Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast

Year: 1980

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Joseph Sargent

ComedyDramaRomance

Madie, a nervous, rich woman, escapes a New York mental hospital where her spiteful husband had her committed to avoid an expensive divorce. She flags down Charles Callahan, a debt‑laden truck driver heading to California. As they travel, they fall in love while dodging thugs hired by her husband and a repo man after Charles’s rig.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Coast to Coast 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!

Timeline & Setting – Coast to Coast (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Coast to Coast (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New York, on the road, Benjamin's backyard

Madie begins her story in a New York mental institution before escaping onto a rural livestock truck. The action travels from institutional confines to the open road, shifting between farm, roadside stops, and the husband’s home. The settings juxtapose urban control with chaotic domestic spaces, culminating in a wild backyard party and a drive through the house.

🗽 New York 🚚 Road trip 🏠 Backyard party

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:42

Main Characters – Coast to Coast (1980)

Meet the key characters of Coast to Coast (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Madie Levrington (Dyan Cannon)

Wealthy, neurotic woman who orchestrates an audacious escape, testing limits of freedom. Resourceful and impulsive, she navigates danger with vulnerability and stubborn determination. Her journey reveals how wealth and social expectations pressure her choices and shape her fate.

💼 Wealthy 🌀 Neurotic 💘 Romantic tension

Charles Callahan (Robert Blake)

Debt-ridden truck driver who becomes entangled with Madie’s escape. He teaches her to drive and gradually reveals a moral complexity, balancing necessity with affection. His devotion wavers as a reward scheme escalates, highlighting his conflicted nature.

🚚 Truck driver 🧭 Road trip 💘 Complicated romance

Benjamin Levrington (Quinn K. Redeker)

Madie’s husband, a wealthy man who orchestrates her confinement to protect his fortune. Controlling and ruthless, he will escalate threats to preserve status. His confrontation with Madie drives the plot toward explosive, chaotic outcomes.

💼 Wealthy 🧭 Controlling 💔 Marital conflict

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:42

Major Themes – Coast to Coast (1980)

Explore the central themes of Coast to Coast (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Escape

The escape from confinement triggers a road-bound tale of freedom and risk. Madie’s flight sets off a chain of moral compromises as pursuers, lovers, and opportunists cross paths. The journey tests independence against loyalty, with the road serving as an arena for transformation.

💰 Greed

A reward system drives characters to pursue wealth, blurring lines between rescue and personal gain. The money exchanged exposes shifting loyalties and the corrosive effect of profit on trust. The pursuit of cash adds danger and moral ambiguity to relationships.

🏠 Domestic Chaos

The homefront becomes a battleground when the party erupts into chaos as the truck invades the backyard and later the house. Control, status, and desire collide, revealing dark impulses beneath polished façades. The climactic disruption redefines power dynamics within the couple and their guests.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:42

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Unlock the Full Story of Coast to Coast

Don't stop at just watching — explore Coast to Coast 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 Coast to Coast is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Coast to Coast Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Coast to Coast, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Coast to Coast Summary

Coast to Coast Timeline

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Coast to Coast Timeline

More About Coast to Coast

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Coast to Coast: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Coast to Coast

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