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See You Yesterday (2019) movie poster

Timeline

See You Yesterday (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 84 min · English
Echo score 65
JustWatch #19,242 1
Directed by
Stefon Bristol
Starring
Myra Lucretia Taylor, Astro, Brett G. Smith, Carlos Arce Jr., Damaris Lewis, Dante Crichlow

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.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like See You Yesterday
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch See You Yesterday (2019)

Where can you watch See You Yesterday? 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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15 events in order · contains spoilers

See You Yesterday Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of See You Yesterday (2019) 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. Initial Ambitions

    C.J. Walker, a science prodigy, teams up with her best friend, Bash, to create a time machine. Their first attempt ends in failure just before the last day of school, setting the stage for their ambitious project.

  2. Final Class with Mr. Lockhart

    In their last science class with Mr. Lockhart, C.J. and Bash seek to impress potential scouts at the upcoming science expo. Mr. Lockhart encourages them to consider the ethical implications of time travel, which influences their next steps.

  3. Successful Time Travel

    C.J. and Bash successfully activate their time machine, propelling themselves back in time by 24 hours. They experience the excitement and chaos of their first successful trip, but it leads to unexpected consequences.

  4. Prank Escalates

    In a misguided attempt for retribution against her ex-boyfriend Jared, C.J. pulls a prank that goes awry. The situation escalates when Jared, in pursuit of C.J., is hit by a car and suffers a fractured arm, intensifying tensions among friends.

  5. A Tragic Altercation

    On July 4th, C.J.'s older brother Calvin and his friend Dennis leave a party after a confrontation with Jared. Their evening takes a tragic turn when they accidentally run into two men, leading to a police incident that results in Calvin's death.

    When
    July 4
    Where
    Street near the party
  6. Heart-Wrenching Funeral

    Following Calvin's tragic death, C.J. is devastated and resolves to go back in time to save him. The overwhelming grief from the funeral propels her to act, despite warning signs from Bash about the dangers of time travel.

  7. Failed Rescue Attempt

    C.J. and Bash devise a plan to prevent the fatal encounter that took Calvin's life. However, when Jared spots them and chases them down, they arrive too late, leading them to confront their helplessness over Calvin's fate.

  8. A Third Journey Begins

    Determined to save Calvin, C.J. and Bash prepare for a third time travel attempt. They enlist the help of classmate Eduardo, which leads them to acquire essential equipment for their desperate mission.

  9. Robbery Intervention

    In a bold move, C.J. attempts to stop a convenience store robbery, aiming to prevent any future police confrontations. However, as events unfold, Bash finds himself in a perilous situation that ends in heartache.

    Where
    Convenience Store
  10. Bash's Sacrifice

    The consequences of their actions culminate when Bash is tragically shot during the robbery. C.J. watches in horror as he succumbs to his injuries, adding to her burden of guilt and loss.

    Where
    Sidewalk outside the shop
  11. Fourth Time Travel Attempt

    In a desperate bid to save both Bash and Calvin, C.J. enacts a fourth time travel plan. With urgency, they find Calvin and Dennis, but the appearance of the officer leads to devastating choices.

  12. Calvin’s Ultimate Sacrifice

    As tensions rise, Calvin bravely protests his innocence but is forced to sacrifice himself to facilitate C.J. and Bash’s escape. This act of heroism leaves C.J. with the burden of loss and failure once again.

  13. Bash Confronts C.J.

    Upon returning to the present, Bash is furious with C.J. for her reckless time travel attempts. The confrontation reveals the emotional toll the adventures have taken on their friendship.

  14. C.J.'s Fifth Journey

    Undeterred by Bash's anger, C.J. makes the bold decision to embark on a fifth journey alone. She is fueled by determination and an unwavering hope to rewrite the tragedies of their past.

