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Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet (2008) movie poster

Timeline

Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet (2008) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2008 · 101 mins · Spanish
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Directed by
Miguel Bardem
Starring
Carlos Santos, Emilio Gavira, Álex O'Dogherty, Javi Coll, Mariano Venancio, Janfri Topera

During the worst drought in history, water reserves are being drained by criminals. The world’s top secret agents gather, but the villain Botijola sabotages the meeting, planning to turn water into a substitute and kidnapping Professor Bacterio. Unaware that Bacterio hid parts of his invention across time, two absent agents—Mortadelo and Filemón—become the planet’s only hope.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (11)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet
  6. 6 Every angle
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11 events in order · contains spoilers

Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet (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. Opening clash: drought, Botijola's plan, and the fallout

    The world suffers the worst drought and widespread water pollution. Botijola unveils a plan to replace every drop of water with his water-free beverage, a scheme that could let him control humanity. He also abducts the scatterbrained inventor Bacterio, while Mortadelo and Filemón drift apart and take on bumbling city jobs.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    City
  2. Reunion and the decision to use a time machine

    Mortadelo and Filemón reunite and resolve to stop Botijola. They decide to use Bacterio's time machine to recover the missing components of the device that can convert water into energy. The plan hinges on retrieving the pieces from different eras before Botijola can implement his scheme.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    City
  3. Journey to Ancient Rome: the Coliseum awaits

    They activate the time machine and land in Ancient Rome, near the famous Coliseum. The pair must navigate a dangerous era while pursuing clues about the first piece. The adventure kicks off in a city of marble, spectators, and peril.

    When
    Ancient Rome
    Where
    Ancient Rome - Coliseum
  4. Coliseum duel and the first piece secured

    Inside the Coliseum, Filemón faces a gigantic gladiator in a fierce bout. Mortadelo and Filemón manage to retrieve the first piece of Bacterio's device. Their success draws attention from Rome's brutal crowd and guards alike.

    When
    Ancient Rome
    Where
    Coliseum, Ancient Rome
  5. Chulin steals the first piece

    Chulin, acting for Botijola, ambushes the heroes and nabs the first piece. The theft complicates the mission and forces a renewed chase through the ancient city. The quest for the device is far from over.

    When
    Ancient Rome
    Where
    Ancient Rome - Coliseum vicinity
  6. Return to the Inquisition and release prisoners

    The team uses the time machine again to return to the era of the Inquisition. They meet Torquemados and take bold action to free prisoners, undermining Botijola's influence in the era. The mission pivots from pursuit to a strategic disruption of Botijola's plans.

    When
    Inquisition era
    Where
    Inquisition-era Spain
  7. Second piece retrieved, but then stolen again

    Back in the Inquisition, they secure the second piece of the device. Once more, Chulin intercepts and steals it, forcing another race to recover it before Botijola can consolidate his power. The timeline grows more dangerous with each theft.

    When
    Inquisition era
    Where
    Inquisition-era Spain
  8. Return to Botijola's desert HQ

    Mortadelo, Filemón, and Bacterio head to Botijola's desert headquarters to confront the mastermind directly. The mission progresses with mixed results as the villains’ defenses prove stubborn and the heroes’ plans face constant disruption.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Botijola's desert HQ
  9. Ofelia intervenes with a gravity-bending invention

    Ofelia steps in and deploys another Bacterio invention to cut gravity, creating unexpected physical effects. The new disruption shifts the balance of power and gives Mortadelo and Filemón a crucial opening. Botijola's plans begin to falter under the unusual forces at play.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Botijola's desert HQ
  10. Water drained and redirected toward the city

    A large area of water is dried up as gravity is manipulated, but Mortadelo redirects it back toward the city rather than its source. The redirected water travels with great force, altering the landscape and testing the heroes’ resolve. The world-watchers hold their breath as the balance of water shifts dramatically.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    City
  11. Flood of the city and the finale

    The redirected water floods the city, submerging many buildings and reshaping the urban skyline. Botijola's plan to control water is nearly thwarted, but at a heavy cost to the city. The heroes’ efforts have prevented the total takeover, yet the final image is one of submerged chaos and uncertain recovery.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    City

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 19:57

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Timeline questions answered

Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why does Botijola want to replace all water with his drink?

Botijola plans to replace every drop of water on Earth with his colorless beverage, which contains no real water. This would give him absolute control over humanity since water is essential for life. By creating a monopoly on the only liquid people can consume, he could essentially hold the world hostage and dictate any terms he wants.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that this is the worst drought in history, making water control extraordinarily valuable.

  • botijola
  • water control
  • drink
  • world domination
  • villain plan
Q2

How do Mortadelo and Filemón become the only hope to stop Botijola?

Mortadelo and Filemón are the only agents who actually manage to recover the hidden pieces of Professor Bacterio's device. While the world's top secret agents were gathered and then sabotaged by Botijola, these two bumbling but determined agents use the time machine to travel through history and retrieve the components that can restore water to its proper state.

Foreshadowing: The opening shows Botijola sabotaging the agent meeting, eliminating the traditional heroic options.

  • mortadelo
  • filemon
  • secret agents
  • hope
  • time machine
Q3

Why do Mortadelo and Filemón need to travel through time?

Professor Bacterio hid pieces of his invention across different time periods because he knew Botijola would try to steal or destroy the complete device. The time machine is the only way to recover these scattered components before Botijola can implement his plan to control the world's water supply.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes that Bacterio is scatterbrained but clever enough to hide his invention where villains can't find it.

