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The Day Time Ended (1980) movie poster

Timeline

The Day Time Ended (1980) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1980 · 80 mins · English
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Directed by
John "Bud" Cardos
Starring
Jim Davis, Dorothy Malone, Christopher Mitchum, Natasha Ryan, Scott C. Kolden, Marcy Lafferty

Deep in a remote desert, a rural American family finds its quiet night shattered when a luminous UFO hovers over their home, plunging them into an inter‑dimensional assault of extraterrestrial terror that forces them to confront unimaginable threats until dawn.

Horror Adventure Cast, crew & box office
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 The Day Time Ended
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Day Time Ended Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Day Time Ended (1980) 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. Welcome back to the desert home

    A father and his elder son greet the rest of the family as they return from vacation to a gleaming, state-of-the-art house in the Sonoran Desert. The home’s modern features promise comfort and safety, setting a calm tone despite what’s about to unfold. The anticipation of an ordinary evening quickly gives way to strange signals from the wider world.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Sonoran Desert, new home

  2. Eerie signals from the barn

    News reports recount a spectacular triple supernova, while the granddaughter reports seeing a glowing alien construction behind the barn. The family remains curious but placid, treating it as background color to their routine return. The combination of science fiction spectacle and a quiet family evening hints at incoming danger.

    When
    Late afternoon
    Where
    Behind the barn, Sonoran Desert home

  3. UFOs over the hills

    Unsettling lights glide across the night sky and vanish into the hills near the house. The family watches, uneasy, as rumors of extraterrestrial activity spill beyond the TV reports. The calm of the evening begins to fracture as something unseen presses in.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Hills surrounding the home

  4. Rift opens in space-time

    The triple supernova appears to rupture reality, opening a rift that distorts their surroundings. Objects flicker, and a sense of being watched settles over the house. The family realizes the phenomena are not merely weather or news, but a gateway to another dimension.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Near the home

  5. Power outages and interference

    Electrical power falters as devices spasm and cutting-edge systems whine with unfamiliar energy. The house’s safety and routines strain under the unseen pressure. The moment marks the first clear sign that normal life is breaking down.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Inside the house

  6. Granddaughter’s telepathic contact

    During an anxious moment, the granddaughter experiences a telepathic encounter with an extraterrestrial presence. Her description hints at a mind-to-mind link rather than a physical visitation. The scene deepens the sense that nonhuman forces are already among them.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Inside the house

  7. Grandmother sees a beckoning creature

    The grandmother glimpses one of the diminutive aliens beckoning from the shadows, but the creature vanishes almost as soon as she notices it. The brief sighting adds to the sense of being watched and to the mystery of the rift. The home becomes a place where reality feels permeable.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Inside the house

  8. Grandfather spots the approaching danger

    The grandfather sees a strange creature approaching from a distance and rushes inside to warn the family. He urges caution as the threat grows, underscoring the imminent danger outside. The sense of imminent intrusion dominates the family’s fragile calm.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Outside the house

  9. Creatures fight and a probe breaks in

    Two horrific reptilian or amphibian monsters clash right outside, their combat echoing through the walls. A small camera-like probe craft circles the house, trying to breach the defenses. The family watches in terror as the threats threaten to reach them, before they are abruptly pulled away.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Outside the house

  10. Time warp isolates the family

    The threats are teleported away through what appears to be a time warp, leaving the family bewildered and separated from the flow of time. They realize they are trapped in a moment where hours and days feel the same. The sense of isolation intensifies as they determine a plan to survive.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Inside and around the house

  11. The family prepares to flee

    As night falls, the family begins packing to leave the home that sits at the center of the disruption. Each member seeks safe passage, aware that staying could mean danger. The plan to seek refuge elsewhere takes shape against an ominous, expanding horizon.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Around the house

  12. Elder son’s return is thwarted

    The elder son tries to hurry back from the city, but rushing UFOs crash his car on the road. The accident worsens the family’s fragmentation as they lose contact with their son. This event marks a turning point, forcing the remaining family to adapt to a new reality.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Road near the city

  13. Family split continues

    The group disperses: grandparents and their younger son stay behind, while the daughter-in-law, her husband, and their daughter move away. The separation heightens tension but also foreshadows new alliances. Everyone clings to the hope that reunions are possible, despite the danger.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Around the desert home and road

