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King of the Mountain (2018) movie poster

Timeline

King of the Mountain (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 112 mins · Russian
Directed by
Дмитрий Сорокин, Tamara Tsotsoriya
Starring
Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Natalia Berger, Andrey Kharybin, Nonna Grishaeva, Sergey Nikonenko, Irina Rozanova

Alexey Tsaryov is a confident and successful 17-year-old, a leader at school and a rising star in junior alpine skiing. He enjoys a relationship with Lina and a close friendship with Kostya, who also serves as his rival in both sports and romance. Alexey excels in every aspect of his life, fiercely determined to win. However, a devastating accident caused by Kostya dramatically alters their relationship and tests the strength of their bond. Ultimately, courage, kindness, and love become essential in overcoming adversity and achieving personal triumphs.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like King of the Mountain
  6. 6 Categories
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch King of the Mountain (2018)

Where can you watch King of the Mountain? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Vimeo: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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12 events in order · contains spoilers

King of the Mountain Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of King of the Mountain (2018) 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. Steve's double life as mechanic and street racer

    Steve works by day at a Porsche repair garage, but by night he becomes the King of The Mountain, led by speed and risk. He dominates the tight streets of Mulholland Drive in his tuned 356 Speedster and treats racing as a way of life rather than a hobby. The thrill consumes him and his future feels tethered to the next race.

    When
    Day and night
    Where
    Porsche repair garage; Mulholland Drive
  2. Mulholland's racing culture

    Steve's circle organizes, wagers on, and participates in late-night races along the narrow, winding roads of Mulholland Drive. The races are a tight-knit ritual that blends skill, bravado, and the constant threat of disaster. The crowd respects Steve as the reigning champion, the man to beat.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Mulholland Drive
  3. Cal's past and near-fatal accident

    Cal, the former King, is introduced as a shadow of his former self. He survived a near-fatal accident that wrecked his Corvette and crushed his ego, leaving him damaged and vengeful. He secretly nurses a plan to rebuild and reclaim the title.

    When
    After accident
    Where
    Cal's workshop
  4. Buddy and Roger pivot to music

    Steve's friends Buddy and Roger want to break into the music business, shifting their focus away from racing. The group that once trained and raced together now drifts toward opportunities beyond the track. Steve is left to reign more or less alone, chasing the thrill without the shared joy.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Garage/streets
  5. Steve meets Tina

    Steve meets Tina, a young singer connected to Buddy and Roger, and is instantly drawn to her. He tries to pull her into the world of street racing, hoping she’ll share his passion. Tina is dazzled by his charisma but not eager to throw herself into perilous, nocturnal races.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Nightlife scene
  6. Tina's reluctance to racing

    Tina isn’t as enthralled with racing as Steve, and she isn’t keen on entering a life defined by risk and constant danger. Steve’s attempts to involve her clash with her desire for a safer, ordinary life. Their tension grows as he balances love with his obsession for speed.

    When
    Present
    Where
    City/club
  7. Cal's secret rebuild

    Cal begins secretly rebuilding his aging Corvette, plotting a comeback that would steal Steve’s crown. The project is a quiet, obsessive pursuit that keeps him focused on the hurt of the past. He believes reclaiming the title will prove he’s still a force to be reckoned with.

    When
    Over weeks
    Where
    Cal's workshop
  8. Steve's internal dilemma

    With Tina in his orbit but racing still consuming him, Steve wrestles with whether to abdicate the King’s crown and try a real life with Tina. He wonders if there is more worth pursuing than the next high-speed race. The decision is hinted at as the path to a possible future away from Mulholland.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Steve’s home
  9. Rising tension between Steve and Cal

    Cal’s secret rebuild gathers momentum as he closes the distance on Steve’s reputation. The mounting tension foreshadows a showdown that could redefine both men’s futures. The past rivalry resurfaces as the two prepare for a final, all-or-nothing race.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Mulholland Drive hills
  10. Final race build-up

    The stage is set for a dangerous uphill-downhill showdown on Mulholland Drive. Steve and Cal push their machines and nerves to the limit as spectators sense the looming catastrophe. The thrill of winning becomes inseparable from the fear of losing everything.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Mulholland Drive hill
  11. The climactic race

    In the film’s climax, Steve and Cal race down the hill at reckless speed, testing the limits of their skill and nerve. The track becomes a tense battleground where a single mistake could be fatal. The outcome will decide who carries the King’s crown and who has to confront a different future.

    When
    Climax
    Where
    Mulholland Drive hill
  12. Steve faces his future

    After the race, Steve confronts the choice between staying King and risking everything or stepping away to pursue a real life with Tina. The film presents his decision as a fork in the road, weighing glory against the chance for genuine happiness. Whatever he chooses, the road will never be the same.

    When
    Ending
    Where
    City

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:04

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Timeline questions answered

King of the Mountain Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of King of the Mountain (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Who is Cal and what happened to him?

Cal is the former King of the Mountain who ruled the Mulholland racing scene before Steve. He suffered a near-fatal crash that destroyed his Corvette and shattered his confidence, leaving him physically and psychologically damaged. Despite this, he secretly rebuilds his car and plots to reclaim his title, using his rivalry with Steve as motivation to prove he still has what it takes.

Foreshadowing: Cal's damaged psyche and secret rebuild foreshadow the climactic showdown between him and Steve.

  • cal
  • former king
  • accident
  • corvette
  • crash
  • comeback
Q2

Why is Steve so obsessed with street racing?

