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Timeline

The Campaign (2012) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2012 · 85 min · Danish
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Directed by
Jay Roach
Starring
Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis

Two rival CEOs devise a plan to undermine a popular congressman by supporting Marty Huggins, the unassuming director of the local Tourism Center. As Marty's campaign unexpectedly gains traction with the help of shrewd advisors and influential family members, he finds himself in a tight race against the incumbent, Cam Brady. The ensuing battle for political dominance becomes a chaotic and humorous clash of personalities and strategies.

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 The Campaign
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Campaign Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Campaign (2012) 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. Cam Brady's Unopposed Campaign

    Democratic Congressman Cam Brady is running unopposed for his fifth term in North Carolina's 14th District. His campaign starts off strong as he has no competitors, appearing confident in his reelection.

    Where
    North Carolina, District 14
  2. The Scandal Breaks

    Cam's campaign takes a serious hit when he accidentally leaves a sexually explicit voicemail on a local family's phone. This incident reveals his affair with one of his supporters, damaging his image and opening the door for a challenger.

    Where
    Hammond, North Carolina
  3. The Motch Brothers' Scheme

    Brothers Glen and Wade Motch, corrupt businessmen, persuade Marty Huggins to run against Cam. Their ulterior motive is to exploit political power to facilitate illegal dealings with Chinese companies and profit from manufacturing.

    Where
    Hammond, North Carolina
  4. Marty Huggins' Transformation

    Tim Wattley is hired as Marty's campaign manager, rebranding Marty as a successful entrepreneur and family man. This leads to a surge in Marty's popularity, catching Cam off guard.

  5. Cam's Campaign Hits Rock Bottom

    In a disastrous campaign moment, Cam accidentally punches a baby while trying to hit Marty. This incident further declines his approval ratings and he struggles to maintain his image.

    Where
    Hammond, North Carolina
  6. Al Qaeda Accusations

    Desperate to regain control of his campaign, Cam attempts to smear Marty by portraying him as an Al Qaeda terrorist. However, Marty's counterattack reveals Cam's lack of true Christian values, challenging his base.

  7. Snake Bite Incident

    In an attempt to rehabilitate his image, Cam visits a church known for snake handling. Unfortunately for him, he gets bitten by a snake, and the video goes viral, ironically boosting his popularity.

    Where
    Snake-handling church
  8. Cam's Regret and Visit to Marty

    Realizing he has set a poor example for his son, Cam visits Marty to make amends. He shares a reflection on his motivations for entering politics, revealing a glimpse of his genuine self.

  9. Cam's Arrest

    After a night of drinking, Cam is reported to the police by Marty and gets arrested for driving under the influence. This incident causes another blow to his campaign as it draws attention away from his political agenda.

  10. Debate Disaster

    During a debate, Marty deconstructs a childhood story of Cam's, branding it a 'communist manifesto.' In a fit of aggression, Cam accidentally punches the dog from 'The Artist,' further alienating voters.

    Where
    Debate stage
  11. The Sex Tape Leak

    In retaliation for Marty's campaign ads, Cam seduces Marty's wife, Mitzy, and records the encounter. The release of the tape becomes a scandal, humiliating the Huggins family and creating chaos.

  12. Marty's Revenge

    During a hunting trip, Marty shoots Cam in the leg, which significantly enhances his popularity as a candidate. This bold move shifts public sentiment as he aligns with the underdog narrative.

    Where
    Hunting grounds
  13. Marty Rejects the Motch Brothers

    Marty discovers the Motch brothers' plans for their real estate developments and decides to reject their support. This realization highlights his growth as a candidate and reinforces his commitment to the community.

  14. Election Day and Aftermath

    On election day, despite winning overall due to rigged voting machines, Cam reflects on his journey. Realizing he had lost sight of his true objectives, he withdraws from the election, allowing Marty to win by default.

    When
    Election Day
  15. Exposing the Motch Brothers

    Six months later, Marty and Cam join forces to expose the Motch brothers' corruption. They call the brothers to testify before Congress, leading to their eventual arrest and highlighting the impact of Citizens United.

Last updated: December 31, 2024 at 18:09

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Timeline questions answered

The Campaign Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Campaign (2012): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the Motch brothers pick Marty Huggins to run against Cam Brady?

The Motch brothers chose Marty Huggins because his father Raymond Huggins was an ally who could be manipulated. Marty was the perfect puppet candidate, he was unassuming, ran the local Tourism Center, and had no political experience, making him easy to control. The brothers needed a Republican candidate they could install to further their own corrupt business dealings.

  • motch brothers
  • marty huggins
  • cam brady
  • candidate selection
Q2

What was the Motch brothers' actual plan for Hammond?

The Motch brothers wanted to facilitate illegal dealings with Chinese companies. Their plan involved labeling 'Made in China' goods as 'Made in America' to enable large-scale land purchases in Hammond. Once they owned the land, they intended to bring in Chinese factory workers, bypassing transportation costs and maximizing profits.

  • motch brothers
  • chinese
  • land purchase
  • hammond
  • factory workers
Q3

Why did Cam Brady's campaign start failing?

Cam Brady's campaign began collapsing after a scandal where he accidentally left a sexually explicit voicemail on a local family's phone, revealing an affair with a supporter. This damaged his clean family-man image, giving the Motch brothers the opportunity to introduce Marty as a challenger.

