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Small Apartments (2012) movie poster

Timeline

Small Apartments (2012) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2012 · 96 mins · English
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Directed by
Jonas Åkerlund
Starring
Rebel Wilson, Noel Gugliemi, Johnny Knoxville, Dolph Lundgren, Rosie Perez, Billy Crystal

After accidentally killing his landlord, a hapless man finds himself desperately trying to conceal the body. As he navigates this precarious situation, he's further complicated by burgeoning desires, the tragic loss of his brother, and a collection of eccentric individuals. These circumstances unexpectedly lead him on a quest where a significant reward may be within reach.

Comedy Crime Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Categories
  6. 6 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Small Apartments Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Small Apartments (2012) 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. Franklin's cramped California life

    Franklin lives in a nearly empty apartment in a rundown Southern California complex, obsessing over Switzerland and a bizarre hoard. His daily routine revolves around his odd fixation, a diet of Moxie, pickles, and mustard, and interactions with the locals who drift through his space. The tone remains dry and deadpan as his world stays stubbornly small.

    When
    Present day
    Where
    Southern California apartment complex

  2. Olivetti's death and the cover-up begins

    Mr. Olivetti dies after a strange accident that seems to fuse mustard, sneezing, and an intimate moment into a fatal outcome. In a reckless bid to dodge blame, Franklin drags Olivetti's body to his own apartment and improvises a staged suicide. He strings together a sequence of improbable methods to mislead investigators.

    When
    Day of the incident
    Where
    Mr. Olivetti's residence / Franklin's apartment

  3. The truck plan derailed by muggers

    Franklin's attempt to dump Olivetti's pickup outside the city is thwarted by two inept muggers who rob him and complicate his already fragile situation. The robbery injects new danger into his life and tests his improvisational skills. The incident broadens the circle of risk around Franklin's cover story.

    When
    Shortly after the cover-up
    Where
    Near the city

  4. Police probe tightens its grip

    Fire investigators and detectives begin to tease out that Olivetti's death was staged and issue an APB for the missing pickup truck. The case shifts toward Franklin as investigators watch his every move and connect him to the tangled events in the building. The investigation also brushes against the other tenants' hidden histories.

    When
    Following initial clues
    Where
    Southern California / building area

  5. Weekly audio link to Bernard

    Franklin eagerly awaits a weekly audiotape from his beloved but distant brother Bernard, clinging to a link to a life he cannot quite reach. The tapes create a fragile thread between brothers and hint at a larger mystery behind Bernard's life. The absence of Bernard's regular messages becomes the first sign that something is seriously wrong.

    When
    Weekly cadence
    Where
    Franklin's apartment

  6. Bernard's death and a revelation in his belongings

    Franklin learns, via a message and Bernard's belongings, that Bernard has died from a brain tumor. Within Bernard's things lies a locker key and evidence of a Swiss bank account, along with a passport bearing a new identity for Franklin. This discovery reframes Franklin's sense of belonging and raises questions about his past and future.

    When
    After Bernard's death
    Where
    Bernard's belongings / Bernard's house

  7. A new path and dangerous possibilities

    The revelation reshapes Franklin's worldview as he contemplates the savings and passport left by Bernard. He fantasizes about a different life in Switzerland, even as legal danger and personal delusions press in. The newfound wealth and identity become both a lifeline and a trap.

    When
    Following the Bernard reveal
    Where
    Franklin's apartment / imagination of Switzerland

  8. Fire team narrows the case

    Fire investigator Burt Walnut and a team of detectives connect Olivetti's death to a staged crime and close in, issuing an APB for the missing truck. Their work highlights the delusions at play and places further pressure on Franklin. The investigation begins to intersect with the residents' pasts in unexpected ways.

    When
    After the staged death comes to light
    Where
    City investigation HQ / local streets

  9. Residents' pasts come into focus

    As the investigation narrows, Franklin and the other tenants confront their own histories, including Allspice's late wife and the tense dynamics within the building. The ensemble cast becomes a chorus that sharpens the film's themes of loyalty, delusion, and self-preservation. The building itself becomes a pressure cooker for truth.

    When
    During the investigation
    Where
    The apartment building

  10. Flight to Switzerland with a bitter confidant

    Franklin decides to board a flight to Switzerland, seated beside Dr. Sage Mennox, a self-help author whose past tied to Bernard adds tension. The cramped journey forces them into an uneasy alliance as Franklin spills the truth about his brother's death. Old resentments flavor their interaction and push Franklin toward decisive action.

