Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) movie poster

Timeline

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1985 · 121 min · English
Directed by
Guy Hamilton
Starring
Wilford Brimley, Joel Grey, Charles Cioffi, Fred Ward, George Coe, Patrick Kilpatrick

After a mysterious accident, a New York police officer is given a new identity and a dangerous mission: to stop a powerful industrialist. He’s recruited into a clandestine organization dedicated to exposing corruption within the government. As he trains and confronts the truth, he must balance his new purpose with the memories of his former life.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)

Where can you watch Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Tubi TV, YouTube Free and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) 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. Mugging Interruption

    Sam Macon, an NYPD cop, intervenes during a mugging, showcasing his bravery and dedication to his job. However, his night takes a turn for the worse as he is suddenly pushed into the river while in his car.

    When
    Night
    Where
    New York City
  2. Awakening in the Hospital

    After being forced into the river, Sam wakes up in a hospital to discover he has undergone a transformation and has a new face. MacCleary introduces him as Remo Williams, explaining that he now works for a covert organization.

    When
    Later
    Where
    Hospital
  3. Meeting Harold Smith

    Remo is taken to meet Harold Smith, the head of CURE, an organization that operates outside the law. Smith reveals that Remo will become a troubleshooter for the organization due to his military background and lack of family ties.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    CURE Headquarters
  4. First Assassination Mission

    Mac hands Remo a pistol and instructs him to kill a target in a nearby building. Upon entering, Remo realizes his target is an elderly Korean man named Chiun, the very person he must eliminate but finds cannot be killed due to Chiun's incredible speed.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Mysterious Building
  5. Training with Chiun

    Chiun becomes Remo's trainer, imparting knowledge of the ancient and fictional martial art known as Sinanju. Their training begins with Chiun's harsh and rude demeanor, aimed to push Remo to his limits while altering his diet significantly.

    When
    Over several weeks
    Where
    Training Facility
  6. Grove and the HARP Defense System

    Harold Smith investigates George Grove, a defense contractor, due to suspicions regarding the HARP defense system. Major Rayner Fleming also becomes embroiled in the investigation, indicating a brewing conflict with their interests at stake.

    When
    Various times
    Where
    Office
  7. Weapons Demonstration Disaster

    During a demonstration of Grove's weaponry, a tragic incident occurs when a soldier is killed due to a malfunction. Major Fleming becomes increasingly suspicious of the integrity of the weaponry and begins to pursue answers.

    When
    Scheduled demonstration
    Where
    Mount Promise
  8. Confrontation at the Statue of Liberty

    Utilizing his newly acquired skills, Remo confronts numerous assailants sent by Grove atop the Statue of Liberty. Although he defeats several of them, one key adversary, Stone, manages to escape.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Statue of Liberty
  9. Infiltration of Warehouse

    Remo and Mac infiltrate a warehouse owned by Grove, encountering trained dogs and vicious rats during their operation. While in the facility, they discover a satellite and inadvertently trigger alarms, leading to a dangerous escape.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Grove Warehouse
  10. Mac's Sacrifice

    During their escape, Mac is shot but manages to pass on critical information to Remo before he is captured. In a moment of bravery, he commits suicide, ensuring that Grove doesn't extract any secrets from him.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Grove Warehouse
  11. Escape from the Gas Chamber

    Remo and Fleming find themselves trapped in a gas chamber by associates of Grove, but in a last-ditch effort, Remo uses his skills to escape by disarming one of the goons. The escape illustrates his growth and agility.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Gas Chamber Facility
  12. Chase and Truck Escape

    After the gas chamber incident, Remo, Chiun, and Fleming flee in a truck that is out of control. They manage to escape, although Chiun gets momentarily incapacitated, leading to a humorous moment as he calls Remo 'my son'.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Rural Road
  13. Confrontation with Grove

    As the military pursues Remo, he faces off against Grove and General Watson. Using his acquired skills, he disarms Grove and sets the jeep they were in ablaze, culminating in Grove's demise.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Lakeside
  14. Chiun's Rescue

    After defeating Grove, Remo and Fleming rush back to find Chiun surrounded by troops. In a display of his agility, Chiun runs across the water to reach them, establishing their bond as teacher and student.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Dock
  15. A Fateful Departure

    As they sail away from danger, Chiun expresses his eagerness to catch a soap opera episode. The film closes on a lighter note, highlighting the camaraderie between Remo and Chiun as they embrace their roles as unlikely heroes.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Boat

Last updated: January 18, 2025 at 14:36

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Sam Macon chosen for the CURE program?

Sam Macon was selected because he had no family ties and possessed a strong military background. MacCleary explained that these qualities made him the perfect candidate for a covert organization that needed someone with nothing to lose and the skills to handle dangerous missions.

  • sam macon
  • cure organization
  • recruitment
  • military background
Q2

How did Sam Macon get a new identity and appearance?

After being pushed into the river while trapped in his car, Sam Macon woke up in a hospital with a completely altered appearance. MacCleary was responsible for the accident and the subsequent transformation, revealing that Sam would now take on the identity of Remo Williams.

  • sam macon
  • remo williams
  • new identity
  • face transformation
Q3

What is the CURE organization?

CURE is a clandestine organization that operates outside the government, dedicated to exposing corruption within official institutions. Led by Harold Smith (Wilford Brimley), the organization recruits individuals with specific qualities to become covert troubleshooters who can operate without detection.