Steve treats racing not as a hobby but as a way of life, the winding roads of Mulholland Drive are his kingdom where he commands respect as the reigning champion. The thrill of speed and risk fills a void in his life, though the film hints this obsession masks a deeper longing for something beyond the next race.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes showing Steve's dual life establish that racing defines his entire identity.

  • steve
  • obsession
  • racing
  • king of mountain
  • mulholland drive
  • adrenaline
Q3

What happens in the final race between Steve and Cal?

In the climactic high-speed race down Mulholland Drive, both Steve and Cal push their cars and nerves to the limit in a dangerous all-or-nothing showdown. The race becomes a reckoning for both men, testing their skill, courage, and what they're willing to risk. The outcome forces Steve to confront whether winning the crown is worth the danger.

Foreshadowing: The mounting tension throughout the film, including Cal's secret rebuild and the rivalry between the two men, builds directly to this fatal confrontation.

  • final race
  • climactic race
  • steve vs cal
  • mulholland drive
  • winner
  • outcome
Q4

Why doesn't Tina want to be part of Steve's racing world?

Tina is drawn to Steve's charisma but recognizes the danger that defines his life. She represents a safer, ordinary path, one that doesn't demand perpetual risk or gambling with life and limb. Her reluctance creates tension with Steve, who wants her to share his passion for speed.

Foreshadowing: Their first meeting establishes Tina's caution about racing, foreshadowing the central conflict between Steve's identity and potential future.

  • tina
  • steve
  • racing
  • danger
  • relationship
  • choice
Q5

What does 'King of the Mountain' mean in the film?

King of the Mountain is the title given to the dominant street racer on Mulholland Drive, the one who commands respect and feared by all who challenge the treacherous roads. Steve holds this crown throughout the film, but the title represents both glory and a dangerous trap: a throne built on risk that becomes impossible to leave.

Foreshadowing: The opening establishes Steve's reputation and the cultural significance of the title within the racing community.

  • king of mountain
  • title
  • street racing
  • mulholland
  • reputation
  • crown
Q6

Why do Buddy and Roger stop racing?

Buddy and Roger were once part of Steve's racing circle but shifted their ambitions toward breaking into the music industry. Their priorities drifted away from the street races, leaving Steve to continue the nocturnal circuits alone. This reflects the film's theme of different paths and what people sacrifice to pursue different dreams.

Foreshadowing: Their pivot to music early in the film signals that racing is a fading chapter for Steve's group.

  • buddy
  • roger
  • music
  • racing
  • friends
  • ambition
Q7

Does Steve choose racing or Tina at the end?

The film presents Steve with a fork in the road: stay crowned as the King of the Mountain and continue risking everything, or abdicate and pursue a genuine life with Tina. The ending offers a bittersweet meditation on obsession and consequence, suggesting Steve must choose between the thrill that defines him and the chance at real happiness.

Foreshadowing: Steve's internal dilemma runs throughout the film, with his conversations with Tina highlighting the tension between his identity and a different future.

  • steve
  • choice
  • ending
  • tina
  • future
  • racing
  • surrender
Q8

Why are Steve and Cal rivals?

Steve and Cal's rivalry stems from pride and history, both men have held or wanted the King of the Mountain title. Cal was the former champion before his crash, and Steve took that crown. Their competition represents the price of glory in the racing world, where one man's rise often comes at another's fall.

Foreshadowing: Cal's quiet resentment and secret rebuild project establish the personal stakes behind their rivalry.

  • steve
  • cal
  • rivalry
  • competition
  • king of mountain
  • title
  • pride

Movie threads

More Movies Like King of the Mountain, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about rivalries tested by trauma like King of the Mountain

A deep bond between rivals is shattered by a single, life-altering event. If you enjoyed the intense dynamic between Alexey and Kostya in King of the Mountain, these movies explore similar stories where a deep rivalry is shattered by a pivotal event. Find other dramatic films about friendship, ambition, and the difficult path to reconciliation after a tragedy.

  • tense
  • melancholic
  • emotional
  • rivalry
  • reckless
  • obsessive
  • Tone: tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow two highly driven individuals whose competition defines them. A catastrophic event, often caused by one rival, forces a reckoning. The story then explores the aftermath, focusing on emotional fallout, the burden of guilt, and the possibility of redemption, rather than a simple victory.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a core relationship dynamic that is broken and must be rebuilt under duress. They share a high emotional intensity, a steady pacing that allows for character depth, and a bittersweet tone where victory is redefined by personal growth.

Movies about recklessness and consequences like King of the Mountain

Characters obsessed with thrill-seeking face the sobering consequences of their choices. For viewers who liked the theme of dangerous lifestyles in King of the Mountain, this list features similar stories about characters addicted to risk. Discover other tense dramas where the thrill of speed or danger leads to a sobering reckoning and a bittersweet ending.

  • thrilling
  • reckless
  • obsessive
  • melancholic
  • tense
  • dangerous
  • Tone: tense, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, building anticipation
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The pattern involves a protagonist deeply entrenched in a dangerous world or behavior, often finding identity and purpose within it. A catalyzing event—an accident, a loss—serves as a wake-up call. The journey culminates not in a clean escape, but in a nuanced ending where the character acknowledges what was lost and what was learned.

Why they belong together: This thread unites movies through a specific emotional arc: the high of dangerous obsession followed by the crash of consequence. They share a tense tone, steady pacing that builds dread, and a consistently bittersweet resolution that feels earned rather than artificially happy or tragic.

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Movies Like King of the Mountain

Similar movies to King of the Mountain: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring King of the Mountain

King of the Mountain appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories

Every angle

King of the Mountain (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about King of the Mountain 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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