The Fan

The Fan

Year: 1996

Runtime: 116 min

Language: English

Director: Tony Scott

DramaSportThriller

Within the competitive realm of professional baseball, a devoted fan’s admiration for his favorite player spirals into dangerous obsession. As Bobby Rayburn experiences a batting slump, Gil Renard's fixation intensifies, blurring the boundaries between passionate fandom and unsettling fanaticism. The escalating stakes lead to a gripping and suspenseful exploration of the dark side of hero worship.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Fan (1996)

Trace every key event in The Fan (1996) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Gil's fixation on Rayburn begins

Gil Renard, a troubled baseball fan, becomes obsessed with Bobby Rayburn after the Giants sign him to a lucrative contract. His personal life starts to unravel as Ellen obtains a restraining order to keep him away from their son, and he is fired from his knife-selling job after insulting a prospective client.

San Francisco
2

Rayburn's injury sparks fan fury

Rayburn suffers a chest injury that triggers a wave of fan anger as his performance falters. Gil seizes the moment to antagonize the crowd, stoking the jeers that blame Rayburn for the team's slide.

Baseball stadium
3

Rivalry over jersey number 11

Following the injury, Rayburn and teammate Juan Primo clash over who should wear jersey number 11, fueling a tense confrontation. The conflict escalates as Primo refuses to yield the number, revealing a heated rift between the two players.

Hotel sauna
4

Primo's death in the sauna

Gil confronts Primo in a hotel sauna, and the argument spirals into violence as Primo reveals his branded shoulder with the number 11. The confrontation ends with Gil fatally stabbing Primo.

Hotel sauna
5

Rayburn rediscoveres form, misgivings linger

With Primo dead, Rayburn begins to regain his form on the field, and Gil convinces himself that his actions benefited the team. The line between devotion and manipulation grows increasingly blurred.

Stadium / locker room
6

Beach rescue and Rayburn’s disillusion

Gil goes to his beach house and saves his son Sean from drowning, then pressures Rayburn to join him for a game of catch on the beach. Rayburn admits he has stopped caring about the game and rails against the fickle nature of the fans.

Beachside house
7

Kidnapping and damning proof

Rayburn discovers Gil has kidnapped Sean and left a branded flesh fragment from Primo in the freezer as proof of his fixation. The threat to Sean becomes the fulcrum of Gil's violent obsession.

Beach house freezer
8

Coop's help thwarted, Coop killed

Gil visits his old friend Coop, who tries to help Sean escape, but the plan collapses. Gil fatally beats Coop with a baseball bat and abducts Sean to a nearby baseball field.

Coop's place / local field
9

Gil's demand: hit a home run for him

Gil makes contact with Rayburn and issues a chilling ultimatum: hit a home run in the upcoming game and dedicate it to Gil, or Sean will be harmed. The tension of the vendetta reaches a breaking point.

Phone call / vicinity of Candlestick Park
10

Final game under the storm

In a thunderstorm at Candlestick Park, Rayburn hits the ball deep into the outfield but cannot push it over the fence. He attempts an inside-the-park run while the crowd roars and boos.

Candlestick Park
11

Umpire reveal and on-field struggle

Rayburn argues with the umpire, who turns out to be Gil in disguise. A chaotic clash erupts as Gil lunges with a knife, and Rayburn fights to subdue him while the field erupts in chaos.

Candlestick Park field
12

Sean’s location and Gil’s demise

Gil is shot dead by the police as he prepares to throw the knife. Sean is later found safe at a Little League field called Stadium in the Sky, surrounded by newspaper clippings that reveal Gil's obsessive fixation on Rayburn and his past glory.

Stadium in the Sky (Little League field)

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58

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