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Supergirl (1984) movie poster

Timeline

Supergirl (1984) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1984 · 105 min · English
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Directed by
Jeannot Szwarc
Starring
Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole, Mia Farrow, Peter Cook, Brenda Vaccaro, Helen Slater

A remarkable young woman dominates the competitive powerlifting circuit, but her incredible strength reveals a hidden, extraordinary ability. As Naomi Kutin gains recognition and fame, her life takes an unexpected turn, forcing her to confront a destiny far beyond the world of sports. Her loved ones must come to terms with this incredible transformation and the challenges it brings.

Action Adventure Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance Cast, crew & box office
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 Supergirl
  7. 7 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Supergirl Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Supergirl (1984) 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. Destruction of Krypton

    Many years prior to the events of the story, the planet Krypton experienced a catastrophic explosion. This disaster caused the remnants of Kryptonian civilization to be scattered, with some surviving in a new realm known as Argo City.

    Where
    Krypton

  2. The Creation of Argo City

    In the aftermath of Krypton’s destruction, Argo City was mysteriously transported into another dimension called 'inner space.' This new enclave became a sanctuary for surviving Kryptonians, sustained by the powerful orb known as the Omegahedron.

    Where
    Argo City

  3. Zaltar Borrows the Omegahedron

    Zaltar, a resident of Argo City, bravely borrows the Omegahedron for his art project. His curiosity leads to a critical mistake when the orb is accidentally sent drifting into the vastness of space, endangering the existence of Argo City.

    Where
    Argo City

  4. Kara Zor-El's Mission Begins

    Feeling the urgency of the situation, teenager Kara Zor-El decides to get the Omegahedron back. Despite her parents’ fears for her safety, she sets off on a daring adventure to retrieve the powerful orb that sustains their city.

    Where
    Argo City

  5. The Omegahedron Reaches Earth

    The Omegahedron travels through a wormhole, eventually landing on Earth, where it is discovered by Selena, a fortune teller with ambitions of witchcraft. She recognizes the orb's immense potential and decides to keep it hidden for her own plans.

    Where
    Earth

  6. Kara Becomes Supergirl

    Kara is transported to Earth and transformed into Supergirl, adopting a costume similar to that of her famous cousin, Superman. Excited by her newfound powers, she embarks on an exploration of Earth while tracking the Omegahedron.

    Where
    Earth

  7. Arrival in Midvale

    Supergirl, under her Earth identity of Linda Lee, arrives in Midvale, Illinois, and enrolls in an all-girls school. Here, she meets Lucy Lane, the spirited sister of Lois Lane, and adapts to her new life.

    Where
    Midvale, Illinois

  8. Selena's Love Potion

    Driven by jealousy over Ethan, a handsome groundskeeper, Selena concocts a love potion to win his affection. However, her plan backfires, resulting in Ethan becoming dazed instead of enamored, leading to chaos in the town.

    Where
    Carnival

  9. Supergirl Saves the Day

    With the bulldozer set to wreak havoc under Selena's magical control, Supergirl intervenes. She uses her powers to stop the rampaging machine, highlighting her heroic nature while disguising back into Linda Lee just as Ethan awakens.

    Where
    Midvale, Illinois

  10. Selena's Revenge

    Furious over Supergirl's actions and Ethan's interest in Linda, Selena plots her revenge using dark magic. She creates a storm to trap Linda, signaling a direct confrontation between Supergirl and the malevolent sorceress.

    Where
    Midvale, Illinois

  11. Battle at the Carnival

    During a chaotic showdown at the carnival, Supergirl battles Selena's magic directly, trapping her in a makeshift cage. This intense confrontation finally lays the groundwork for the culmination of their rivalry.

    Where
    Carnival

  12. The Phantom Zone

    After a fierce escalation, Supergirl is banished to the Phantom Zone by Selena. There, she meets Zaltar, who reflects on his remorse while urging her to regain her power and resolve to escape back to the world.

