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Timeline

Jumper (2008) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2008 · 88 min · English
Directed by
Doug Liman
Starring
Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell
Budget
$85M

A young man, David, suddenly finds he can teleport across the globe. He initially enjoys his newfound freedom, traveling the world from New York to Tokyo. However, his abilities draw him into a secret, ancient conflict between groups of "Jumpers" who have been battling for dominance for centuries. Pursued by those who seek to control him, David must learn to master his powers and navigate this dangerous world.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Jumper
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Jumper (2008)

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

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Jumper Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Jumper (2008) 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. David Surprises Millie

    In Ann Arbor, Michigan, young David Rice gifts his crush, Millie, a snow globe featuring the Eiffel Tower, symbolizing her dream of travel. This gesture sets the stage for their connection and showcases David's thoughtful nature.

    Where
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
  2. The Bully's Attack

    A bully named Mark shatters the snow globe on the icy riverbank, breaking David's delicate moment with Millie. In an attempt to recover the globe, David falls into the icy water, leading to a life-changing incident.

    Where
    Icy Riverbank
  3. David Discovers His Power

    After falling through the ice, David unexpectedly reappears in a local library, completely soaked. Here, he realizes he possesses a unique ability to 'Jump', allowing him to teleport instantly from one location to another.

    Where
    Local Library
  4. David's Disappearance

    Feeling out of place and disillusioned, David chooses to escape his life. His father, an alcoholic, believes David has drowned, marking a turning point where David is presumed dead and begins a new, reckless life.

  5. Life as a Jumper

    Fast forward eight years, David lives extravagantly, leaping across continents and indulging in a life filled with luxury. However, he remains indifferent to the disasters around him, using his powers primarily for personal gain.

    When
    Eight years later
  6. Encounter with Roland

    David's carefree life is disrupted when he is ambushed by Roland Cox, who seeks to capture him. Roland employs high-voltage cables designed to nullify David’s teleportation abilities, forcing David to fight for his freedom.

    Where
    David's Home
  7. Return to Ann Arbor

    After narrowly escaping Roland, David decides to return to Ann Arbor to reconnect with Millie, who has grown up and changed. This reunion is filled with nostalgia and excitement as they seek to rekindle their bond.

    Where
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
  8. Confrontation with Mark

    Upon his return, David runs into Mark, the bully from his childhood. In a moment of retribution, David teleports Mark into a bank vault, showcasing his power and settling old scores.

    Where
    Bank Vault
  9. Trip to Rome

    Excited to reconnect further, David invites Millie on a trip to Rome using traditional travel methods. This adventure brings them closer together, although David carefully hides his past and true identity from her.

    Where
    Rome
  10. Meeting Griffin

    In Rome, David meets another Jumper named Griffin, who warns him about the Paladins, an extremist group hunting Jumpers. Their discussion reveals the dangers that David now faces with this new enemy.

    Where
    Rome
  11. Chaos in the Streets

    The Paladins invade, leading to a violent confrontation filled with chaos. Griffin showcases his fighting prowess as he battles the Paladins, revealing the high stakes involved in being a Jumper.

    Where
    Rome
  12. David's Capture

    During a desperate attempt to rescue Millie, David is captured by Italian police. Millie’s confrontation with David exposes his hidden secrets, leading to her being sent back home before David can explain.

    Where
    Italy
  13. Reunion with Family

    After a series of events, David reunites with his estranged mother, Mary. She reveals critical family secrets and her own connections to the Paladin organization, adding complexity to David's quest for safety.

  14. Final Battle with Roland

    As tensions rise, David and Griffin face off against Roland and the Paladins in a climactic battle. Utilizing his teleporting abilities strategically, David manages to trap Roland and protect Millie.

  15. A New Beginning

    With the threat of the Paladins diminished, David and Millie decide to embark on a new journey together. Embracing their love and shared adventures, they step into the unknown, ready to discover true freedom.

Last updated: October 28, 2024 at 18:21

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Timeline questions answered

Jumper Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Jumper (2008): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Roland Cox want to capture David?

Roland Cox leads a group called the Paladins who believe only God should have the power to teleport. He wants to capture David because Jumpers are considered an abomination to their religious ideology. Roland uses high-voltage cables specifically designed to nullify a Jumper's teleportation ability, allowing him to trap them.

Foreshadowing: Roland's ambush in David's home reveals he has been hunting Jumpers for years, using specialized equipment.

  • roland cox
  • paladins
  • jumper
  • capture
  • teleportation
Q2

What are the Paladins and why do they hunt Jumpers?

The Paladins are an extremist religious organization that believes teleportation is a power that only God should possess. They have been hunting and killing Jumpers for centuries, viewing them as abominations. Roland explains their gruesome history to David, revealing the deep-seated vendetta between the two groups.

Foreshadowing: Griffin warns David about the Paladins in Rome, describing them as extreme and dangerous.

  • paladins
  • jumpers
  • religious
  • hunters
  • ancient conflict
Q3

How did David discover his teleportation ability?

David discovered his power when he fell through the ice while trying to retrieve Millie's snow globe from the icy river. He was swept away by the current and suddenly reappeared in the local library, soaking wet. This traumatic event triggered his ability to jump, allowing him to teleport instantaneously.

Foreshadowing: The snow globe featuring the Eiffel Tower foreshadows David's future ability to travel anywhere instantly.

