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Plot Summary

Gnome Alone (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 89 min · English
Echo score 67
JustWatch #17,509 12
Directed by
Peter Lepeniotis, Shelly Shenoy
Starring
Jim Cummings, David Koechner, Josh Peck, Olivia Holt, Tara Strong, Nash Grier

After moving to a new city, Chloe finds friendship and comfort with a group of unusual garden gnomes. When otherworldly aliens threaten Earth, the gnomes unexpectedly come to life and enlist Chloe's help. Teaming up with her neighbor Liam, she must discover her own courage and work together with her tiny allies to save the world, learning that even when starting over, you can find strength and belonging.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Gnome Alone
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Gnome Alone (2017)

Where can you watch Gnome Alone? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Gnome Alone: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Gnome Alone (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As Chloe settles into her new life with her estranged mother, Catherine, in the vast estate of Tenderville, she discovers a captivating world surrounded by mysterious gnomes and intricate secrets hidden within the mansion's twisting walls. One fateful evening, during what begins as a typical dinner, Chloe stumbles upon a concealed chamber behind a sliding bookshelf. Here, she finds a breathtaking green gemstone known as the Keystone, which she unwittingly transforms into a necklace. This seemingly innocent act opens a portal to another realm, allowing a horde of insatiable creatures called Troggs to invade her quiet life.

While Chloe grapples with the social dynamics at her new school, she forges an unexpected friendship with Brittany, Tiffany, and Chelsea—a trio lovingly dubbed the BTCs. Longing to fit in, she wears the Keystone around her neck, only to have it quickly snatched by Brittany, who is enchanted by its magical properties. Her troubles multiply when she encounters a Trogg lurking in her basement and attempts to confront it, only for it to vanish in a burst of inexplicable energy.

The following day, Catherine reveals that she will be taking on extra shifts at work, leaving Chloe to confront the weird events spiraling around her. Just when she feels overwhelmed, the gnomes—who have been closely observing her—reveal their extraordinary secret: they are indeed alive. The playful Quicksilver and Zook, the gophers' leader, inform Chloe that she has accidentally stolen the Keystone, an artifact that holds the power to control the portals unleashed by the Troggs. They recount their age-old conflict with these creatures, sparked by the Troggs' destruction of the flora that sustains the gnomes' existence.

With the Keystone now in Brittany's possession, the gnomes find themselves unable to prevent the Troggs from wreaking havoc in their world. Zook beseeches Chloe to reclaim the Keystone so that she can seal the portals’ access, organizing their efforts until she is able to retrieve the invaluable artifact. Chloe sets off on this daunting journey alongside her awkward neighbor and classmate, Liam, as they join forces to combat these malevolent beings and unveil the secrets at stake that threaten to unravel their reality.

Amid her shifting priorities—from snagging the necklace from Brittany at a school dance to winning the favor of the elusive BTCs—her relationship with Liam wavers. Afraid that their bond might jeopardize her status, Chloe makes the tough choice to pull away from him, which leads to Liam's departure. However, her plans to reclaim the cherished necklace hit a snag when she learns Brittany did not bring it to the dance. Instead of giving up, Chloe hatches a new plan to sneak into her friend's house.

In a shocking twist, Liam inadvertently gets sucked into a Trogg portal during an unexpected encounter at the dance. Realizing he is missing, Chloe frees herself from the BTCs' influence and resolves to bring Liam back. With newfound determination, she ventures beyond the known, journeying through a toilet portal to join him. Together, they encounter Zamfeer and discover a colossal crystal, hatching a plan to obliterate it using Chloe's phone battery.

Their audacious operation succeeds, and they leverage the rampaging Troggs to facilitate their escape back into their dimension. As the gnomes rejoice over Zamfeer's return, Brittany arrives, intent on humiliating Chloe and Liam by destroying the remaining Keystone. Soon after, a gigantic Trogg emerges from the depths of the basement, ready to disrupt everything.

