Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) movie poster

Timeline

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 92 min · English
JustWatch #22,594 2
Directed by
Jeff Tremaine
Starring
Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll
Budget
$15M

An elderly and mischievous grandfather, Irving Zisman, embarks on a cross-country road trip with his impressionable grandson, Billy. The journey is filmed in a mockumentary style, capturing a series of outrageous and often shocking interactions with unsuspecting people. They encounter a children's beauty pageant, a biker bar, and other unexpected situations, resulting in hilarious and jaw-dropping moments for both the characters and the audience.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013)

Where can you watch Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Essential and Paramount Plus Premium: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

13 events in order · contains spoilers

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) 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. Irving's Unexpected Responsibility

    Eighty-six-year-old Irving Zisman finds himself unexpectedly responsible for his eight-year-old grandson, Billy, after the passing of his wife, Ellie. This turn of events is compounded by the return of Billy's mother, Kimmie, to jail, who pleads with Irving to ensure that Billy reaches his father safely.

  2. Video Call with Chuck

    Irving and Billy have a video call with Billy's father, Chuck, who gives them a daunting task to reach Raleigh, North Carolina by 2 P.M. on Sunday. The urgency of the situation sets the stage for their chaotic journey ahead.

  3. Selling Ellie's Possessions

    To gather some quick cash, Irving decides to sell off his late wife's belongings. In an unexpected twist, Irving’s companions help him stow Ellie’s body in the trunk of his car, embodying the surreal nature of their journey.

  4. Market Mishap

    Before hitting the road, Irving and Billy stop at a local market where Irving attempts to charm a woman. In a fit of frustration from Billy's ride malfunctioning, Irving accidentally launches the ride off its base, attracting unwanted attention.

    Where
    Local Market
  5. Postal Plan Gone Awry

    Facing Billy's hunger once again, Irving devises a hilariously misguided plan to ship Billy via the post office. However, this absurd idea quickly unravels, adding to their collection of misadventures.

    Where
    Post Office
  6. Bingo Antics

    Their journey leads them to a Bingo event where Billy humorously searches for a surrogate dad among the crowd. The scenario unfolds with comic relief as the duo navigates through the quirks of the event.

    Where
    Bingo Hall
  7. Supermarket Shoplifting

    In a moment of desperation, Irving resorts to shoplifting food from a supermarket. He skillfully crafts sandwiches for both himself and Billy, but the escapade leads to a narrow escape from the store’s staff.

    Where
    Supermarket
  8. Motel Misadventure

    The duo checks into a motel, where Irving foolishly ends up at a male strip club in search of companionship. His unexpected exposure to the patrons creates quite a commotion, leading to an awkward and memorable moment.

    Where
    Motel
  9. Diner Disaster

    During a stop at a diner, Irving's antics escalate when he crashes into a massive penguin statue. In a bout of competitive silliness, he and Billy engage in a loud flatulence contest, which ends in a disastrous blowout on the wall, forcing them to flee.

    Where
    Diner
  10. Wedding Reception Chaos

    Irving and Billy attempt to infiltrate a wedding reception at a church, where disaster strikes when Irving causes a champagne tower to collapse. This slapstick moment is heightened when he ends up taking a tumble atop the wedding cake amidst group photos.

    Where
    Church
  11. Meeting Chuck

    Arriving at a bar to meet Chuck, Irving witnesses his son’s poor parenting in action, leading to an alarming encounter with the Guardians of the Children. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Irving’s paternal instincts kick in, prompting him to rescue Billy from Chuck.

    Where
    Bar
  12. Crashing the Beauty Pageant

    In a final burst of spontaneity, Irving and Billy decide to crash a nearby beauty pageant after spotting a flyer. This indulgence captures the whimsical spirit of their journey, further cementing their bond.

    Where
    Beauty Pageant Venue
  13. Final Goodbye to Ellie

    The journey concludes as Irving and Billy reach a bridge where they solemnly dispose of Ellie’s body into a river. Following this emotional farewell, they share a peaceful day of fishing together, reflecting on their adventures.

    Where
    Bridge

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 12:20

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Irving Zisman have to take Billy to his father?

Irving takes Billy to his father because Billy's mother Kimmie (Irving's daughter) is returning to jail due to a parole violation. Before going back to jail, Kimmie pleads with Irving to ensure Billy reaches his father safely in Raleigh, North Carolina.

  • irving zisman
  • billy
  • kimmie
  • jail
  • father chuck
Q2

What happened to Billy's mother Kimmie?

Kimmie is Irving's daughter and Billy's mother. She lands back in jail due to a parole violation, which is why she cannot take care of Billy herself. This forces her to ask her father Irving to take Billy to his father.

  • kimmie
  • billy's mother
  • jail
  • parole violation
Q3

Why is Ellie's body in the trunk of the car?

Ellie is Irving's wife who has recently passed away. To get money for the road trip, Irving sells her possessions. The body is secretly placed in the trunk by two men who help Irving, and it remains there throughout the journey until they dispose of it at the end.