  • teleportation
  • ice
  • library
  • discovery
  • ability
Q4

Why does David's mother have ties to the Paladin organization?

David's mother Mary is revealed to have her own connections to the Paladin organization. She Reunites with David at the end and reveals family secrets that explain her involvement. Her connection adds personal stakes to the conflict and explains why certain information about the Paladins was hidden from David.

Foreshadowing: The mystery surrounding David's family background hints at deeper connections to the Jumper world.

  • mary
  • mother
  • paladins
  • family secrets
  • connection
Q5

Why didn't David use his powers to help during natural disasters?

After discovering his abilities, David chose to live a selfish life of luxury, using his teleportation powers primarily for personal gain and thrill-seeking. He admits to Millie that he saw major disasters on the news but deliberately chose not to intervene. This reflects his disillusionment with his old life and his focus on personal freedom rather than responsibility.

Foreshadowing: David's carefree lifestyle in the eight years after leaving Ann Arbor establishes his self-centered nature.

  • disasters
  • selfish
  • powers
  • responsibility
  • lifestyle
Q6

How did Griffin know so much about the Paladins?

Griffin is another Jumper who has been fighting the Paladins for a long time. He reveals detailed information about their history and methods when David seeks his help. Griffin has been actively resisting the Paladins, making him a valuable ally but also someone deeply affected by the ongoing conflict.

Foreshadowing: Griffin's warning to David about the Paladins in Rome shows he has prior experience with them.

  • griffin
  • paladins
  • knowledge
  • history
  • resistance
Q7

What is the origin of the conflict between Jumpers and Paladins?

The conflict between Jumpers and Paladins is ancient, spanning centuries. The Paladins are a religious group that believes teleportation is a divine power that humans should not possess. They have systematically hunted and killed Jumpers throughout history, viewing them as threats to the natural order. Roland explains this vendetta to David, emphasizing that the Paladins see themselves as executing God's will.

Foreshadowing: The centuries-old pursuit suggests the conflict predates both Roland and the current Jumpers.

  • conflict
  • origin
  • centuries
  • religious
  • vendetta
Q8

Why did David teleport Mark into a bank vault?

David teleports Mark, his childhood bully, into a bank vault as an act of retribution for destroying Millie's snow globe years earlier. This is David's way of settling old scores upon returning to Ann Arbor. The action demonstrates both his newfound power and his willingness to use it for personal revenge rather than more noble purposes.

Foreshadowing: Mark's bullying in the opening scene establishes the personal history that motivates this confrontation.

  • mark
  • bank vault
  • revenge
  • bully
  • teleportation
Q9

How was David captured by the Italian police?

David was captured by Italian police while attempting to rescue Millie during the Paladin attack in Rome. After the chaotic confrontation in the streets, Millie confronts David about his secrets and is put on a plane back home. David's inability to explain himself in time leads to her departure, and he is subsequently taken into custody by Italian authorities.

Foreshadowing: The Paladin attack in Rome creates chaos that David cannot fully control, leading to his capture.

  • italian police
  • capture
  • rome
  • millie
  • arrest
Q10

What happens to Roland at the end of the movie?

In the final battle, David uses his teleportation abilities strategically to trap Roland in an isolated location, leaving him powerless. This effectively removes Roland as a threat, though the larger Paladin organization remains active. The confrontation ends with Roland defeated but the broader conflict between Jumpers and Paladins left unresolved.

Foreshadowing: David's growing mastery of his powers throughout the film culminates in this strategic victory.

  • roland
  • defeat
  • final battle
  • trapped
  • isolated

Movie threads

More Movies Like Jumper, by Mood & Story

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

Supernatural Chase Thrillers like Jumper

Characters with incredible powers are hunted by a relentless, organized enemy. If you liked the constant pursuit in Jumper, you'll enjoy these movies where heroes with special powers are hunted. This collection features fast-paced, high-intensity action films and sci-fi thrillers with similar chase-driven plots and high-stakes tension.

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

The story pattern: These stories often begin with the protagonist discovering or mastering a power, only to have that freedom immediately threatened by a powerful, established enemy. The plot is driven by a series of narrow escapes and confrontations, forcing the hero to evolve from being selfish or scared into a more responsible and strategic fighter.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on the core dynamic of a hunted superhuman. They share a fast pace, high intensity, and a tense tone, focusing on the conflict between individual freedom and systemic control.

Movies about Secret Wars like Jumper

Young adults discover hidden conflicts and must choose a side to survive. Find more movies like Jumper where a young hero is initiated into a hidden conflict. These films blend coming-of-age stories with action and adventure, featuring secret societies, ancient feuds, and protagonists learning to fight for survival.

  • adventurous
  • tense
  • initiation
  • hidden world
  • coming of age
  • secret society
  • Tone: tense, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a classic initiation pattern: a period of discovery and wonder is quickly replaced by danger and responsibility. The protagonist's personal growth is tied directly to their involvement in the larger conflict, often culminating in a climactic battle that solidifies their place in this new world, even if the war itself continues.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies that combine a coming-of-age arc with the discovery of a hidden world at war. They share a mix of adventurous discovery and tense action, with a straightforward narrative focused on the protagonist's rapid adaptation and rise to the challenge.

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Movies Like Jumper

Similar movies to Jumper: 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

Jumper (2008) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Jumper 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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