Blocked from their escape, Chloe and the group are forced to retreat to the rooftop accompanied by an ooze plant—a quirky entity feared by the massive Trogg. Using her ingenuity, Chloe concocts a makeshift bomb from the Keystone, Brittany's phone, and the ooze plant, leading to the demolition of the towering Trogg and the restoration of harmony to their realm.

As calm returns, Chloe wakes beside her mother, reassuring her of her desire to stay with family. Meanwhile, Brittany remains blissfully unaware of the chaos that unfolded the previous night. Reflecting on her adventure with Liam, Chloe rekindles their friendship as they head off to school together, their bond stronger than ever.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 16:00

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Plot questions answered

Gnome Alone Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Gnome Alone (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Chloe take the Keystone from the hidden chamber?

Chloe discovered the Keystone while exploring a secret chamber behind a sliding bookshelf during dinner. She was drawn to its beauty and unknowingly transformed it into a necklace by wearing it, which inadvertently activated its magical properties and opened a portal to the Trogg realm.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the dinner scene, Chloe notices mysterious shadows moving outside the window, hinting at the magical secrets hidden within the estate.

  • keystone
  • hidden chamber
  • Chloe
  • magic portal
  • Tenderville Estate
Q2

What are the Troggs and why do they want the Keystone?

The Troggs are malevolent creatures from another dimension that invaded Chloe's world. They are insatiable beings that destroy flora, which is what sustains the gnomes. The Keystone is the only artifact capable of controlling the portals that allow the Troggs to enter Earth, making it the key to either opening or sealing those portals.

Foreshadowing: The gnomes mention their ancient conflict with the Troggs, explaining that these creatures destroyed the plants that keep the gnomes alive.

  • troggs
  • keystone
  • portals
  • gnomes
  • villains
Q3

How did the gnomes come to life?

The gnomes have always been alive but remained hidden from humans. They revealed themselves to Chloe after she accidentally took the Keystone, which is essential for protecting their world. Since the artifact was stolen, they could no longer prevent Trogg invasions, forcing them to reveal their existence and ask for Chloe's help.

Foreshadowing: Throughout Chloe's first days in the estate, the gnomes are shown closely observing her from the garden.

  • gnomes
  • Quicksilver
  • Zook
  • living statues
  • secret
Q4

Why did Liam get sucked into the Trogg portal at the dance?

During the school dance, Liam confronted Chloe about her behavior and chose to leave. As he walked away, he unexpectedly encountered a Trogg portal that had opened at the venue. In a freak incident, the portal sucked Liam into the Trogg realm, forcing Chloe to rescue him.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Chloe encounters a Trogg in her basement that vanishes in an energy burst, showing the portals can appear anywhere.

  • Liam
  • Trogg portal
  • school dance
  • rescue
Q5

How did Chloe and Liam destroy the giant crystal in the Trogg realm?

After being trapped in the Trogg realm, Chloe and Liam discovered a massive crystal blocking their escape. They devised a plan to destroy it using Chloe's phone battery to amplify their attack. Their strategy succeeded, and they used the chaos of the rampaging Troggs to escape back to their dimension.

Foreshadowing: The gnomes explain that the Keystone controls portals, hinting that destroying the crystal would disrupt the Troggs' operations.

  • crystal
  • Trogg realm
  • phone battery
  • escape
  • Zamfeer
Q6

Why did Chloe push Liam away at the school dance?

Chloe was desperate to fit in with the BTCs (Brittany, Tiffany, and Chelsea) at her new school. She feared that her growing friendship with Liam, who was socially awkward, would jeopardize her chances of being accepted by the popular group. This led her to distance herself from Liam, though she later realized her mistake when he disappeared.

Foreshadowing: Chloe's initial struggle to adjust to her new school and her excitement about meeting the BTCs establishes her desperation to belong.

  • Chloe
  • Liam
  • school dance
  • BTCs
  • friendship
  • popularity
Q7

What is the connection between the Troggs and the gnomes?