    Where
    Phantom Zone

  13. Supergirl's Return

    Inspired by Zaltar's encouragement, Supergirl navigates perilous cliffs and triumphantly escapes the Phantom Zone. Her return comes at a critical moment to save the town from Selena's ominous magic.

    Where
    Earth

  14. Final Showdown

    In a dramatic final battle, Supergirl confronts a powerful demon summoned by Selena. By using her wits and will, she turns the demon against its master, leading to Selena and her cohort being exiled to the Phantom Zone forever.

    Where
    Midvale, Illinois

  15. Hope Restored to Argo City

    With the Omegahedron safely retrieved, Ethan realizes the connection between Supergirl and Linda Lee. As she prepares to return the orb, Supergirl emphasizes the secrecy of her identity, ensuring a brighter future for Argo City.

    Where
    Argo City

Last updated: November 02, 2024 at 11:43

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Timeline questions answered

Supergirl Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Supergirl (1984): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Zaltar borrow the Omegahedron?

Zaltar, a resident of Argo City, borrowed the Omegahedron for an art project because he was curious about using the powerful orb for creative purposes. This seemingly innocent artistic endeavor led to the orb accidentally being sent into space, putting Argo City in grave danger.

  • zaltar
  • omegahedron
  • art project
  • argo city
Q2

How did the Omegahedron end up on Earth?

After Zaltar accidentally sent the Omegahedron into space, the orb traveled through a wormhole and was drawn through it, eventually landing on Earth. This dimensional journey brought the powerful orb from Argo City to our world, where it was discovered by Selena.

  • omegahedron
  • earth
  • wormhole
  • selena
  • space
Q3

Why did Selena want the Omegahedron?

Selena, a fortune teller who studied magic under the warlock Nigel, recognized the Omegahedron's immense magical potential. She understood that the orb could enhance her magical abilities and help her achieve her ambition of becoming a powerful witch and ultimately gaining world domination.

  • selena
  • omegahedron
  • magic
  • witch
  • nigel
Q4

How did Kara become Supergirl?

When Kara was transported to Earth, she was transformed into Supergirl, gaining superhuman powers including super strength, flight, and invulnerability. She adopted a costume similar to her cousin Superman's and began using her abilities to track down the Omegahedron while living under the alias Linda Lee.

  • kara
  • supregirl
  • powers
  • transformation
  • linda lee
Q5

Why was Supergirl banished to the Phantom Zone?

During her escalating battle with Selena, the sorceress used her dark magic to banish Supergirl to the Phantom Zone. This was Selena's attempt to permanently remove her rival, as the Phantom Zone is a dimension where Supergirl lost her powers and was trapped with Zaltar.

  • phantom zone
  • selena
  • banishment
  • magic
  • zaltar
Q6

How did Supergirl escape the Phantom Zone?

Although Supergirl had no powers in the Phantom Zone, she was inspired by Zaltar's insistence that she find a way out. She climbed treacherous cliffs within the dimension and managed to escape back to Earth, returning just in time to confront Selena's demon.

  • phantom zone
  • escape
  • zaltar
  • cliffs
  • return
Q7

What happened to Selena at the end of the movie?

In the final showdown, Supergirl turned Selena's own demon against her. The magical whirlwind engulfed Selena, her assistant Bianca, and the demon, exiling them all to the Phantom Zone forever. This ended Selena's quest for world domination.

  • selena
  • demon
  • phantom zone
  • defeat
  • exile
Q8

Why did Ethan forget Linda but fall for Supergirl?

When Selena and Nigel crafted powerful magic together, it inadvertently undid the love potion effects, causing Ethan to forget his feelings for Linda. However, he then became drawn to Supergirl instead, as the magic reset his romantic attractions without the artificial influence.

  • ethan
  • love potion
  • memory
  • linda lee
  • supregirl
Q9

What is the Omegahedron and why does Argo City need it?

The Omegahedron is a small but powerful orb that serves as the lifeblood of Argo City. After Krypton's destruction, Argo City was transported into another dimension called inner space, and the Omegahedron sustains the city with its energy. Without it, Argo City would face imminent destruction.

