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Timeline

Mixtape (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2021 · 93 min · English
Echo score 76
Directed by
Valerie Weiss
Starring
Julie Bowen, Anthony Timpano, Gemma Brooke Allen, Audrey Hsieh, Behtash Fazlali, Diego Mercado

Approaching the year 2000, twelve-year-old Beverly Moody discovers a captivating mixtape that holds the key to understanding her parents' teenage years. Determined to learn their story, she begins a search that leads her to an eccentric neighbor, a resilient new girl in town, and a cynical record store owner. As Beverly explores the music and memories contained within the mixtape, she uncovers hidden connections and forges unexpected friendships along the way.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Mixtape
  5. 5 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Mixtape Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Mixtape (2021) 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. Beverly's life in Spokane begins

    In the last months of 1999, Beverly Moody lives with her grandmother Gail in Spokane, Washington. Beverly has been raised by Gail since her parents died in a car accident when she was two. She feels isolated at school and carries the weight of unanswered questions about her mother and father.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Spokane, Washington
  2. School bullying isolates Beverly

    Beverly is an outcast at school and endures regular bullying from two boys. The harassment intensifies, reinforcing her sense of loneliness. Her curiosity about her parents' past grows from the gap they left behind.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Spokane, Washington
  3. Discovery of the Love Riot mixtape

    Beverly stumbles upon her parents' mixtape, Love Riot, and is determined to uncover its missing tracks. The Walkman eats the tape, preventing her from listening immediately. This mystery sets her on a quest to reconstruct the playlist and decode the messages her parents left behind.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Home
  4. Anti, the reluctant mentor joins the quest

    At the local record store, the unfriendly owner known as Anti agrees to help Beverly. He explains that mixtapes carry a coded message through song order and timing. He agrees to help her track down the missing songs step by step.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Anti's record store
  5. First track secured: Getting Nowhere Fast

    Anti places the first song on the list: Getting Nowhere Fast by Girls at Our Best. He emphasizes that the order and the silence between tracks are part of the message. Beverly starts to understand the personal map her parents left behind.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Anti's record store
  6. Linda Linda and the hunt continues

    Beverly and her friends pursue the next track, Linda Linda by the Blue Hearts, in order to follow the coded trail. The search takes them through local scenes and the record store's hints. The idea of the mixtape as a message from its maker becomes clearer.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Various locations, Spokane
  7. I Got a Right joins the list

    They locate I Got a Right by the Stooges as the next track. The quest to complete the sequence drives their new friendships and the plan to find more songs. The mystery deepens as the music seems to correspond to memories of Beverly's parents.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Record stores and local venues
  8. Teacher's Pet completes the quartet

    The fourth track, Teacher's Pet by The Quick, is found and added to the mixtape's order. Each newly located song tightens the bond between Beverly and Anti’s cryptic mission. The playlist begins to feel like a map to her parents' past.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Various locations
  9. Ellen and Nicky join the journey

    Beverly befriends Ellen, a Taiwanese transfer student, and Nicky, a tough girl who shares a passion for music. The three girls bond over creating music together using Nicky's brother's band's instruments. Their collaboration expands the quest beyond listening to also making melodies.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Spokane, at school and nearby spaces
  10. The expedition to the magical More than This

    The trio embarks on a trip to a magical abandoned place where Beverly's parents had their first date, named More than This. They search for clues and inspiration, linking the memories to the songs they seek. The journey reframes the mixtape as a living connection to Beverly's history.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    More than This
  11. The musician encounter and the gig

    They track down a musician Kim knew and pressure Anti to bring them to his gig. Beverly shows him a Polaroid photo of him with Kim, hoping to spark a memory. The musician initially ignores her, then recognizes her as a lyricist but dismisses her for having a baby.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Musician's venue
  12. Beverly stands up and faces consequences

    After the disappointment, Beverly withdraws from the search, and is subjected to bullying again. The tension escalates when she stands up to the bullies, leading to the wheels of their wheelchairs being stabbed and her suspension. The incident marks a turning point in her resilience.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    School
  13. Gail and Anti: a door opens to Kim's story