The gnomes and Troggs have been ancient enemies. The Troggs destroy the flora that sustains the gnomes' existence, making them a direct threat to the gnomes' survival. The gnomes have guarded the Keystone for centuries to keep the Troggs sealed in their realm, but when Chloe accidentally took the Keystone, the Troggs were able to invade.

Foreshadowing: Quicksilver and Zook explain their age-old conflict with the Troggs when they reveal their secrets to Chloe.

  • gnomes
  • troggs
  • conflict
  • ancient enemies
  • survival
Q8

How did Chloe defeat the giant Trogg on the rooftop?

Chloe constructed an improvised bomb using the Keystone, Brittany's phone, and an ooze plant (which the giant Trogg feared). She detonated this explosive device, destroying the towering Trogg and restoring harmony to their realm. This clever use of available resources saved the day.

Foreshadowing: The ooze plant is introduced earlier as a quirky entity that the Trogg fears, setting up this solution.

  • giant Trogg
  • rooftop
  • bomb
  • ooze plant
  • Keystone
  • victory
Q9

Why did Brittany try to destroy the Keystone at the end?

Brittany remained blissfully unaware of the true danger the Troggs posed throughout the movie. At the climax, she appeared intending to humiliate Chloe and Liam by destroying the remaining Keystone, not realizing this action could have unleashed the Troggs permanently. Her selfishness nearly doomed everyone.

Foreshadowing: Brittany's earlier theft of the Keystone shows her fascination with its magical properties without understanding its importance.

  • Brittany
  • Keystone
  • destructive
  • climax
  • misunderstanding
Q10

What happened to the Keystone after the final battle?

The Keystone was used in Chloe's bomb to destroy the giant Trogg. After the battle, the Keystone was destroyed along with the Trogg, effectively sealing the portals and ending the Trogg threat. The gnomes' world was restored to peace.

Foreshadowing: The Keystone's destruction was necessary to defeat the giant Trogg and close the portals permanently.

  • Keystone
  • destroyed
  • portals
  • peace
  • gnomes

Movie threads

More Movies Like Gnome Alone, by Mood & Story

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

Quirky Found Family Stories like Gnome Alone

Unlikely heroes team up with oddball allies to protect their home from playful threats. Discover movies like Gnome Alone where quirky allies and a newfound family unite to save the day. These films blend lighthearted fun with adventurous stakes, often featuring animation, supernatural elements, and a hopeful message about friendship and courage.

  • whimsical
  • adventurous
  • lighthearted
  • hopeful
  • quirky
  • fun
  • Tone: whimsical, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist, often feeling isolated or new to their surroundings, who discovers a hidden world or secret allies. A non-threatening but urgent external conflict forces them to rely on their new, unconventional friends. The story balances personal growth with action-packed sequences, culminating in a victory that solidifies the bonds of the found family.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core theme of finding strength in unexpected friendships. They maintain a whimsical tone and light emotional weight, even during moments of medium-intensity action, ensuring the experience remains fun and uplifting from start to finish.

Energetic Animated Adventures like Gnome Alone

Fast-paced stories about kids finding courage and friendship after a big life change. If you liked the fast-paced fun and new beginnings in Gnome Alone, explore these similar animated movies. They feature kids on exciting journeys of self-discovery, combining lively action with heartfelt themes of friendship and adjusting to a new life.

  • energetic
  • hopeful
  • lighthearted
  • adventurous
  • fun
  • coming of age
  • Tone: lighthearted, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives begin with a relatable personal challenge, such as adjusting to a new environment. A sudden, high-stakes adventure interrupts this normalcy, forcing the protagonist to step up. The external plot directly parallels their internal journey, with each action sequence building their confidence and strengthening new bonds, leading to a happy resolution of both conflicts.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their consistently energetic pacing and lighthearted handling of 'coming of age' themes. They share a straightforward plot structure, a medium intensity level that keeps viewers engaged without overwhelming them, and an overwhelmingly positive, hopeful atmosphere.

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Every angle

Gnome Alone (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Gnome Alone 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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