  • omegahedron
  • argo city
  • energy
  • krypton
  • survival
Q10

Why did Selena's love potion backfire?

Selena brewed a love potion to make Ethan fall in love with her, but the potion backfired, leaving him in a daze instead of enchantment. This magical failure set off a chain of events including the bulldozer incident that brought Supergirl and Ethan together.

  • love potion
  • selena
  • ethan
  • magic failure
  • backfire
Q11

Why did Supergirl keep her identity secret from Ethan and Lucy?

Supergirl impressed upon Ethan, Lucy, and Jimmy the importance of keeping her dual identity as Linda Lee and Supergirl secret. This was necessary to protect her loved ones from Selena's revenge and to maintain her ability to operate as a hero without putting those close to her in danger.

  • secret identity
  • linda lee
  • supregirl
  • ethan
  • lucy lane
Q12

What is inner space and where is Argo City?

Argo City exists in a dimension called inner space, which was created when the remnants of Krypton were transported there after the planet's explosion. This interdimensional enclave serves as a sanctuary for surviving Kryptonians, including Kara's family.

  • inner space
  • argo city
  • dimension
  • krypton
  • enclave

Movie threads

More Movies Like Supergirl, by Mood & Story

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

Whimsical superhero adventures like Supergirl

Lighthearted and playful superhero stories with magical worlds and youthful energy. If you enjoyed the lighthearted and magical feel of Supergirl, you'll love these movies. This list features energetic, family-friendly superhero stories with fast pacing, whimsical plots, and a hopeful, happy tone. Find more films that capture a similar sense of fun and fantastical adventure.

  • whimsical
  • adventurous
  • magical
  • energetic
  • hopeful
  • playful
  • Tone: whimsical, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a classic hero's journey with a clear, often magical, antagonist. The protagonist, often discovering their powers for the first time, navigates a world of wonder and peril, leading to direct confrontations and a triumphant resolution. The focus is on adventure and discovery rather than moral complexity.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared tone of whimsy, their light emotional weight, and their energetic, optimistic approach to the superhero genre. They provide a cohesive viewing experience defined by playful escapism and a straightforward, satisfying narrative structure.

Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil movie poster

Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil

2011
The Magic Roundabout movie poster

The Magic Roundabout

2004
Luck movie poster

Luck

2022
Super Capers movie poster

Super Capers

2009
Alice in Wonderland movie poster

Alice in Wonderland

2010
A Simple Wish movie poster

A Simple Wish

1997
Disenchanted movie poster

Disenchanted

2022
DC League of Super-Pets movie poster

DC League of Super-Pets

2022

Coming-of-age power discovery movies like Supergirl

Stories of young heroes discovering their identity and powers in a world of magic. Looking for films similar to Supergirl's story of a young woman discovering her incredible powers? This collection features movies about teenagers and young adults coming to terms with a magical or superhuman identity. These stories blend personal growth with fantastical adventure in an uplifting way.

  • coming of age
  • empowering
  • magical
  • youthful
  • hopeful
  • discovery
  • Tone: hopeful, youthful
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on a young protagonist who stumbles upon or inherits great power. Their journey involves learning to control these abilities, understanding their place in a larger world, and ultimately using their power to overcome a threat, all while navigating the typical challenges of growing up.

Why they belong together: These films share a core focus on the 'coming of age' theme intertwined with supernatural or superhuman discovery. They are united by a blend of youthful perspective, themes of identity and empowerment, and a narrative that uses fantastical elements as a metaphor for personal growth and acceptance.

The Power Within movie poster

The Power Within

1995
Teenage movie poster

Teenage

2014
Up, Up, and Away movie poster

Up, Up, and Away

2000
Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors movie poster

Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors

2018
Secret Society of Second Born Royals movie poster

Secret Society of Second Born Royals

2020
Sky High movie poster

Sky High

2005
We Can Be Heroes movie poster

We Can Be Heroes

2020
Upside-Down Magic movie poster

Upside-Down Magic

2020

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Every angle

Supergirl (1984) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Supergirl 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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