  • cure organization
  • harold smith
  • secret organization
  • corruption
Q4

Why did Mac sacrifice himself at the warehouse?

Mac was shot during the escape from Grove's warehouse. Rather than being captured and potentially revealing information under interrogation, he chose to commit suicide to ensure Grove couldn't extract any secrets from him. He passed on a computer disk containing critical information to Remo before his death.

  • mac
  • sacrifice
  • death
  • warehouse
  • computer disk
Q5

How did Remo escape the gas chamber?

Remo and Fleming were trapped in a gas chamber by Grove's associates. Using his Sinanju training, Remo managed to disarm one of the goons and escape before the gas could harm them, demonstrating the skills he had developed under Chiun's tutelage.

  • gas chamber
  • escape
  • chiun training
  • sinanju
Q6

Why does Chiun call Remo "my son"?

During the chaotic truck escape when Chiun was temporarily incapacitated, he reached out to Remo and called him "my son" - a metaphorical gesture that signified their evolving bond. Despite Chiun's harsh exterior and refusal to show affection openly, this moment revealed the deeper father-student relationship that had developed through their training.

Foreshadowing: Earlier training scenes showed Chiun's harsh demeanor masking growing respect.

  • chiun
  • my son
  • bond
  • teacher student relationship
Q7

What is Sinanju?

Sinanju is an ancient martial art that Chiun instructs Remo in. It is described as a fictional martial art requiring rigorous training in balance and breath control. Through weeks of training, Remo develops remarkable abilities including running without leaving tracks and dodging bullets.

  • sinanju
  • martial art
  • chiun
  • training
Q8

What happened during Remo's confrontation at the Statue of Liberty?

Remo used his newly acquired Sinanju skills to confront numerous goons sent by Grove atop the Statue of Liberty. Though he defeated several attackers, the key adversary Stone managed to escape. This confrontation marked Remo's first major test of his combat abilities in the field.

Foreshadowing: The training sequence showed Remo developing the exact skills needed for this confrontation.

  • statue of liberty
  • stone
  • confrontation
  • grove
Q9

Why is Chiun obsessed with soap operas?

At the film's end, Chiun's childlike excitement about rushing home to catch his favorite soap opera reveals his personality beyond the stern master. This obsession provides comic relief and highlights the unlikely friendship between the serious martial arts master and his American student.

  • chiun
  • soap opera
  • comedy
  • humor
Q10

Why was Mac still with Remo after his transformation?

Mac was the officer who originally recruited Remo into CURE. After Remo's transformation, Mac served as his guide and handler, helping him navigate his new identity and missions. He drove Remo to meet Harold Smith and accompanied him on various operations throughout the film.

  • mac
  • handler
  • guide
  • cure
Q11

What is the HARP defense system?

The HARP was a defense system being developed by defense contractor George Grove. Both Harold Smith and Major Fleming were investigating suspicious activities surrounding it. During a weapons demonstration, a soldier was killed due to a malfunction, revealing the system's flaws and Grove's criminal negligence.

  • harp
  • george grove
  • defense system
  • weapons
Q12

How did Remo become skilled enough to defeat Grove's men?

Remo underwent intensive training with Chiun over several weeks, learning the martial art of Sinanju. The training focused on balance and breath control, pushing Remo to his physical limits. Despite Chiun's harsh methods and restrictive rice-only diet, Remo gradually developed astonishing abilities including bullet-dodging and silent movement.

  • training
  • chiun
  • skills
  • sinanju
  • combat

Movie threads

More Movies Like Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, by Mood & Story

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

Fun Action Comedies like Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

High-stakes action balanced with constant humor and a brisk, playful pace. If you liked the humorous, high-energy adventure of Remo Williams, you'll enjoy these movies. They blend thrilling action with comedy, maintaining a light tone and fast pacing for an exhilarating yet fun ride. Find similar stories of unlikely heroes and humorous escapades here.

  • action-packed
  • humorous
  • lighthearted
  • adventurous
  • pulsating
  • playful
  • Tone: light, humorous, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow a clear, straightforward mission or quest, where a protagonist faces off against a cartoonishly evil or corrupt antagonist. The journey is filled with set-piece action scenes, but the emotional stakes are kept manageable by a layer of wit, slapstick, or character-based humor.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their unique ability to deliver high-intensity action without emotional heaviness. The shared DNA is a light tone, fast pacing, and a focus on charismatic characters and humorous moments that make the danger feel like part of the fun.

Movies with Mentor-Student Duos like in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

Grudging partnerships that evolve into deep loyalty through shared danger. Discover movies like Remo Williams that feature the classic trope of a quirky master training a skeptical newcomer. These stories explore the growth of a unique bond forged in adventure, combining action, humor, and the theme of found family. Perfect for fans of charismatic pairings.

  • unlikely camaraderie
  • character-driven
  • heartfelt
  • humorous
  • adventurous
  • found family
  • Tone: light, character-driven, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, with bursts of action
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative centers on a protagonist thrust into a new world and paired with an eccentric, highly skilled mentor. The initial conflict and comedic mismatches give way to rigorous training, mutual respect, and ultimately, a deep, familial loyalty that is tested and proven in the story's climax.

Why they belong together: They share the specific character arc of a 'found family' relationship built between two opposites. The emotional core is the evolution from animosity to camaraderie, a pattern that provides both comedy and heart, regardless of the genre setting.

If you liked this

Movies Like Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

Similar movies to Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins: 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

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app