Moving On

Moving On

Year: 2023

Runtime: 85 min

Language: English

Director: Paul Weitz

Comedy

Two lifelong friends, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, find themselves embarking on a shared quest for revenge against a bothersome widower. As they pursue their mission, old tensions resurface, and unexpected connections are forged. Amidst the chaos, Fonda’s character unexpectedly reconnects with a former lover, while both women confront unresolved issues and attempt to heal old wounds while strengthening their friendship.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Moving On (2023)

Trace every key event in Moving On (2023) 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

Claire leaves home to attend Joyce's funeral

Claire hugs her daughter and grandchildren goodbye, then entrusts her beloved corgi to them before traveling across the country. She heads toward Joyce's funeral with a sense of purpose that foreshadows the weekend ahead. The journey marks the start of a long, emotionally charged sequence of events.

Home
2

Claire bluntly tells Howard she intends to kill him this weekend

Before the funeral service begins, Claire approaches Joyce's widower Howard and plainly states that she plans to kill him that weekend. The confession is abrupt and chilling, establishing a volatile undertone for the events to follow. Howard's reaction is evasive, keeping the true stakes unseen for the moment.

Before funeral service Joyce's funeral venue
3

Joyce's funeral service and wake reveal the past

Joyce's funeral service proceeds with quiet ceremony, followed by the wake where emotions run high. Claire reconnects with Evelyn, Joyce's former roommate and lover, and it is revealed that Howard had wronged Claire decades earlier. Fueled by Joyce's memory, Claire resolves to see justice in her own hands now that their friend is gone.

Joyce's funeral/wake
4

Evelyn refuses to help and returns to the assisted-living facility

Evelyn initially refuses to assist Claire with carrying out the plan, wary of the danger and consequences. She leaves the wake and heads back to her assisted-living facility, setting up a longer arc of internal conflict. The pair's alliance becomes tentative, continuing to drift amid shifting loyalties.

After wake Assisted-living facility
5

Claire reconnects with ex-husband Ralph at the wake

Claire runs into Ralph, her ex-husband, at Joyce's wake after years apart. Evelyn uses the moment to expose Joyce's two-and-a-half-year relationship in NYC, prompting the two women to leave together. The reunion adds personal complexity to Claire's quest and deepens the tension on the night.

During wake Joyce's wake
6

Ralph invites Claire home for dinner and a risky reunion

That evening, Ralph invites Claire to his home for dinner. She meets his daughter and two grandsons and they share drinks, leading to a charged, romantic mood. They sleep together, but Claire slips away in the morning at Evelyn's request, adding another layer of secrecy to her plans.

Evening to morning Ralph's house
7

Evelyn secures a gun the bacon-bribery way

Evelyn changes her mind about helping with the killing and coerces another resident into loaning his gun by bribing him with bacon. The gun turns out to be a flare gun, which they believe will be lethal at close range. The plan solidifies as they prepare for the confrontation.

Night Assisted-living facility
8

Park confrontation: a demand for accountability with a flare gun

Under the guise of apologizing, Claire corners Howard in a park and demands that he admit to the assault from decades earlier. She aims the flare gun at him, but he collapses as if struck by a heart attack. Claire improvises, signaling for medical help rather than delivering the fatal shot.

Daytime Park
9

Hospital confrontation: denial, attempt, and intervention

In the hospital, Howard's supposed heart attack is reframed as an anxiety episode. Claire confronts him in his room, detailing the alleged assault, but he continues to deny it. She then attempts to smother him with a pillow, but Evelyn intervenes to stop her, escalating the conflict further.

Hospital room
10

Final confrontation in the hospital parking garage

The trio faces off in the hospital parking garage, with Howard blasting expletives at the women. In the chaos, he strides into the path of an oncoming car and dies in the resulting crash. The incident ends the immediate danger but leaves unresolved tensions in the wake of his death.

Hospital parking garage
11

Howard's funeral and a tentative new start for Claire

Howard's funeral brings the weekend to its quiet close, bringing closure to some chapters and new uncertainty to others. Claire reconnects with Ralph after the events, signaling that she is ready to pursue a potential ongoing romance again. The film closes on a note of ambiguous healing as the past lingers.

Funeral home / cemetery

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 01:16

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Moving On Summary

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Moving On Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Moving On

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Moving On

Moving On Spoiler-Free Summary

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Moving On Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Moving On

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