  15. Ready to Alter Fate

    As C.J. breaks into a sprint, she prepares herself for the monumental task of altering their fateful history. With each leap back in time, she carries the weight of the past but remains resolute in her mission.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 15:00

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Timeline questions answered

See You Yesterday Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of See You Yesterday (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Calvin get shot by police in the movie?

Calvin and his friend Dennis leave a party on July 4 after an altercation with Jared. As they walk away, they accidentally collide with two men rushing down the street. A police car soon arrives, and the officers suspect them of being the thieves in pursuit. During the confrontation, Calvin is shot and killed.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Mr. Lockhart warns C.J. and Bash about the ethical implications of time travel, foreshadowing the tragic consequences that unfold.

  • calvin
  • police shooting
  • july 4
  • police violence
  • wrongful death
Q2

Why does Bash die in the third timeline?

During their third time travel attempt, C.J. tries to prevent a convenience store robbery to avoid any police confrontation. However, Bash ends up in a perilous position inside the store and gets shot. C.J. watches in horror as both the past and present versions of Bash die from their wounds.

Foreshadowing: Bash expresses concerns about the dangers of time travel after the second failed attempt, hinting at his tragic fate.

  • bash death
  • convenience store
  • time travel consequences
  • third timeline
Q3

Why does Calvin sacrifice himself in the fourth timeline?

C.J. and Bash travel back a fourth time to intercept Calvin and Dennis before the fatal encounter. They manage to find them, but when the officer arrives, Calvin realizes the situation is escalating. To give C.J. and Bash time to escape, Calvin protests his innocence and deliberately puts himself in harm's way, making the ultimate sacrifice.

Foreshadowing: The pattern of failed rescue attempts builds toward this moment, showing how each intervention creates new problems.

  • calvin sacrifice
  • fourth timeline
  • escape
  • police confrontation
Q4

Why does C.J. keep going back in time even after each attempt fails?

C.J. is driven by overwhelming grief over losing her brother Calvin and her scientific curiosity about whether time travel can change tragedy. After each failed attempt, she becomes more desperate and determined, convinced that one more try could save both Calvin and Bash. Her refusal to accept the losses reflects her deep love for her brother and best friend.

Foreshadowing: The movie opens with C.J. as a determined science prodigy who refuses to accept limitations, setting up her relentless persistence.

  • cj motivation
  • grief
  • persistence
  • time travel obsession
Q5

What happens during C.J. and Bash's first successful time travel attempt?

Their first successful time travel propels them back 24 hours. In an impulsive act of revenge against her ex-boyfriend Jared, C.J. pulls a prank that spirals out of control. Jared chases her and ends up getting hit by a car, resulting in a fractured arm. The chaotic incident nearly causes them to encounter their past selves before returning to the present.

Foreshadowing: Mr. Lockhart's warning about the ethical implications of time travel directly precedes this first successful attempt, showing the consequences of using the technology without proper consideration.

  • first time travel
  • jared
  • prank
  • fractured arm
  • 24 hours
Q6

Why does Jared's chase derail the second rescue attempt?

On their second attempt to save Calvin, C.J. and Bash devise a plan to reroute Calvin and Dennis before the fatal encounter. However, Jared sees them and gives chase, causing a distraction. This chase consumes valuable time, and they arrive too late to prevent Calvin's death, the same tragedy repeats.

Foreshadowing: The first time travel already shows C.J.'s personal vendetta against Jared causing problems, establishing his role as an obstacle.

  • jared chase
  • second attempt
  • rescue failure
  • timing
Q7

Why do police suspect Calvin and Dennis of robbery?

After Calvin and Dennis leave the party following their altercation with Jared, they accidentally collide with two men who are actually rushing down the street. Moments later, a police car appears. The officers believe Calvin and Dennis are the thieves they're pursuing because of the circumstances and the earlier disturbance at the party, leading to the fatal confrontation.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows the altercation with Jared at the party directly precedes their fatal encounter with police, establishing the chain of events.