    Beverly's struggles prompt Gail to engage with Anti, and she begins to open up about Kim. The grandmother listens to a recording of The Wrong Song, written and sung by Beverly's mom and dad. The revelation deepens family pain but also a chance for healing.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Gail's home and Anti's record store
  14. Better Things and the final revelation

    Ellen and Nicky play The Kinks' Better Things for Gail, offering comfort and insight. Gail's renewed conversation with Anti helps Beverly feel supported. This moment lays the emotional groundwork for the final act.

    When
    Late 1999
    Where
    Gail's home
  15. New Year's Eve performance: Us Dudes R Sisters

    The three girls perform songs inspired by the mixtape, debuting as Us Dudes R Sisters. Their families and Anti attend the trio's performance with pride and emotion. The moment marks the culmination of Beverly's quest and the unification of the families through music.

    When
    New Year's Eve 1999
    Where
    New Year's Eve party

Last updated: February 03, 2026 at 07:41

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Timeline questions answered

Mixtape Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Mixtape (2021): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Beverly's grandmother reluctant to talk about her mother?

Gail is still grieving the loss of her daughter Kim, who died in a car accident along with Beverly's father when Beverly was just two years old. She fears that sharing too much about Kim will make Beverly want to learn more, potentially leading Beverly to leave Gail the same way Kim did. This grief manifests as wariness whenever Beverly asks questions about her mother.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes show Gail avoiding photos of Kim and becoming defensive when Beverly asks about her.

  • gail
  • kim
  • grief
  • grandmother
  • loss
  • beverly
Q2

How does a mixtape work as a hidden message?

Anti explains that a mixtape is more than a random collection of songs. The specific order of tracks, the timing and spacing between songs, and the song selections themselves create a deliberate message from the creator. The sequence tells a story or conveys emotions meant for the listener.

Foreshadowing: Anti's explanation about mixtapes being like personal maps sets up the entire quest.

  • mixtape
  • anti
  • message
  • songs
  • order
Q3

Why does the musician dismiss Kim after recognizing her?

When Beverly shows the musician a Polaroid of Kim, he initially ignores her but then remembers Kim as a talented lyricist. However, he dismisses her by saying she had a baby and seemingly abandoned music, suggesting he views her decision to have a child and stop pursuing music as giving up on her dreams.

Foreshadowing: This moment reveals how others perceived Kim's choices and adds to the mystery of who Beverly's parents were.

  • musician
  • kim
  • lyricist
  • polaroid
Q4

What is the More than This place?

More than This is a magical, abandoned location where Beverly's parents had their first date. The place seems to preserve memories of them, serving as a tangible connection to their past. Beverly and her friends visit this location during their quest to find clues about the mixtape and learn more about her parents' history.

Foreshadowing: The name 'More than This' hints at the idea that their relationship was more than just a teenage romance.

  • more than this
  • memories
  • date
  • parents
Q5

Why does Beverly damage the bullies' wheelchair?

After dealing with ongoing bullying and the disappointment of the musician dismissing her mother, Beverly reaches her breaking point. When the bullies harass her again, she reacts impulsively by stabbing the wheels of their wheelchair. This act leads to her suspension but represents a turning point where she finally stands up for herself rather than accepting the mistreatment.

Foreshadowing: Her earlier isolation and the weight of everything she's dealing with build up to this explosive moment.

  • beverly
  • bullies
  • wheelchair
  • suspension
  • stand up
Q6

What is The Wrong Song and why is it important?

The Wrong Song is a track written and sung by Beverly's mother Kim and father together. Gail discovers the discarded mixtape list and decides to share the truth about Kim, culminating in a recording of this song. Hearing their voices together helps Gail feel connected to them again and allows Beverly to finally hear her parents' music.

Foreshadowing: The search for the mixtape tracks gradually builds toward this emotional revelation.

