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Plot Summary

Over the Moon (2020) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 95 min · English
Echo score 75
JustWatch #31,362 1
Starring
Ken Jeong, Sandra Oh, Margaret Cho, Phillipa Soo, Kimiko Glenn, John Cho

Driven by a vivid imagination and unwavering faith, a spirited young girl builds a rocket ship to travel to the moon. Her incredible journey is motivated by a desire to meet the legendary moon goddess and fulfill a cherished family promise. Along the way, she encounters fantastical creatures and discovers unexpected truths about her family history and the power of believing in the impossible.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Over the Moon
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Over the Moon (2020)

Where can you watch Over the Moon? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Over the Moon: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Over the Moon (2020) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

A young girl named Fei Fei is captivated by the legend of the Moon goddess Chang'e, who took a potion for immortality and, as a result, ascended to the Moon to wait for her beloved Houyi. As the annual Moon Festival approaches, Fei Fei, at the tender age of seven, along with her family, prepares mooncakes for the village. Life takes a tragic turn when her mother falls ill and gifts her a white rabbit named Bungee before passing away, leaving a profound impact on the young girl's heart.

Fast forward to Fei Fei at age thirteen; she clings to her belief in Chang'e even four years after her mother’s death. However, she is disheartened to discover her father is engaged to Ms. Zhong, which complicates her emotions further as she has to deal with Ms. Zhong's lively eight-year-old son, Chin, and his pet frog. During the Moon Festival celebration, memories of her mother flood back, triggering a spark of inspiration as she decides to construct a rocket shaped like a rabbit lantern, intending to journey to the Moon to prove that Chang'e truly exists.

With her ambitious spirit and a design powered by fireworks, Fei Fei's rocket nearly achieves lift-off until she realizes that Chin has secretly tagged along, resulting in their imminent crash to Earth. Out of the blue, they are whisked away by a mystical beam of energy and land on the enchanting Moon, where they are soon rescued by two friendly winged foo dogs and taken to Lunaria.

Upon arrival, they meet Chang'e and her fabulous backup dancers, the Lunettes. Chang'e reveals to Fei Fei that she was expected to bring a special gift to reunite her with Houyi. Fei Fei, eager to capture proof of Chang'e’s existence, takes a photo with her, but in an unexpected twist, Chang'e snatches the photo away and insists on receiving the mysterious gift. Confused and frustrated, Fei Fei is determined to uncover what this gift could be.

Feeling disgruntled with Chin, she ventures off on her own, hitching a ride with the Biker Chicks towards the crash site. Meanwhile, Chin encounters some Lunettes and gets taken captive by Chang'e, who challenges him to a game of ping pong for the gift's location. To everyone's surprise, Chin triumphs, yet Chang'e's sorrow over her lost love creates further turmoil as she laments that she may never see Houyi again.

While Chin is imprisoned, Bungee follows the Jade Rabbit into Chang'e's domain. As Fei Fei continues her quest, she meets Gobi, an exiled Lunarian who helps her navigate the complexities of Lunaria. In a series of unfortunate events, Fei Fei discovers her Chang'e doll has been damaged by the Biker Chicks, but she eventually stumbles upon a broken half of a jade circle within one of her mooncakes—an object mirroring what Chang'e wears, which leads her to the realization that this is indeed the coveted gift.

With Gobi's assistance, she reunites with Chin and Bungee, and together they present the broken jade circle to Chang'e, who reconstructs it into a full circle. Briefly reunited with Houyi, Chang'e faces the painful truth that accepting the past is crucial; as he encourages her to move on, she falls into despair, shrouding Lunaria in darkness.

In a heartfelt moment, Fei Fei and Chang'e bond over their shared grief, and they inspire each other to embrace the love surrounding them, ultimately restoring light to Lunaria. A grateful Chang'e grants Fei Fei and Chin safe passage back, while Bungee decides to stay on the Moon with the Jade Rabbit. As Fei Fei returns home, she learns to welcome her father’s marriage to Ms. Zhong and grow fond of her new step-brother Chin.

Fast forward a year, and Fei Fei, now fourteen, embraces her new life happily. During the Moon Festival, she sits with her father, gazes at the Moon, and watches as cranes ascend towards it, symbolizing hope and new beginnings.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 15:21

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Plot questions answered

Over the Moon Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Over the Moon (2020): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Fei Fei decide to build a rocket to the moon?