  14. Reunion glimpsed and domed city appears

    The daughter-in-law reconnects with her husband and daughter, meeting up with her own parents and brother-in-law. A domed city looms in the distance, offering a possible sanctuary from the anomaly. The family edges toward it, unsure but determined.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Desert road toward domed city

  15. Desert trek toward shelter; purposeful ending

    With a sense of purpose, the family sets off toward the domed city as the grandfather voices that there must be a reason behind it all. They walk into the unknown, united by the hope of shelter and safety. The film ends on the threshold of a new refuge, leaving the fate of the family in the hands of the mystery beyond the rift.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Desert toward domed city

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:51

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Timeline questions answered

The Day Time Ended Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Day Time Ended (1980): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does the triple supernova cause the rift in space-time?

The triple supernova creates a rupture in reality that opens a dimensional rift near the family's desert home. This cosmic event tears open space-time itself, allowing extraterrestrial beings and creatures to pass through into their world. The rift distorts their surroundings and marks the beginning of the interdimensional assault.

Foreshadowing: Earlier news reports about the spectacular triple supernova establish this as the catalyst for all subsequent events.

  • supernova
  • rift
  • space-time
  • dimension
  • cosmic event
Q2

Why can Jenny communicate with the aliens telepathically?

Jenny experiences a mind-to-mind link with an extraterrestrial presence during an anxious moment. The telepathic contact suggests the aliens are attempting to connect with humans directly, possibly as a form of communication or influence. This ability distinguishes her from other family members and indicates she has become a focal point for the extraterrestrial forces.

Foreshadowing: Jenny's earlier sighting of the glowing alien construction behind the barn hints that she is already being noticed by the aliens.

  • telepathy
  • jenny
  • alien communication
  • mind link
  • granddaughter
Q3

Why are the two reptilian monsters fighting outside the house?

The two horrific creatures appear to be rivals or enemies from another dimension, battling each other for territory or dominance. Their fight occurs right outside the family's home as they contest the same space. The family watches in terror as these two threats clash before both are abruptly pulled away through the time warp.

Foreshadowing: The arrival of multiple different types of threats suggests a conflict exists among the extraterrestrial beings themselves.

  • monsters
  • reptilian
  • creatures
  • battle
  • fight
Q4

What happens to the monsters and probe after they're teleported away?

The threats are pulled away through what appears to be a time warp, removing them from the immediate vicinity of the house. This sudden removal leaves the family bewildered and isolated from the normal passage of time. The teleportation suggests that whatever force controls the rift can manipulate which beings enter and exit the dimensional breach.

  • teleportation
  • time warp
  • monsters
  • threats
  • dimension
Q5

Why does Richard crash his car on his way back?

Richard crashes his car while rushing back from the city when UFOs streak across the road ahead of him. The extraterrestrial craft interfere with his vehicle, causing the accident and preventing him from reaching his family. This event further scatters the family and leaves them concerned about his safety.

Foreshadowing: The family's separation is anticipated earlier when the group begins planning to flee the home.

  • richard
  • crash
  • ufo
  • car accident
  • family separation
Q6

What is the domed city that appears in the distance?

A domed city looms in the distance as a possible sanctuary from the dimensional anomaly affecting the desert. The family decides to move toward it, hoping to find safety and shelter from the ongoing threats. The city represents the threshold between the dangerous unknown and a potential refuge.

Foreshadowing: The decision to seek shelter follows the family's realization that staying at the house offers no lasting safety.

  • domed city
  • sanctuary
  • shelter
  • desert
  • journey
Q7

Why does the grandfather believe there must be a larger purpose to everything?

The grandfather voices his belief that there must be some larger purpose behind all the events they're experiencing. This reflects the family's need to find meaning in the terrifying ordeal. Despite the chaos and danger, his perspective suggests a unifying theme of endurance and hope as they walk toward the domed city together.

  • grandfather
  • purpose
  • meaning
  • family endurance
  • hope
Q8

Why does the grandmother see a small alien beckoning at her?

The grandmother catches a glimpse of one of the diminutive aliens beckoning from the shadows inside the house. The creature vanishes almost immediately after she notices it. This brief sighting adds to the sense that the family is being watched and that the aliens are actively engaging with them, not merely observing.

