Meet the Applegates

Meet the Applegates

Year: 1990

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Lehmann

ComedyFantasyHorrorCrude humor and satireFunny jokes and crude humor

A quirky, off‑beat comedy follows a colony of insects that escape South America and settle in a perfect‑looking 1950s suburban neighborhood in the United States. Pretending to be an ideal family, they plot to tap the nation's nuclear resources, leading to a series of bizarre and humorous mishaps.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Meet the Applegates (1990)

Trace every key event in Meet the Applegates (1990) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Opening attack in the Brazilian rainforest

A logging crew is ambushed by a family of giant shapeshifting mutant bugs called the Brazilian Cocorada. The creatures reveal their true forms and demonstrate deadly, predatory abilities, establishing the threat that frames the story.

Opening sequence Brazilian rainforest
2

Applegates relocate to suburban Ohio

The Applegates move into a well-off suburb and begin the process of assimilating into human society. It is revealed that they are secretly exploring humanity as part of a mission to eradicate humans, and Dick has taken a job at a nearby nuclear power plant.

Early after moving Suburban Ohio
3

Dick's secret plan to destroy humanity

Dick is secretly working on a plan to trigger a nuclear explosion that would wipe out humans and leave the bugs in peace. The family maintains their cover while he pursues this dangerous scheme.

Early Near a nuclear power plant, Ohio
4

The American dream fractures

The Applegates begin to drift from their ideal family image as personal lives crumble. Dick starts an affair at work, and Jane becomes addicted to shopping and credit cards, straining their relationships and threatening their cover.

Early days of assimilation Applegate home and workplace
5

Johnny's true form surfaces

Johnny embraces heavy metal culture and experimentation, and his true bug form is accidentally revealed. In a panic, he cocoons his human friends and hides them away, exposing the danger of their mission.

Mid-early School/household
6

Sally's transformation under pressure

Sally's true insect nature is revealed during an assault by Vince. In panic, she cocoons him and hides him in the basement, illustrating the perils of living undercover as humans.

During the Vince incident Applegate home, basement
7

Aunt Bea arrives to steer the mission

Aunt Bea is dispatched to bring the family back to their mission and ensure they complete the assignment. Her arrival signals a renewed push to exterminate humans, testing the family’s loyalty.

Mid-story Applegate home
8

Dick's affair leads to consequences

Dick's affair with his secretary leads to them both getting fired, and the lover begins blackmail. In panic, Dick cocoons her to silence the threat, escalating the family’s secret violence.

Mid-story Dick's workplace/home
9

Credit debts loom and victims cocooned

Jane's mounting debt draws collectors to the house, and she cocoons the two men who come to collect. The family’s secret grows more fragile as their human facade unravels.

Mid-story Applegate home
10

Robbery attempt and the sheriff is cocooned

In a desperate bid to pay debts, Jane tries to rob a local convenience store but is caught by a sheriff who also falls victim to their power and is cocooned. The family’s secret expands into danger for the community.

Mid-story Local convenience store and sheriff's location
11

Prize visit reveals Sally's pregnancy

A journalist and photographer arrive to announce they have won the prize for the most normal American family. They quickly spot Sally's pregnancy, challenging the family's pretence and triggering tension about their true nature.

Prize visit Applegate home
12

Labor and the journalist's egg

During the struggle over the prize, Sally goes into labor and gives birth to a large insect egg that rolls toward the journalist. The journalist, disgusted, stomps on the egg and is killed by the act, and the family is quickly cocooned again.

During prize confrontation Applegate home
13

Aunt Bea pushes the mission; Dick acts

Bea arrives and pushes for the mission, but the family has grown fond of humans. In a decisive moment, Dick intervenes and kills Bea to prevent a nuclear explosion, saving the town and the humans.

After cocooning event Applegate home
14

Return to Brazil and aftermath

The Applegates return to Brazil, where the plant did not blow but released enough radiation to remove hair from much of the town's population. The family’s actions have altered the local landscape, though their presence remains ambiguous.

End Brazil
15

Deleted scene: Bea survives and plots again

A deleted post-credits scene reveals that Aunt Bea survived the confrontation and still intends to destroy the world, leaving the door open for a possible sequel or alternative fate for the family.

Post-credits Unknown

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:54

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Meet the Applegates Summary

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Meet the Applegates Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Meet the Applegates

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Meet the Applegates

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