Fei Fei decides to build a rocket to prove that Chang'e is real. After her mother died four years earlier, Fei Fei clung to the legend of the Moon goddess as a way to preserve her mother's memory. When her father announces his engagement to Ms. Zhong during the Moon Festival, Fei Fei is reminded of her mother and feels inspired to journey to the Moon to find proof of Chang'e's existence.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Fei Fei is shown making mooncakes with her mother during the Moon Festival, connecting her love for Chang'e to her memories of her mother.

  • fei fei
  • rocket
  • moon
  • chang'e
  • moon festival
  • mother death
Q2

What is the special gift Chang'e is looking for?

Chang'e is looking for a broken jade circle, which is half of a complete jade disc. This object matches the one Chang'e wears around her waist. The jade circle is the key to reuniting her with her beloved Houyi, who was separated from her when she took the immortality potion.

Foreshadowing: Fei Fei notices the jade circle worn by Chang'e when they first meet, establishing its importance.

  • chang'e
  • gift
  • jade circle
  • houyi
  • reunion
  • lunaria
Q3

How does Fei Fei find the broken jade circle?

While searching through her belongings after her Chang'e doll gets damaged, Fei Fei discovers a broken half of a jade circle inside one of the mooncakes she brought from Earth. She realizes it matches the item Chang'e wears, confirming it is the special gift needed to help Chang'e reunite with Houyi.

Foreshadowing: Fei Fei's family was shown preparing mooncakes at the Moon Festival, and her mother had given her the mooncake with the jade circle inside.

  • fei fei
  • jade circle
  • mooncake
  • discovery
  • lunaria
Q4

Why does Bungee decide to stay on the moon?

Bungee stays on the Moon to be with the Jade Rabbit, who he befriended during their adventure in Lunaria. This decision symbolizes Fei Fei's growth in accepting change, similar to how she learns to accept her new family, she also learns to let Bungee find his own happiness, even though it means letting go.

Foreshadowing: Bungee follows the Jade Rabbit into Chang'e's domain earlier in the film, showing a connection forming between them.

  • bungee
  • jade rabbit
  • moon
  • stays
  • acceptance
Q5

Why does Chang'e fall into despair after reuniting with Houyi?

When Chang'e is temporarily reunited with Houyi through the restored jade circle, she realizes that holding onto the past is preventing her from moving forward. Houyi encourages her to let go, but instead of finding peace, she succumbs to despair and darkness engulfs Lunaria. This reflects her struggle to accept loss, mirroring Fei Fei's own difficulty accepting her mother's death.

Foreshadowing: Chang'e's initial sadness about being separated from Houyi sets up her emotional arc throughout the film.

  • chang'e
  • houyi
  • despair
  • darkness
  • lunaria
  • acceptance
Q6

How does Fei Fei learn to accept her father's marriage?

Fei Fei learns to accept her father's marriage to Ms. Zhong through her emotional connection with Chang'e. Both Fei Fei and Chang'e share the experience of losing a loved one. By helping Chang'e face her grief and move forward, Fei Fei realizes that loving someone new doesn't erase the memory of those lost. This insight allows her to embrace her new family.

Foreshadowing: Fei Fei's resistance to Ms. Zhong and Chin is established early, showing her struggle with change.

  • fei fei
  • father
  • ms zhong
  • acceptance
  • family
  • grief
Q7

What is Lunaria and how do Fei Fei and Chin get there?

Lunaria is the magical city on the moon where Chang'e and the Lunarians live. After Fei Fei's rocket malfunctions due to Chin secretly hiding aboard, a mystical beam of energy transports them to the moon. They are rescued by winged foo dogs who bring them to Lunaria, where their adventure truly begins.

Foreshadowing: Fei Fei builds a rocket powered by fireworks, which foreshadows the chaotic launch that leads to their transportation.

  • lunaria
  • moon
  • foo dogs
  • arrival
  • fei fei
  • chin
Q8

Why does Chin get captured and play ping pong with Chang'e?

After Fei Fei leaves Chin behind to search for the gift on her own, Chang'e's Lunettes capture Chin. Chang'e then challenges him to a ping pong game, promising to reveal the gift's location if he wins. Chin surprisingly wins the game, which leads to the revelation that the gift is hidden somewhere Fei Fei needs to find.

Foreshadowing: Chang'e's demand for a special gift is established when she first meets Fei Fei.

  • chin
  • chang'e
  • ping pong
  • captured
  • gift
  • location
Q9

Why does Lunaria become dark?