Foreshadowing: The telepathic connection with Jenny establishes that the aliens are making direct contact with the family.

  • grandmother
  • alien
  • beckoning
  • small alien
  • creature
Q9

Why does the time warp trap the family in a moment outside normal time?

The time warp created by the rift isolates the family from the normal passage of time, making hours and days feel indistinguishable. This temporal distortion leaves them trapped in a suspended moment where the normal flow of time no longer applies. The isolation forces them to make urgent survival decisions without the comfort of time's usual progression.

  • time warp
  • time
  • temporal distortion
  • isolation
  • rift
Q10

Why do the family members decide to move toward the domed city together?

The family chooses to walk toward the domed city because it represents the only visible sign of safety in their surroundings. After the partial reunion between Beth, her husband, and their daughter, the family realizes that safety lies in numbers. They set off together with a sense of purpose, hoping the city will provide shelter from the dimensional anomaly.

  • family
  • dromed city
  • journey
  • escape
  • safety

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Day Time Ended, by Mood & Story

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

Claustrophobic family siege movies like The Day Time Ended

Ordinary families trapped in a single location, fighting off relentless extraterrestrial or supernatural threats. If you enjoyed the high-stakes survival of The Day Time Ended, explore more movies where a family is trapped and besieged by unknown forces. These films deliver tense, fast-paced stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary threats in confined spaces, emphasizing unity and resilience against overwhelming odds.

  • claustrophobic
  • anxious
  • relentless
  • family-centric
  • spectacle-driven
  • survival-horror
  • Tone: tense, anxious, relentless
  • Pacing: fast, urgent, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a peaceful family setting that is abruptly shattered by an external threat. The story unfolds in real-time or over a single harrowing period, as the characters use their wits and whatever resources are at hand to defend their sanctuary. The core conflict is survival against a seemingly unstoppable force, with the family dynamic being both a source of strength and tension.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared premise of a confined family under siege. They create a potent mix of claustrophobic anxiety and spectacle-driven action, focusing on the emotional stakes of protecting one's home and loved ones from incomprehensible dangers.

It! The Terror from Beyond Space movie poster

It! The Terror from Beyond Space

1958
Alien Siege movie poster

Alien Siege

2005
The Day Time Ended movie poster

The Day Time Ended

1980
13Hrs movie poster

13Hrs

2010
Alien Siege movie poster

Alien Siege

2018
Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County movie poster

Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County

1998
Silent Warnings movie poster

Silent Warnings

2003
Alien Raiders movie poster

Alien Raiders

2008

Movies with disorienting cosmic encounters like The Day Time Ended

Stories where close encounters with the unknown warp reality itself. Fans of The Day Time Ended and its reality-bending alien assault will find more mind-bending stories here. These films explore similar themes of interdimensional travel, time warps, and cosmic phenomena that challenge human perception, delivering a unique blend of sci-fi spectacle and unsettling unease.

  • uncanny
  • disorienting
  • spectacle-driven
  • cosmic-horror
  • reality-warp
  • anxious
  • Tone: uncanny, disorienting, tense
  • Pacing: variable, often fast with surreal lulls
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often begin with a seemingly normal event that quickly spirals into the inexplicable. Characters find themselves in situations where the environment itself is antagonistic, filled with visual wonders and terrors that defy logic. The journey is one of coping with the uncanny and trying to find footing in a world where the rules have changed.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their focus on the disorienting and spectacular side of sci-fi and horror. They share a mood of uncanny wonder and anxiety, prioritizing bizarre phenomena and mind-bending concepts over conventional action, appealing to viewers who enjoy cosmic strangeness.

When Worlds Collide movie poster

When Worlds Collide

1951
Journey to the Center of Time movie poster

Journey to the Center of Time

1967
Strange Invaders movie poster

Strange Invaders

1983
Alien Planet movie poster

Alien Planet

2023
Journey to the Seventh Planet movie poster

Journey to the Seventh Planet

1962
It Came from Outer Space movie poster

It Came from Outer Space

1953
Forbidden Planet movie poster

Forbidden Planet

1956
The Time Travelers movie poster

The Time Travelers

1964

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Every angle

The Day Time Ended (1980) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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