Year: 2019
Runtime: 84 min
Language: English
Director: Stefon Bristol
Driven by grief and scientific curiosity, two brilliant high school friends, C.J. and Sebastian, invent time-traveling backpacks. They use their creation to journey into the past, hoping to prevent a tragic event. As they attempt to alter history, they face unforeseen consequences and must grapple with the complexities of time, memory, and the sacrifices required for redemption. Their journey becomes a poignant exploration of loss and the enduring power of friendship.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Read the complete plot breakdown of See You Yesterday (2019), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
C.J. Walker is a remarkably ambitious science prodigy determined to create a time machine with her best friend, Sebastian “Bash” Thomas. However, their first attempt at this groundbreaking invention ends in failure just before the last day of school.
In their final class with Mr. Lockhart, their science teacher, C.J. and Bash hope to showcase their class project at the upcoming science expo slated for July 5. Eager to impress potential scouts, C.J. pleads with Mr. Lockhart to boost their project grade, to which he responds with a thought-provoking invitation to ponder the ethical and philosophical implications of time travel.
Their second attempt proves successful, catapulting them back in time by 24 hours. In an impulsive fit of retribution against her ex-boyfriend Jared, C.J. decides to pull a prank that spirals out of control; following her, he ends up getting hit by a car, resulting in a fractured arm. This confrontation leads to a conflict with Bash, and in the haste of their chaotic adventure, they nearly encounter their past selves before making their way back to the present.
On July 4, C.J.’s older brother Calvin and his friend Dennis leave a party after an altercation with Jared. As they walk away, they inadvertently collide with two men rushing down the street. Moments later, a police car appears, and the officers, suspecting them of being the thieves in pursuit, tragically take Calvin’s life.
Following Calvin’s heart-wrenching funeral, C.J. is determined to go back again to save her brother. Despite Bash’s concerns about the dangers of time travel, he agrees to assist her. They orchestrate a plan to reroute Calvin and Dennis before the fatal encounter, but in a twist of fate, Jared sees them and gives chase, derailing their efforts, and they arrive too late to save Calvin.
Undeterred, they attempt a third journey, enlisting the help of their classmate Eduardo and acquiring his robust circuit boards. In this timeline, C.J. attempts to thwart a convenience store robbery, aiming to avert any police confrontation by warning the store owner. However, as past events unfold, Bash unwittingly finds himself in a perilous position, resulting in his tragic demise when he is shot. C.J. emerges outside the shop only to witness the heart-wrenching sight of current Bash dying on the sidewalk as the past version succumbs to his wounds.
Desperate to save both Bash and Calvin, C.J. embarks on a fourth journey. They manage to find Calvin and Dennis just in time, but persuading them of the bizarre reality proves challenging. When the officer who previously shot Calvin appears, Calvin protests his innocence regarding the robbery. With the situation escalating, he makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure C.J. and Bash’s escape.
Upon returning to the present, Bash confronts C.J. about her multiple travels through time. She admits that their last attempt was her fourth, during which he had died. Furious, he forbids her from trying again, but undeterred, C.J. makes a fifth trip back in time, venturing forth alone with a newfound determination. She breaks into a sprint, ready to alter the course of fate once more.
Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 15:00
Still wondering what the ending of See You Yesterday (2019) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
In the final moments of “See You Yesterday,” CJ takes a last, daring trip back in time, using her scientific invention to alter the past once more. Her goal is to save her brother Calvin, who was murdered, and in doing so, she hopes to change everything. The science behind their time travel involves manipulating protons within a wormhole, with the constraints that they can only go one day into the past and have just ten minutes to make a difference before the wormhole collapses. Despite her efforts, CJ’s previous attempts to alter history do not go as planned; her friend Sebastian dies during a previous time jump, and Calvin himself doesn’t survive the original attempt. However, something extraordinary happens when Sebastian’s death is overwritten by CJ’s new trip — Calvin is resurrected. This moment signifies that by changing Sebastian’s fate, CJ inadvertently brings her brother back to life, effectively rewriting the history she knew.
Calvin, although never fully aware of the scientific complexity behind CJ’s actions, recognizes her in a heartfelt moment before he sacrifices himself for the greater good — to prevent a future tragedy. His last words, “See you yesterday,” are a poignant nod to their bond and the science fiction journey they shared. CJ’s last trip emphasizes her willingness to sacrifice her comfort to ensure her brother’s survival, even if it means risking the fabric of reality. The movie concludes with CJ wearing her brother’s dog tags, a symbolic reminder of her connection to Calvin and the sacrifices made. In the end, the film leaves viewers with a sense of hope and the enduring power of love and family, showing that sometimes, to truly save someone, you must be willing to face the unknown — and run toward it, into the past, with faith that life can be altered through science and sacrifice.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58
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