  • police suspicion
  • robbery
  • mistaken identity
  • calvin dennis
Q8

Why is Bash furious with C.J. after the fourth timeline?

When they return to the present after the fourth attempt, Bash learns that C.J. had already made four trips through time, including one where he died. He is furious because C.J. repeatedly risked his life without his consent and kept the truth from him. His anger represents the emotional toll the time travel has taken on their friendship.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tensions between C.J. and Bash about the dangers of time travel build to this confrontation.

  • bash anger
  • fourth trip
  • friendship trust
  • betrayal
Q9

What role does Eduardo play in the third time travel attempt?

For their third attempt to save Calvin, C.J. and Bash enlist the help of their classmate Eduardo. He provides them with his robust circuit boards, which are essential for improving the time machine's capabilities. Eduardo's equipment enables the successful third journey, though it ends in tragedy with Bash's death.

Foreshadowing: Eduardo appears as a supporting character earlier, establishing the network of classmates who help with the project.

  • eduardo
  • circuit boards
  • third attempt
  • time machine equipment
Q10

What happens at the end of the movie? Does C.J. succeed?

After Bash forbids C.J. from trying again, she makes a fifth journey back in time alone, driven by determination to save both Calvin and Bash. She breaks into a sprint, ready to alter fate once more. The ending is ambiguous, her outcome remains uncertain, leaving the ultimate result of her final attempt open.

Foreshadowing: The movie's title 'See You Yesterday' and the repeated theme of trying again despite failures foreshadow this final leap.

  • fifth journey
  • ending
  • ambiguous
  • cj alone
  • final attempt

Movie threads

More Movies Like See You Yesterday, by Mood & Story

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

Urgent time travel thrillers like See You Yesterday

Desperate attempts to alter the past spiral into unforeseen tragedies. If you liked the frantic, high-stakes time travel in See You Yesterday, explore these movies where characters race against time to undo a tragedy. These similar sci-fi thrillers feature desperate heroes, ethical dilemmas, and the dangerous, unforeseen consequences of altering the past.

  • urgent
  • desperate
  • anxious
  • grieving
  • frustrated
  • heavy
  • Tone: tense, desperate, somber
  • Pacing: fast, urgent, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist who, driven by grief or a singular goal, gains the ability to change a pivotal past event. Their initial success is short-lived, as each intervention creates a domino effect of worse outcomes, leading to a frantic series of attempts to fix the ever-worsening timeline. The narrative structure is built around escalating failures and the protagonist's growing desperation.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core premise of high-stakes, personally motivated time travel. They all feature a fast pace, a tense tone driven by urgency, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from the protagonist's grief and the severe consequences of their actions. The scientific ambition is often overshadowed by the moral and emotional cost.

Grief-driven thrillers with a frantic pace like See You Yesterday

Characters driven by loss into a frantic, high-stakes battle against fate. Movies like See You Yesterday that explore characters using their intelligence and determination to fight back against a tragic loss. These emotionally heavy thrillers share a sense of urgency, a tense atmosphere, and a protagonist whose grief fuels a desperate, high-stakes mission.

  • grieving
  • urgent
  • desperate
  • heavy
  • tense
  • anxious
  • Tone: tense, heavy, somber
  • Pacing: fast, relentless, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern begins with a traumatic inciting event that defines the protagonist's goal. The story is not about slow mourning but about channeling grief into immediate, frantic action. The pacing is relentless, mirroring the character's psychological state, as they confront obstacles with increasing desperation, often leading to an ambiguous or bittersweet resolution that acknowledges the enduring nature of their loss.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films where the core emotional driver is grief, which directly dictates the film's tense tone and fast pacing. The similarity lies in the fusion of heavy emotional subject matter with the mechanics of a thriller, creating a uniquely stressful and poignant experience where personal tragedy fuels the plot's urgency.

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Every angle

See You Yesterday (2019) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about See You Yesterday in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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