    When
    During the flight
    Where
    On the airplane to Switzerland

  11. Reckoning on the long flight

    The encounter between Franklin and Mennox crystallizes a fragile truth about Bernard and the misconceptions surrounding his life. Franklin's honesty unsettles Mennox and reshapes his own view of the cases they've shared. The dialogue on the plane becomes a hinge moment for Franklin's future.

    When
    Mid-flight
    Where
    Airplane cabin

  12. Arrival at the Matterhorn, a symbol of change

    The journey culminates in Switzerland as Franklin stands before the Matterhorn, surrounded by three women in traditional Swiss dress. The image hints at transformation, possibility, and perhaps reconciliation with a life that never quite fit the mold. The ending leaves Franklin at a crossroads between illusion and a new, if uncertain, reality.

    When
    End of journey
    Where
    Matterhorn, Switzerland

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:47

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Timeline questions answered

Small Apartments Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Small Apartments (2012): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Franklin stage Mr. Olivetti's death as a suicide?

Franklin stages the death as a suicide because he panic-stricken after Olivetti dies during what appears to be an intimate encounter combined with a mustard-related sneezing fit. Fearing he will be blamed for the death, Franklin drags the body to his apartment and improvises an elaborate fake suicide scene using improbable methods to mislead investigators and avoid legal consequences.

  • cover-up
  • fake suicide
  • landlord death
  • frame job
Q2

How did Mr. Olivetti actually die?

Mr. Olivetti dies from a bizarre accident that combines mustard, violent sneezing fits, and what seems to be an intimate encounter. The exact medical mechanism is left somewhat ambiguous, but the combination of these elements leads to his fatal outcome. Franklin is present when it happens, which sets his panic and subsequent cover-up in motion.

  • mustard
  • sneezing
  • landlord death
  • accident
Q3

What does Franklin find in Bernard's belongings?

After Bernard dies from a brain tumor, Franklin discovers a locker key, evidence of a hidden Swiss bank account, and a passport bearing a new identity for Franklin. These items reveal that Bernard had stolen from his employer and left his brother enough money and a fresh start in Switzerland.

Foreshadowing: Franklin's obsession with Switzerland and his wait for Bernard's weekly audiotapes foreshadow this revelation about his brother's secret life.

  • bank account
  • passport
  • switzerland
  • bernard brother
  • locker key
Q4

Why does Franklin decide to go to Switzerland?

Franklin decides to go to Switzerland after learning about the bank account and passport his brother Bernard left him. The combination of newfound wealth, a fresh identity, and Franklin's long-standing obsession with Switzerland creates the perfect opportunity for him to escape his troubled life in California and start over.

Foreshadowing: Franklin's daily fantasies about Switzerland and his Switzerland-obsessed decorations throughout the film establish his deep desire to escape there.

  • switzerland
  • escape
  • passport
  • new identity
  • bernard
Q5

What is Dr. Sage Mennox's connection to Bernard?

Dr. Sage Mennox is a self-help author whom Bernard once idolized. However, Mennox had publicly belittled Bernard in the past, creating tension between them. During the flight to Switzerland, Franklin confronts Mennox about this history and reveals the truth about his brother's death, catching Mennox off guard.

  • dolph lundgren
  • self-help author
  • bernard conflict
  • airplane confrontation
Q6

Why do muggers attack Franklin when he's trying to dump the truck?

Franklin's plan to dump Olivetti's pickup truck outside the city is foiled when two incompetent muggers rob him. They target him during this vulnerable moment, adding new danger to his already precarious situation and complicating his cover-up attempt.

  • muggers
  • truck
  • robbery
  • foiled plan
Q7

How does the police investigation lead to Franklin?

Fire investigator Burt Walnut and detectives determine that Olivetti's death was staged as a suicide. They issue an APB for the missing pickup truck and begin connecting Franklin to the crime. As the investigation tightens, they surveil Franklin and piece together the timeline of events.

  • burt walnut
  • police investigation
  • apb
  • pickup truck
  • staged suicide
Q8

Why does Franklin wait for Bernard's weekly audiotapes?

Franklin eagerly awaits weekly audiotapes from his older brother Bernard, maintaining this ritual as a fragile connection to a life he cannot reach. The tapes represent his only link to his beloved brother, making their sudden absence the first sign that something is seriously wrong when Bernard dies.

