Neighbors

Neighbors

Year: 1981

Runtime: 94 min

Language: English

Director: John G. Avildsen

Comedy

Suburban bliss turns into chaos when a boisterous young couple invades the peace next door, shattering the tranquility of one man's quiet life. As outrageous antics escalate, he begins to wonder if his own grip on reality is tenuous at best, or if his whole world has simply gone haywire.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Neighbors yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Neighbors (1981)
Trace every key event in Neighbors (1981) 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

Earl Returns Home

Earl Keese arrives home after a long day at work and settles down to watch television. He notices a moving truck outside his neighbor’s house and wonders who the new residents are, sparking his curiosity about their arrival.

Suburban Home
2

Invitation to Dinner

Earl suggests to his wife, Enid, that they invite the new neighbors over for drinks, but she is preoccupied with preparing dinner. Their conversation reveals a disconnect, as Enid is uninterested in the social visit.

Suburban Home
3

Meeting Ramona

The doorbell rings, and Earl is introduced to Ramona, the attractive new neighbor. Earl invites her inside for dinner, but soon realizes that they only have frozen waffles to offer, creating an awkward situation.

Suburban Home
4

Vic's Arrival

After Ramona leaves unexpectedly, her husband Vic arrives and offers to get Italian takeout. Earl agrees to pay, but begins to feel suspicious when Vic asks to borrow his car keys, claiming his truck's brakes are faulty.

Suburban Home
5

Discovering Ramona

While searching for the car keys, Earl unexpectedly finds Ramona naked in his bed. This shocking encounter adds to the confusion of the evening as Earl tries to piece together the intentions of his new neighbors.

Earl's Bedroom
6

The Mysterious Dinner

Vic returns with takeout food and wine, pretending it's from an Italian restaurant that Earl doubts exists. When Earl questions the food, Vic nervously admits he cooked it, escalating Earl's suspicions.

Suburban Home
7

Confrontation About the Truck

As the dinner unfolds, Ramona reveals Earl's prank with Vic's truck, creating tension. Vic and Ramona decide to leave, but Vic assures Earl they won't take legal action as they will be neighbors for a long time.

Suburban Home
8

The Electric Shock Incident

Earl and Enid rush outside when they witness Vic and Ramona's dog getting zapped by a power line, which leads to laughter about the bizarre circumstances. The shock of the event serves as a strange bonding moment between the neighbors.

Outdoors
9

Quicksand Trouble

Earl and Vic head to the swamp to retrieve the truck, but Earl ends up sinking in quicksand. Vic's attempt to save him backfires as he also gets trapped, leading to a chaotic rescue attempt filled with tension.

Swamp
10

Locked in the Cellar

After a chaotic series of events, Earl locks Ramona and Vic in his cellar as a prank. However, they reverse the situation and lock Earl in instead, further complicating their neighborly relationship.

Cellar
11

Teenage Trouble

Earl’s daughter Elaine returns home unexpectedly, bringing vodka and her own brand of trouble. The evening devolves into a chaotic party atmosphere, leading to tension between the adults.

Suburban Home
12

Conflict with Vic

Earl confronts Vic about his crass jokes regarding Elaine, leading to a fight. This moment further highlights the fragile nature of their neighborly ties and sets the stage for escalating conflict.

Suburban Home
13

Fire Disaster

Vic's radio-controlled plane crashes into his own house, igniting a huge fire. The fire department struggles with water pressure, leaving the house in flames and creating an emergency situation for all involved.

Vic's House
14

The Twist of Realizations

After the fire, Earl learns that Vic and Ramona were merely using the empty house of their deceased neighbor. The reality of their situation settles in, prompting Earl to propose to Vic that they swap houses.

Suburban Home
15

Earl's Final Decision

In a moment of frustration, Earl smashes his television, sparking a fire that burns down his own home. With chaos surrounding them, Earl, Vic, and Ramona decide to leave together for the 'great unknown', hinting at a new beginning.

Suburban Home

Last Updated: January 18, 2025 at 14:36

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