  • the wrong song
  • kim
  • parents
  • recording
  • voice
Q7

What causes Gail to finally open up about Kim?

Witnessing Beverly's struggles, the bullying, her emotional withdrawal, and the aftermath of the wheelchair incident, moves Gail to finally share Kim's story. Additionally, her conversation with Anti and discovering the discarded mixtape list gives her the push she needs to reconnect with the past and honor Beverly's desire to know her mother.

Foreshadowing: Gail's finding of the mixtape list directly leads to her decision to share the recording.

  • gail
  • kim
  • open up
  • mixtape list
  • anti
Q8

What does completing the mixtape help Beverly understand?

Through reconstructing the mixtape in the exact order her parents created, Beverly learns about the people and moments that shaped her parents' lives. Each song connects to someone who knew them, Anti, the musician, places like More than This. The mixtape becomes a map of their relationship and a way for Beverly to finally know them through the music they loved.

Foreshadowing: Anti's explanation that the order creates a message foreshadows this revelation.

  • mixtape
  • parents
  • understand
  • songs
  • connection
Q9

Why do Ellen and Nicky join Beverly's quest?

Both Ellen and Nicky share Beverly's passion for music, which creates an immediate bond. Ellen is a Taiwanese transfer student looking for connection in a new place, while Nicky is a tough girl who loves music. Together, they help Beverly track down the songs and even create their own music, turning the quest into a collaborative journey of friendship and self-discovery.

Foreshadowing: Their shared love of music is established early when they begin making melodies together.

  • ellen
  • nicky
  • friends
  • music
  • join
Q10

Why is Beverly isolated at school?

Beverly feels isolated at school because she doesn't fit in with her peers and is targeted by two bullies who harass her regularly. Her curiosity about her deceased parents and her grandmother's evasive answers leave her feeling like an outsider. This isolation drives her to seek connection elsewhere, eventually finding it through her quest to learn about her parents and the friendships she forms.

Foreshadowing: The bullying intensifies throughout the film until Beverly's breaking point.

  • beverly
  • bullying
  • school
  • isolated
  • outsiders

Movie threads

More Movies Like Mixtape, by Mood & Story

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

Nostalgic Quests for Family History like in Mixtape

Heartwarming journeys into the past that help characters understand their present. If you enjoyed Mixtape, you'll like these movies about characters uncovering family history. This collection features gentle, character-driven stories where discovering the past leads to heartwarming connections and a better understanding of the present.

  • nostalgic
  • heartwarming
  • reflective
  • quirky
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • Tone: hopeful, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically revolves around a protagonist who stumbles upon a clue to a family mystery or a forgotten story from a previous generation. Their investigation forms the central plot, often involving meeting new people and visiting meaningful locations, ultimately resolving in a emotional and enlightening conclusion that brings peace or closure.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a focus on introspection, gentle discovery, and the emotional resonance of connecting with one's roots. They balance a touch of melancholy from the past with a hopeful, uplifting arc in the present.

Movies about Healing Through Music like Mixtape

Stories where music provides a bridge from sadness to connection and joy. Find movies similar to Mixtape where music mends hearts. This selection features heartfelt dramas and comedies where discovering or creating music helps characters overcome loss, build found family, and find hope, all with a steady, character-focused pace.

  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • heartwarming
  • nostalgic
  • quirky
  • uplifting
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The emotional journey begins with a character coping with a sense of loss or disconnection. Their encounter with a specific piece of music or a musical mentor opens a new path. As they delve into the music, it facilitates conversations, forges new friendships, and allows them to reframe their pain into something shared and beautiful, culminating in a cathartic, often music-filled resolution.

Why they belong together: These movies share a unique blend of melancholic undertones with a fundamentally hopeful arc, all driven by the power of music. They are linked by their medium-intensity emotional weight, focus on friendship, and the theme of transforming sadness into connection.

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Movies Like Mixtape

Similar movies to Mixtape: 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

Mixtape (2021) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Mixtape in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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