Diner

Diner

Year: 1982

Runtime: 110 min

Language: japanese

Director: Barry Levinson

DramaComedy

In 1959, a group of close friends find comfort and escape at a local diner, a place where they can avoid the responsibilities of growing up. They share laughter, face romantic challenges, and experience the bittersweet pangs of loss as they come of age. Though their time together is filled with humor and genuine connection, they eventually realize that they must move on and embrace the next chapter of their lives, leaving their cherished sanctuary behind.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Diner (1982)

Trace every key event in Diner (1982) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Christmas night begins with a dance and the ride to Fell's Point

In 1959 Baltimore, friends attend a Christmas dance before driving to Fell's Point Diner. Fenwick stages a fake car accident on the way, which annoys the others. Boogie has placed a $2,000 basketball bet and refuses Bagel's offer to cancel it.

Christmas night Baltimore, Christmas dance / Fell's Point Diner route
2

Eddie's best man plan takes shape

The group arranges Eddie's New Year's Eve wedding by having Billy serve as his best man. Modell agrees to give Eddie a ride home, while the others pick up Billy in town. This sets the stage for the wedding drama to come.

late night Baltimore, various hangouts
3

Morning reunion and pool hall visit

The next morning, Billy reunites with Eddie at Eddie's mother's house. They then head to their old pool hall, reflecting on friendships and the oncoming year as they unwind from the night before.

morning Eddie's mother's house; old pool hall
4

Boogie's movie date goes sideways

Shrevie learns Boogie is taking a date to the movies. At a screening of A Summer Place, Boogie tricks his date Carol into groping him through the popcorn; she runs away in tears, but Boogie convinces her it was an accident and the date continues. Billy retaliates by punching an old high school enemy after.

evening Movie theater, Baltimore
5

Barbara's pregnancy and a warning

Billy visits Barbara at the local TV station; later, at church, she reveals she is pregnant from a prior night they spent together and warns him not to feel obligated to marry her. This complicates expectations around relationships.

evening TV station; church
6

Football test and married-life talk

At the diner, Shrevie discusses married life with Eddie while Eddie prepares a football knowledge test for Elyse to determine if they will marry. The moment captures the tension between commitment and independence among the friend group.

evening Diner
7

Boogie renews the Carol bet

After losing the basketball bet, Boogie wagers with his friends that he can have sex with Carol, renewing his scheme to win the money. The dynamics among the group become more tangled as the bet looms.

night Diner / hangout
8

Jane enters the mix

The morning after, Boogie and Fenwick encounter an equestrienne named Jane. The encounter introduces a new dynamic into the group and foreshadows later relationships.

morning Baltimore streets
9

Elyse's test results and the engagement ends

The group awaits Elyse's test results; Elyse fails by two points, and Eddie calls off the engagement. The wedding world shifts as the older generation's expectations clash with the younger ones.

evening Diner; testing location
10

Boogie's ruse and the closet verification

Boogie disguises Beth as Carol using a wig in an effort to win the bet, driving Beth to Fenwick's apartment to verify the encounter. Fenwick and Shrevie hide in a closet to confirm the ruse, but Boogie ultimately confesses the truth and urges Beth to work things out with Shrevie.

night Fenwick's apartment
11

Nativity scene arrest and bailouts

Shrevie, Eddie, and Billy are arrested after Fenwick occupies the Nativity scene in his underwear during a screening of The Seventh Seal. In the holding cells, Eddie learns Elyse's test is the next night and Billy faces a belligerent drunk; their fathers bail them out, while Fenwick spends the night in jail.

night Church / holding cells
12

Wedding decision, reconciliation, and bouquet finale

Eddie decides to marry Elyse after all, and the wedding proceeds with a Colts theme. Friends bring Jane, Barbara, and Diane as guests, and Shrevie and Beth reconcile. Modell delivers a heartfelt speech as Elyse's bouquet lands on the friends' table, closing the film with a note of camaraderie.

New Year's Eve Baltimore wedding venue

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:39

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Diner Summary

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Diner Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Diner

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Diner

More About Diner

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