  • time machine
  • bacterio device
  • time travel
  • ancient rome
  • inquisition
Q4

How does Ofelia's gravity invention cause the city to flood?

Ofelia deploys one of Bacterio's inventions that disrupts gravity, which drains a massive body of water. However, Mortadelo redirects this water back toward the city instead of letting Botijola control it. The redirected water rushes through streets and buildings, submerging much of the metropolis. The flood overwhelms the city but also defeats Botijola's scheme by freeing the water from his control.

Foreshadowing: The gravity device appears earlier as one of Bacterio's inventions waiting to be used.

  • ofelia
  • gravity device
  • flood
  • city
  • water redirect
Q5

Why does Chulín keep stealing the device pieces from Mortadelo and Filemón?

Chulín is a malicious agent who works directly for Botijola. His job is to prevent the heroes from recovering the device components that could stop the villain's plan. Every time Mortadelo and Filemón secure a piece from ancient Rome or the Inquisition, Chulín ambushes them and takes it, forcing the chase to continue.

Foreshadowing: Chulín is introduced as Botijola's agent from the start.

  • chulin
  • botijola agent
  • theft
  • stealing
  • device pieces
Q6

What does Professor Bacterio's device actually do?

Bacterio built a machine capable of converting water into energy and moving it anywhere. Botijola wants to use this technology to redirect all water to his control. The scattered pieces of this device are needed to restore its original function and reverse Botijola's scheme.

Foreshadowing: Botijola specifically targets Bacterio because his invention is the key to the water scheme.

  • professor bacterio
  • invention
  • water conversion
  • machine
  • device
Q7

What happens to Botijola's plan to control the world's water?

Botijola's plan is thwarted when Mortadelo redirects the drained water back toward the city rather than allowing it to be controlled by the villain. The resulting flood submerges the city and destroys Botijola's infrastructure, preventing him from completing his water replacement scheme. While the city suffers damage, the villain's attempt at world domination fails.

Foreshadowing: The gravity invention was meant to give Botijola an advantage, but Mortadelo turns it against him.

  • botijola defeated
  • plan foiled
  • villain
  • city flood
  • water control
Q8

Why were Mortadelo and Filemón estranged before the mission?

Before the crisis, Mortadelo and Filemón had fallen out and were working minor, disastrous city jobs that tended to go spectacularly wrong. The film's opening shows them drifting apart, taking on bumbling municipal work. When the world faces the water crisis, they reunite with a shared goal to stop Botijola and reclaim their partnership.

Foreshadowing: The opening sequence establishes their separation and各自的失败工作。

  • mortadelo
  • filemon
  • estranged
  • reunion
  • partnership
  • falling out
Q9

What is Todoquisque's role in Botijola's scheme?

Todoquisque is a quick-change artist hired by Botijola to impersonate Filemón and infiltrate the plot's gears. By disguising himself as Filemón, Todoquisque helps Botijola's plan operate from within while the real Filemón is occupied elsewhere.

Foreshadowing: The summary mentions Todoquisque bringing in the quick-change artist early in the plot.

  • todoquisque
  • disguise
  • filemon impersonation
  • infiltration
Q10

In which time periods do Mortadelo and Filemón find the hidden device pieces?

They travel to two distinct historical eras: Ancient Rome (at the Coliseum) and the Inquisition era in Spain. In ancient Rome, they retrieve the first piece after a gladiator confrontation. In the Inquisition, they secure the second piece after freeing prisoners. Both times, Chulín steals the pieces before they can return with them.

Foreshadowing: The time machine was designed to access these specific historical points where Bacterio hid components.

  • ancient rome
  • inquisition
  • time travel
  • coliseum
  • historical eras

Movie threads

More Movies Like Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Chaotic slapstick buddy adventures like Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet

Pairs of comedic partners stumbling through outrageous missions with frantic energy. If you enjoyed the bumbling partnership in Mortadelo & Filemon, you'll love these movies. This list features comedy films where a hilarious duo navigates ridiculous missions with slapstick humor and a fast pace.

  • slapstick
  • buddy comedy
  • chaotic
  • lighthearted
  • playful
  • silly
  • Tone: whimsical, lighthearted
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a simple mission or goal that quickly spirals out of control due to the protagonists' incompetence and good-natured bumbling. Plot points serve as setups for gags rather than complex drama, leading to a satisfying and humorous conclusion.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their focus on a central comedic pair, reliance on physical and situational humor, and a lighthearted tone that prioritizes laughs over high stakes, creating a consistently fun and energetic vibe.

Whimsical high-stakes parodies like Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet

A high-concept plot played for laughs with cartoonish characters and a happy ending. Looking for movies similar to Mortadelo & Filemon's humorous take on a spy mission? Discover comedy films that parody serious genres with lighthearted fun, cartoonish villains, and a fast-paced, adventurous spirit.

  • parody
  • whimsical
  • adventurous
  • lighthearted
  • silly
  • cartoonish
  • Tone: whimsical, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot presents a seemingly major threat—like a global crisis—that is tackled by unlikely, often inept heroes. The narrative structure mimics the genre being parodied, but each serious beat is undercut by humor, leading to a climax resolved through comedic luck or a ridiculous deus ex machina.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films by their shared approach of using parody to create comedy. They maintain a playful atmosphere despite high-concept plots, blending adventure and humor with a straightforward, satisfying story arc.

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Every angle

Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet (2008) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Mortadelo & Filemon: Mission: Save the Planet 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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