Lunaria becomes dark when Chang'e falls into despair after her brief reunion with Houyi. Her emotional state directly affects the entire kingdom, when she embraces grief and refuses to let go of the past, darkness spreads across Lunaria. The light returns only after Chang'e and Fei Fei bond over their shared grief and choose to embrace hope.

Foreshadowing: Lunaria is shown as a bright, colorful place when Fei Fei first arrives, highlighting the impact of Chang'e's emotional state.

  • lunaria
  • darkness
  • chang'e
  • emotions
  • light
  • grief
Q10

Why does Fei Fei get annoyed with Chin during the moon adventure?

Fei Fei is annoyed with Chin because he secretly stowed away on her rocket, causing the launch to fail and forcing her to include him in her quest. Additionally, she is frustrated by his presence as she processes her grief and wants to complete her mission alone to prove herself. Her anger initially stems from difficulty dealing with change, first her mother's death, then her father's new relationship.

Foreshadowing: Fei Fei's initial resistance to Chin is shown when Ms. Zhong and Chin first move in with the family.

  • fei fei
  • chin
  • annoyance
  • rocket
  • conflict
Q11

What do the cranes at the end of the movie symbolize?

The cranes that fly toward the moon at the end of the film symbolize hope, new beginnings, and the continuation of the legend. They represent Fei Fei's acceptance of her mother's death and her readiness to embrace the future. The image echoes the film's theme that love persists even when people are separated, and that moving forward doesn't mean forgetting.

Foreshadowing: The Moon Festival traditions shown throughout the film include crane imagery, connecting to this final visual.

  • cranes
  • moon
  • ending
  • symbolism
  • hope
  • new beginnings
Q12

How do Fei Fei and Chang'e connect over their grief?

Fei Fei and Chang'e bond because they both lost someone they love, Fei Fei lost her mother, and Chang'e lost Houyi. When they share their stories and眼泪 (tears), they realize they understand each other's pain. This connection helps both of them accept that loving new people doesn't mean betraying the memory of those they've lost. Their bond is what finally restores light to Lunaria.

Foreshadowing: Fei Fei's grief over her mother is established as a central emotional thread from the beginning of the film.

  • fei fei
  • chang'e
  • grief
  • bonding
  • loss
  • emotional connection

Movie threads

More Movies Like Over the Moon, by Mood & Story

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

Movies like Over the Moon that blend fantasy with grief

Heartfelt tales that process deep loss through a lens of colorful fantasy and imagination. Discover movies like Over the Moon where imaginative worlds help characters navigate the pain of loss. These similar animated and family films use whimsical adventures, from magical realms to mythical journeys, to tell heartfelt stories about acceptance and new beginnings after a profound family change.

  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • imaginative
  • dreamlike
  • nostalgic
  • uplifting
  • Tone: whimsical, melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: variable, journey-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a protagonist, often a child, grappling with a significant personal loss. Their emotional journey is externalized through a quest into a fantastical setting, where they must overcome challenges that metaphorically represent their inner turmoil, ultimately leading to acceptance and a renewed sense of hope.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a unique tonal balance, pairing the melancholy of grief with the wonder of fantasy. They feature steady-to-variable pacing, medium emotional weight, and ultimately hopeful endings, creating a cohesive viewing experience for those seeking stories that are both emotionally resonant and enchantingly escapist.

Fantasy quest movies with emotional depth like Over the Moon

Characters embark on magical journeys that lead to profound personal discoveries and growth. If you liked the journey to the moon in Over the Moon, you'll enjoy these other films where characters go on imaginative quests. These similar adventure stories use mythology and fantasy settings not just for excitement, but to drive meaningful character development and explore themes of family, belief, and coming of age.

  • adventurous
  • hopeful
  • heartfelt
  • imaginative
  • mythological
  • coming of age
  • Tone: hopeful, adventurous, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady with adventurous bursts
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A protagonist, driven by a powerful belief or a personal mission, ventures into a vividly realized magical world. This external quest is directly tied to an internal need—to prove something, to find answers, or to heal. The challenges they face and the allies they meet help them discover an important emotional truth, resolving their inner conflict.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their core narrative structure: a fantasy adventure that is intrinsically linked to character growth. They share a straightforward yet compelling plot, a mix of upbeat and reflective moments, and a central theme of believing in the impossible to achieve personal resolution, making them satisfying for viewers who love purpose-driven journeys.

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Every angle

Over the Moon (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Over the Moon 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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