Foreshadowing: The timeline mentions Irving selling his late wife's possessions before their departure.

  • ellie
  • wife
  • body
  • trunk
  • deceased
Q4

Why does Irving decide to take Billy away from Chuck?

When Irving meets Chuck at the bar, he witnesses poor parenting skills and sees the Guardians of the Children intervene due to Chuck's neglectful behavior. This triggers Irving's protective instincts, and he decides to rescue Billy from his father's inadequate care.

Foreshadowing: The video call early on establishes Chuck as unreliable and uninterested in proper parenting.

  • chuck
  • billy's father
  • guardians of the children
  • rescue
  • bad parenting
Q5

What are the Guardians of the Children?

The Guardians of the Children is an organization depicted in the movie that intervenes to protect children from abuse and neglect. In the film, they confront Chuck at the bar after witnessing his poor parenting, which prompts Irving to step in and protect Billy.

  • guardians of the children
  • child protection
  • organization
Q6

Why do Irving and Billy crash the beauty pageant?

They decide to crash the beauty pageant spontaneously after spotting a flyer advertising it during their travels. This act represents the whimsical, rule-breaking spirit of their journey and serves as one final adventure before completing their trip.

Foreshadowing: The timeline establishes the pageant crash as a spontaneous decision made after seeing a flyer.

  • beauty pageant
  • crash
  • flyer
  • spontaneous
Q7

How does Irving get money for the road trip?

Irving gathers cash by selling his late wife Ellie's possessions. This includes her belongings which he sells to obtain money for gas, food, and other expenses needed to get Billy to Raleigh.

  • money
  • cash
  • selling possessions
  • ellie's belongings
Q8

Why does Irving go to a male strip club at the motel?

While staying at a motel, Irving foolishly ends up at a male strip club seeking companionship. His unintended exposure to the patrons creates an awkward and memorable comedic moment that becomes one of the film's cringe-inducing pranks.

  • strip club
  • motel
  • companionship
  • embarrassing moment
Q9

What happens to Ellie's body at the end of the movie?

At the end of the journey, Irving and Billy reach a bridge where they solemnly dispose of Ellie's body into the river. This act serves as a proper farewell to Irving's late wife before they enjoy a peaceful day of fishing together.

Foreshadowing: The body was kept in the trunk throughout their journey, building toward this final disposal.

  • ellie
  • body
  • river
  • bridge
  • disposal
  • fishing
Q10

Why does the movie end with Irving and Billy fishing?

The film ends with Irving and Billy fishing together as a way to celebrate their bond. After all the chaos and misadventures, this peaceful moment represents their unexpected affection for each other and provides a heartwarming conclusion to their wild journey.

  • fishing
  • bond
  • peaceful ending
  • grandfather grandson

Movie threads

More Movies Like Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, by Mood & Story

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

Prank and Mockumentary Movies like Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Movies that use a hidden camera to capture outrageous interactions with unsuspecting people. If you enjoyed the outrageous hidden-camera pranks in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, discover more movies that use a mockumentary or reality-style format for chaotic comedy. These films feature characters causing mischief and social awkwardness, delivering a similar experience of unpredictable, jaw-dropping humor.

  • prank humor
  • hidden camera
  • social awkwardness
  • cringe comedy
  • chaotic
  • mischievous
  • Tone: light, mischievous, transgressive
  • Pacing: fast, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories often follow a simple, episodic structure where characters undertake a journey or series of challenges specifically designed to provoke reactions from an unsuspecting public. The narrative conflict comes from the tension between the performer's absurd actions and the genuine, sometimes bewildered, responses of real people. The journey is less about a deep plot and more about the sequence of comedic set pieces.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared comedic premise: the use of a hidden camera or mockumentary framework to orchestrate chaotic, socially transgressive situations. They share a light, mischievous tone where the primary goal is to elicit laughter through shock and awkwardness, rather than through traditional scripted jokes.

Chaotic Road Trip Comedies like Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Unlikely duos embark on a journey filled with mishaps, bonding, and outrageous events. Fans of the cross-country misadventures in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa will enjoy these chaotic road trip movies. They feature unlikely duos navigating a series of hilarious and unpredictable situations, blending crude humor with a heartwarming, if unconventional, bond between the main characters.

  • road trip
  • unlikely duo
  • chaotic journey
  • bonding
  • misadventures
  • episodic comedy
  • Tone: light, comedic, heartfelt
  • Pacing: fast, event-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern is linear and goal-oriented—get from point A to point B—but the journey is consistently derailed by a series of self-contained, comedic episodes. Character development occurs through these shared chaotic experiences, moving the duo from initial friction to a place of mutual understanding or affection. The structure is straightforward, allowing the comedy and character chemistry to drive the film.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their core structure: a road trip that serves as a vehicle for episodic comedy and character bonding. They share a fast pace, a light emotional weight, and a focus on the humorous friction and eventual camaraderie between two very different individuals forced to spend time together.

Every angle

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa 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