolent force that has twisted the locals against them.

  • oppressive
  • sinister
  • eerie
  • claustrophobic
  • desperate
  • harrowing
  • Tone: dark, oppressive, sinister
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows outsiders or last sane individuals discovering that an isolated community is under the control of a sinister force. The story involves uncovering the source of the corruption, navigating the threat posed by the brainwashed locals, and a desperate struggle to escape the enclave of evil.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared atmosphere of rural dread, the theme of a community collectively possessed by a dark ideology or entity, and the central conflict of survival against an overwhelming, localized threat.

Isolation movie poster

Isolation

2005
Village of the Damned movie poster

Village of the Damned

1995
Uninhabited movie poster

Uninhabited

2010
Terror at Tenkiller movie poster

Terror at Tenkiller

1986
Population 436 movie poster

Population 436

2006
Albino Farm movie poster

Albino Farm

2009
Hallowed Ground movie poster

Hallowed Ground

2007
Wilderness movie poster

Wilderness

2006

Cult Horror Movies Similar to Children of the Corn

Stories where unwavering devotion to a creed justifies horrific violence. Fans of Children of the Corn's theme of religious fanaticism will find more chilling tales here. Discover movies about isolated cults, charismatic leaders, and the horror of true belief that justifies murder and sacrifice, creating a tense fight for survival.

  • anxious
  • brutal
  • unsettling
  • dogmatic
  • desperate
  • ritualistic
  • Tone: dark, tense, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, building dread
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot typically involves protagonists confronting a closed community governed by a dangerous belief system. The conflict escalates as the cult's rituals and goals are revealed, often involving sacrifice or purging non-believers, leading to a violent confrontation between fanaticism and reason.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their focus on the dynamics of cults: the charismatic leadership, the indoctrination of followers, the justification of violence through dogma, and the chilling portrayal of groupthink leading to horror.

Sacrifice movie poster

Sacrifice

2000
Sacrifice movie poster

Sacrifice

2020
The Believers movie poster

The Believers

1987
The Heretic movie poster

The Heretic

2018
Children of the Corn movie poster

Children of the Corn

1984
The Believer movie poster

The Believer

2002
The Believer movie poster

The Believer

2021
Sacrifice movie poster

Sacrifice

2016

If you liked this

Movies Like Children of the Corn

Similar movies to Children of the Corn: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Village of the Damned movie poster

Village of the Damned

1960
Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice movie poster

Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice

1993
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest movie poster

Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest

1995
Children of the Damned movie poster

Children of the Damned

1964
Dark Harvest movie poster

Dark Harvest

2023
Children of the Corn: Runaway movie poster

Children of the Corn: Runaway

2018
Children of Satan movie poster

Children of Satan

2019
Children of the Corn: Revelation movie poster

Children of the Corn: Revelation

2001
Children of the Living Dead movie poster

Children of the Living Dead

2001
Children of the Night movie poster

Children of the Night

1991
Child of the Sabbat movie poster

Child of the Sabbat

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Beware: Children at Play movie poster

Beware: Children at Play

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Every angle

Children of the Corn (1984) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Children of the Corn 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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