Foreshadowing: The weekly tapes establish the brothers' distant but meaningful relationship and build toward the revelation of Bernard's secret life.

  • audiotapes
  • bernard brother
  • communication
  • weekly ritual
Q9

What does the ending at the Matterhorn represent?

Franklin's arrival at the Matterhorn in Switzerland, surrounded by three women in traditional Swiss dress, symbolizes transformation, possibility, and reconciliation. After a life of hoarding, delusions, and legal trouble, he finally achieves his dream of reaching Switzerland, though the ending is bittersweet given the crimes and losses that enabled his escape.

Foreshadowing: The recurring Switzerland theme and Franklin's obsession with Swiss culture and the Matterhorn throughout the film foreshadow this symbolic arrival.

  • matterhorn
  • switzerland
  • transformation
  • ending
  • symbolism
Q10

What past secrets do the other residents reveal during the investigation?

As the police investigation narrows, the other tenants in the apartment building are forced to confront their hidden histories. Mr. Allspice deals with the truth about his wife's death years earlier, while the tense dynamics within the building intensify. These revelations add depth to the ensemble and reinforce themes of loyalty, delusion, and self-preservation.

  • allspice
  • tenants
  • past secrets
  • building dynamics
  • character backgrounds

Movie threads

More Movies Like Small Apartments, by Mood & Story

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

Quirky Character Ensembles like in Small Apartments

Absurd misadventures fueled by a collection of oddballs and outcasts. If you enjoyed the eccentric cast of Small Apartments, you'll like these movies featuring a collection of oddballs and misfits. Discover similar dark comedies and quirky dramas where an ensemble of unique characters drives the narrative forward with their bizarre interactions and offbeat humor.

  • quirky
  • offbeat
  • absurd
  • eccentric
  • darkly funny
  • melancholic
  • Tone: whimsical, darkly humorous
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a disruptive incident that forces a group of socially awkward or peculiar individuals to interact. The plot is less about a traditional goal and more about the chain reaction of absurd events sparked by the characters' unique worldviews and interpersonal dynamics, often leading to unexpected resolutions.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific tone that balances dark, dry humor with character-driven absurdity. They focus on the charm and chaos of eccentric ensembles, creating a viewing experience that is both funny and strangely poignant.

Shadows and Fog movie poster

Shadows and Fog

1991
Small Apartments movie poster

Small Apartments

2012
Funny Bones movie poster

Funny Bones

1995
French Exit movie poster

French Exit

2021
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead movie poster

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

1990
Dark Star movie poster

Dark Star

1974
Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas movie poster

Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas

2006
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie [re-release] movie poster

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie [re-release]

2000

Bittersweet Escapist Quests like in Small Apartments

A lonely protagonist's desperate search for a new life, built on shaky foundations. For viewers who liked Franklin's journey in Small Apartments, this section features movies about dreamers seeking radical change. Explore similar stories of lonely protagonists on bittersweet quests for escape, where the price of freedom is a complicated mix of hope and regret.

  • melancholic
  • lonely
  • dreamlike
  • bittersweet
  • self-discovery
  • grief
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a disillusioned or grieving protagonist who sees a single, often morally dubious, opportunity as their ticket out. Their pursuit of this goal is fraught with complications and a growing sense of melancholy, culminating in an achievement that feels simultaneously like a victory and a profound loss, leaving the character transformed but scarred.

Why they belong together: These films share a core emotional journey: a blend of yearning, desperation, and the bittersweet cost of change. They connect through a specific mood of lonely aspiration, where the dream of escape is powerfully compelling yet ultimately paid for with personal sacrifice.

The Sweet Life movie poster

The Sweet Life

2017
Mister Lonely movie poster

Mister Lonely

2008
Sunlight movie poster

Sunlight

2025
Lucky Them movie poster

Lucky Them

2014
A Perfect Ending movie poster

A Perfect Ending

2012
Escape Me Never movie poster

Escape Me Never

1947
Lucky Break movie poster

Lucky Break

2002
The Hedgehog movie poster

The Hedgehog

2009

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Small Apartments

Small Apartments appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories
Bizarre Historical Event Obsessions movies

Bizarre Historical Event Obsessions

Movies about historical event obsessions

Every angle

Small Apartments (2012) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Small Apartments 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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