  • cam brady
  • scandal
  • voicemail
  • affair
  • campaign failure
Q4

How did Tim Wattley transform Marty Huggins' campaign?

Tim Wattley was hired as Marty's campaign manager and completely rebranded him. He transformed the weak, bumbling tourism director into a charismatic successful entrepreneur and devoted family man. This image overhaul, combined with strategic campaigning, suddenly made Marty a serious threat to Cam.

  • tim wattley
  • marty huggins
  • campaign manager
  • transformation
Q5

Why did Cam Brady punch a baby on camera?

During a campaign confrontation, Cam Brady tried to punch Marty Huggins but accidentally punched a baby being held by Marty's family instead. This ridiculous incident further damaged Cam's already declining reputation and became a major embarrassment for his campaign.

  • cam brady
  • baby
  • punch
  • campaign incident
Q6

What happened when Cam Brady visited the snake-handling church?

In a desperate attempt to repair his image with religious voters, Cam visited a snake-handling church. He was bitten by a snake during the service, and the video went viral. Ironically, this disaster actually boosted his popularity temporarily, though it was short-lived.

  • cam brady
  • snake
  • church
  • viral video
Q7

Why did Cam Brady withdraw from the election?

After winning on election day through rigged voting machines, Cam had a change of heart. Reflecting on how he lost sight of his original political motivations, inspired originally by wanting to remove a dangerous rusty slide from a playground, he withdrew from the race, allowing Marty to win by default.

  • cam brady
  • withdrawal
  • election
  • vote rigging
Q8

How were the voting machines rigged in The Campaign?

The Motch brothers manipulated the voting machines to ensure Cam Brady won the election, securing their business interests. However, Cam's withdrawal after realizing his corruption nullified their scheme, and Marty ended up winning by default.

  • voting machines
  • rigged
  • election fraud
  • motch brothers
Q9

Who was Tim Wattley really in The Campaign?

Tim Wattley, Marty's campaign manager, was revealed to be an international fugitive known as 'The Greek Butcher.' This shocking twist came after Cam and Marty teamed up to expose the Motch brothers, leading to Wattley's capture.

  • tim wattley
  • greek butcher
  • fugitive
  • reveal
Q10

Why did Cam Brady and Marty Huggins team up at the end?

After Marty discovered the Motch brothers' plan to sell Hammond's land to Chinese interests and realized he'd been used as a puppet, he broke away from them. Both Cam and Marty then united to expose the Motch brothers' corruption, leading to a congressional inquiry and their eventual arrest.

  • cam brady
  • marty huggins
  • team up
  • motch brothers
  • expose
Q11

What was the impact of the sex tape scandal on the campaign?

Cam Brady seduced Marty's neglected wife Mitzy and recorded the encounter to use as political ammunition. When the tape was released, it humiliated the Huggins family and created chaos. However, this desperate move also caused Cam's own campaign manager Mitch to abandon him.

  • sex tape
  • mitzy
  • cam brady
  • marty huggins
  • scandal
Q12

Why did Marty Huggins shoot Cam Brady in the leg?

During a hunting trip, Marty shot Cam in the leg in what appeared to be an accident. This violent incident surprisingly boosted Marty's popularity, as voters saw it as evidence he was a tough, decisive leader willing to stand up to the establishment.

  • marty huggins
  • cam brady
  • shooting
  • hunting
  • leg

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Campaign, by Mood & Story

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

Absurdist Political Satire like The Campaign

Hilarious and exaggerated takes on the circus of politics and power. If you liked the chaotic and humorous take on politics in The Campaign, you'll enjoy these other movies. This list features comedies that use political satire and farce to deliver a fast-paced, silly, and energetic viewing experience.

  • satirical
  • absurd
  • silly
  • irreverent
  • energetic
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, irreverent
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow well-intentioned or naive characters thrust into the cutthroat world of politics, leading to a series of escalating, absurd situations. The conflict often stems from a rivalry that becomes increasingly ridiculous, with the narrative prioritizing comedic set-pieces over deep political analysis.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared commitment to using politics as a backdrop for high-energy, low-stakes comedy. They share a light tone, fast pacing, and a focus on satirical exaggeration rather than realism, creating a cohesive vibe of humorous chaos.

Goofy Redemption Arcs like in The Campaign

Characters find their better selves through a series of comedic misadventures. Fans of Marty Huggins's hilarious journey in The Campaign will love these movies with similar stories. Discover comedies where underdog characters find redemption and self-worth through a series of chaotic and laugh-out-loud events.

  • hopeful
  • silly
  • heartwarming
  • underdog
  • redemption
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves an unassuming character being manipulated or thrust into a situation beyond their depth. Through a chaotic series of events, they discover inner strength and integrity, often reforming a cynical rival in the process. The journey is comedic, but the emotional core is about finding authenticity.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their focus on a specific character arc: a lighthearted, comedic redemption. They balance silly humor with a fundamentally hopeful message about personal growth, creating a satisfying and upbeat experience.

If you liked this

Movies Like The Campaign

Similar movies to The Campaign: 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

The Campaign (2012) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Campaign 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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