Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Commando (1985) movie poster

Timeline

Commando (1985) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1985 · 90 min · Hindi
Starring
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Bill Duke, Alyssa Milano, Dan Hedaya, David Patrick Kelly

A former special forces operative is framed for a crime and must go on the run, pursued by a powerful and relentless force. He reluctantly joins forces with a spirited young woman as he uses his exceptional combat abilities to evade capture, expose the true culprits, and ultimately clear his name in a thrilling action adventure.

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 Movies like Commando
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Commando (1985)

Where can you watch Commando? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Tubi TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Commando Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Commando (1985) 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. Sanitation Workers Execute a Man

    Two sanitation workers, armed with minuscule Uzi machine guns, carry out a brutal execution of a suburban man. This shocking act sets a dark tone for the events that follow, hinting at a larger conspiracy targeting ex-military personnel.

  2. Cooke's Vicious Crime

    In a display of ruthlessness, a menacing figure named Cooke steals a vehicle from a dealership. He escalates his violence by brutally crushing the dealer beneath the vehicle, establishing himself as a grave threat to those involved with the commando squad.

    Where
    Car dealership
  3. Tugboat Explosion

    A tugboat explodes in the harbor, marking the onset of chaos and violence linked to the ex-commandos. This unexpected explosion signals the beginning of a coordinated attack against John Matrix and his former comrades.

    Where
    Harbor
  4. Matrix's Quiet Retirement

    John Matrix, a formidable ex-Colonel, enjoys a peaceful retirement in the mountains of upstate California. Living with his daughter Jenny, he reflects on a life filled with past exploits and the consequences that now threaten his family.

    Where
    Mountains, California
  5. General Kirby's Visit

    Matrix's tranquility is disrupted when General Franklin Kirby visits to inform him of the grisly murders of his old comrades, revealing a secret mole within their ranks. This visit ignites a sense of urgency and danger for Matrix and his remaining allies.

    Where
    Matrix's home
  6. Attack on Matrix's Home

    Just after Kirby leaves, gunfire erupts around Matrix's house, resulting in the death of the soldiers protecting him. In the chaos, Jenny hides while Matrix rushes to his underground bunker, preparing to defend himself and protect his daughter.

    Where
    Matrix's home
  7. Matrix's Determination

    Prompted by the danger to his daughter, Matrix grabs his rifle and confronts an armed assailant who poses an ultimatum regarding Jenny's safety. The encounter escalates into violence as Matrix eliminates the threat but finds himself in a precarious position.

  8. Journey Down the Mountain

    With his vehicle sabotaged, Matrix makes a determined descent down the mountain in a damaged truck. He intercepts a car and engages in a fierce battle with henchmen, ultimately facing off against Bennett, who was believed to be dead.

    Where
    Mountains
  9. Bennett's Betrayal

    Bennett reveals himself as the orchestrator of the murders, fueled by revenge against Matrix and his team. He informs Matrix of his new alliance with Arias, a dictator that Matrix had previously overthrown, complicating the stakes for everyone involved.

  10. Arias's Demands

    Arias demands Matrix's return to Val Verde, threatening Jenny's life if he refuses to comply. Matrix is left with no choice but to accept the dire situation, as time runs out for his daughter's safety.

    Where
    Val Verde
  11. Jumping from the Plane

    Upon boarding a plane to Val Verde, Matrix realizes that his compliance will not guarantee Jenny's safety. Grabbing a crucial opportunity, he overpowers his guard, Henriques, and jumps from the aircraft, determined to save his daughter.

    Where
    In flight to Val Verde
  12. Tracking Sully

    With a limited timeframe to rescue Jenny, Matrix tracks down Sully, one of Arias's associates, at the airport. Together with the help of Cindy, they concoct a plan to gather intelligence about Jenny's whereabouts by seducing Sully.

    Where
    Airport
  13. Confronting Sully

    The plan spirals out of control when Sully realizes Matrix is on to him, culminating in a thrilling chase. Matrix ultimately battles Sully, resulting in a tragic fall, leaving Matrix with critical information about Jenny's location.

    Where
    Cliff
  14. Assault on Arias's Warehouse

    Matrix and Cindy successfully leverage the intel gained from Sully to locate Arias's warehouse. Inside, they find important resources tied to Arias's operations, furthering their quest to rescue Jenny.

    Where
    Arias's warehouse
  15. Final Showdown

    In a climactic confrontation, Matrix battles Bennett in a tense face-off within the villa where Jenny is held captive. Ultimately triumphant, Matrix kills Bennett, stabilizing the situation as military forces arrive, yet he chooses to prioritize his family over rejoining the military.

    Where
    Villa

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 11:55

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Commando Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Commando (1985): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Bennett want revenge against Matrix?

Bennett was expelled from Matrix's commando unit for committing atrocities. This expulsion, ordered by Matrix himself, humiliated Bennett and fueled his desire for vengeance. After being thrown out, Bennett allied with Marxist dictator Arias, the very leader Matrix's team had overthrown, to orchestrate a elaborate revenge plot against Matrix and his former teammates.

  • bennett
  • revenge
  • expelled
  • commando unit
  • arias
Q2

How is Bennett alive after the tugboat explosion?

Bennett faked his death in the tugboat explosion to lure Matrix and General Kirby into a false sense of security. The explosion was a calculated move to make everyone believe all former commandos were dead, allowing Bennett to operate secretly while setting up his trap to capture Jenny and force Matrix into his scheme.

  • bennett
  • alive
  • tugboat explosion
  • faked death
Q3

Why does Arias need Matrix to kill Velazquez?

Arias wants Matrix to assassinate President Velazquez of Val Verde because Matrix could easily gain Velazquez's trust due to his past heroic actions in the country. Once Matrix kills Velazquez, Arias could return to power, claiming the assassination was an act of chaos that only he could stop. Using Matrix makes the murder appear legitimate rather than a coup.

  • arias
  • velazquez
  • assassination
  • val verde
  • plot
Q4

Why does Matrix jump from the plane despite his daughter's life being threatened?

Matrix realizes that complying with Arias won't save Jenny, Arias plans to kill her regardless once the job is done. Rather than deliver himself to Arias as a puppet, Matrix chooses to escape and rescue Jenny himself. He calculates he has about 11 hours before the plane lands, giving him enough time to find another way to save her.

  • matrix
  • jump
  • plane
  • escape
  • jenny
  • arias
Q5

Why are the former commandos targeted after their retirement?

Arias orders the assassinations of Matrix's former teammates, Lawson, Forrestal, and Bennett, to eliminate anyone who could recognize him or stand in his way when he regains power in Val Verde. Since these men had assumed new identities to hide, Arias tracks them down specifically to remove potential threats and send a message to Matrix.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene establishes that former commandos are being systematically targeted.

  • former commandos
  • targeted
  • assassination
  • arias
  • mole
Q6

What does Sully know about Jenny's location?

Sully has information about Cooke, who directly knows where Jenny is being held captive. Matrix obtains this intel after defeating Sully, which leads him to confront Cooke and extract the exact location of Arias's island base where Jenny is imprisoned in the villa's basement.

  • sully
  • cooke
  • jenny
  • location
  • island base
Q7

Why does Cooke attack the car dealer at the beginning of the movie?

Cooke, a former Green Beret now working for Arias, attacks the car dealer to steal a vehicle for the assassination mission. His brutal method, crushing the dealer beneath the car, establishes his ruthless character and demonstrates the lengths Arias's forces will go to accomplish their objectives.

  • cooke
  • car dealer
  • attack
  • vehicle
  • green beret
Q8

Why does Matrix decline Kirby's offer to rejoin the team at the end?

After defeating Bennett and rescuing Jenny, Matrix chooses not to rejoin the military because he prioritizes his peaceful life with his daughter. He explicitly refuses with a simple "No chance," demonstrating that his retirement and family mean more to him than returning to combat.

  • matrix
  • decline
  • rejoin
  • army
  • family
  • jenny
Q9

How does Cindy help Matrix rescue Jenny?

Cindy, an off-duty flight attendant, assists Matrix by helping him track Sully at the airport. She agrees to seduce Sully to gather intelligence about Jenny's whereabouts. Later, she locates Arias's seaplane in a marina and uses a rocket launcher to break Matrix out of police custody, enabling their escape to the island.

  • cindy
  • help
  • rescue
  • jenny
  • flight attendant
  • seaplane
Q10

What happens to Bennett in the final fight with Matrix?

Matrix impales Bennett with a steam pipe during their climactic battle in the villa where Jenny is held captive. This fatal blow ends Bennett's threat permanently. The fight represents the culmination of Bennett's revenge plot against Matrix, which ultimately fails.

  • bennett
  • death
  • steam pipe
  • villa
  • final fight

Movie threads

More Movies Like Commando, by Mood & Story

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

Movies with a Relentless Race Against Time like Commando

Movies where a ticking clock forces non-stop action and tense urgency. If you enjoyed the high-stakes urgency of Commando, this collection features similar movies with a literal or metaphorical ticking clock. These films share a fast-paced, tense narrative where heroes face overwhelming odds and a strict deadline, creating a thrilling and anxious viewing experience from start to finish.

  • urgent
  • tense
  • anxious
  • thrilling
  • high-stakes
  • relentless
  • Tone: tense, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread are built around a critical deadline—a rescue, a heist, or a disaster—that creates immense narrative pressure. The plot unfolds linearly, with the protagonist facing a series of escalating challenges that must be overcome before time runs out, resulting in a straightforward but intensely gripping journey.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared foundation of temporal pressure, which dictates the fast pacing and high-tension atmosphere. They prioritize thrilling action and a sense of anxious urgency over complex plotting, offering a cohesive experience of adrenaline-fueled suspense.

One-Man Army Action Movies like Commando

Stories featuring a hyper-competent hero single-handedly dismantling a villainous organization. Fans of Commando's iconic hero will love this selection of films featuring a lone warrior unleashing chaos. These movies deliver high-octane action, exaggerated combat prowess, and a straightforward narrative of good versus evil, perfect for viewers seeking pure, unadulterated action escapism with a larger-than-life hero.

  • high-octane
  • aggressive
  • thrilling
  • explosive
  • empowering
  • vengeful
  • Tone: tense, aggressive
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a highly capable individual, often with a military or special forces background, who is pushed to their limit. They embark on a direct path of confrontation, systematically defeating waves of henchmen leading to a final, explosive showdown with the primary antagonist. The journey is a linear display of power and skill.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their central premise of a singular, overpowered hero and the visceral satisfaction of watching them in action. They share a high-intensity, fast-paced vibe with a focus on spectacular set-pieces and a tone that balances tension with a sense of heroic inevitability.

If you liked this

Movies Like Commando

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

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Commando (1985) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Commando 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app