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Timeline

The Internship (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 119 min · English
Directed by
Shawn Levy
Starring
Owen Wilson, Aasif Mandvi, Rose Byrne, Vince Vaughn
Budget
$58M

Two salesmen, Billy and Nick, find themselves unexpectedly competing for internships at a tech company in Silicon Valley. Trading in their traditional sales roles, they must adapt to a fast-paced, digital environment and contend with a group of young, tech-savvy interns. As they face quirky challenges and navigate a new workplace culture, they learn valuable lessons about innovation, teamwork, and finding their place in a rapidly changing world.

On this page (7)
  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 Internship
  6. 6 Categories
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Internship (2013)

Where can you watch The Internship? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Internship Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Internship (2013) 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. Job Loss

    Billy McMahon and Nick Campbell find themselves without jobs after being laid off from their positions in watch sales. The closure of their company leaves them searching for new opportunities to revive their careers.

  2. Internship Application

    In a bold move, Billy applies for an internship at Google for both himself and Nick. Despite lacking relevant experience and adhering to conventional norms, their unorthodox interview style impresses the selection panel, leading to their unexpected acceptance.

    Where
    Google
  3. Joining the Interns

    Billy and Nick begin their summer internship at Google, where they quickly understand the competitive nature of the environment. They find themselves amidst a diverse group of younger interns, known as 'Nooglers', who are all eager to prove themselves.

    Where
    Google
  4. Team Formation

    Billy and Nick are assigned to a team of fellow interns who initially seem like misfits. Their team includes Stuart, Yo-Yo, and Neha, each bringing their own quirks as they learn to work together and navigate the unique challenges of the internship.

    Where
    Google
  5. First Task and Setback

    During a task focused on debugging, Billy and Nick’s team face obstacles when their teammates send them on an errand that turns out to be unproductive. This humiliation reinforces their feelings of inadequacy among the younger interns.

    Where
    Google
  6. Muggle Quidditch Game

    To boost morale, Billy organizes a Muggle Quidditch game against a rival team led by Graham. Although they lose, the event helps to rekindle their spirit and strengthens the bond between the team members.

    Where
    Google
  7. Night Out

    In an effort to unwind, the team goes out for a night on the town, leading to eye-opening revelations. Neha expresses her insecurities to Billy, while Nick encourages Yo-Yo to break free from his overbearing upbringing, marking a pivotal moment of personal growth for the team.

    Where
    Strip Club
  8. App Brainstorming

    Inspired by a night of fun, the team, buoyed by Lyle’s antics, brainstorms an innovative app to deter reckless phone usage while intoxicated. The quirky idea stands out, leading to success in their next task.

    When
    Dawn
    Where
    Golden Gate Bridge
  9. Nick's Romantic Pursuits

    As Nick tries to woo a Google executive named Dana, he begins to take a genuine interest in the technical aspects of their work. This newfound enthusiasm showcases his growth and ability to connect his passion with his professional aspirations.

    Where
    Google
  10. Doubts and Guidance

    As the team prepares for a challenging technical support task, Billy grapples with self-doubt. A Google employee known as 'Headphones' provides him with encouragement, helping him recognize the value of his interpersonal skills.

    Where
    Google
  11. Billy's Departure

    After a disappointing performance during a team challenge which resulted in zero points for their group, Billy makes the difficult decision to leave Google. This news shocks his teammates and highlights the emotional stakes of their summer.

    Where
    Google
  12. Final Team Challenge

    The interns face their final challenge—a sales pitch to attract clients to Google. With a last-minute appeal from Nick, Billy decides to return to the team, resulting in a collaborative effort to impress a local pizzeria owner.

    Where
    Google
  13. Celebration of Victory

    As the day of reckoning arrives, the interns present their project, leading to an unexpected win. Their success not only secures jobs for Billy and Nick but also sets the stage for future opportunities for their teammates upon graduation.

    Where
    Google
  14. Life After the Internship

    With the internship concluded, new romantic relationships begin to blossom among the interns. Nick and Dana continue their relationship, while Lyle and Marielena find common ground, and Stuart and Neha explore their own connection.

  15. Personal Growth

    The interns leave with a greater sense of independence and newfound aspirations. Yo-Yo declares his independence from his mother’s influence, suggesting personal growth among all team members as they embark on their next chapters.

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 18:21

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Timeline questions answered

The Internship Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Internship (2013): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Billy apply for the Google internship for both himself and Nick?

After being laid off from their watch sales jobs, Billy decided to take a bold step to change their fortunes. He applied for a Google internship for both of himself and Nick, seeing it as an opportunity to break into the tech industry despite their lack of relevant experience.

  • billy mcmahon
  • google internship
  • job loss
  • career change
Q2

How did Billy and Nick get accepted into Google's internship despite having no tech experience?

Their unconventional interview responses impressed the selection panel enough to overlook their lack of relevant experience. They were the only interns who didn't fit the typical collegiate profile, making their acceptance particularly surprising.

  • interview
  • acceptance
  • google
  • nooglers
Q3

How did the team come up with the app idea to detect phone use while intoxicated?

After a night out that included Lyle's drunken antics, the team found inspiration overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge at dawn. Their drunken idea was an app that would deter reckless phone usage while intoxicated, which surprisingly won them their next task.

Foreshadowing: The strip club scene earlier showed Neha and Billy discussing personal struggles, establishing the team bonding that led to this moment.

  • app
  • golden gate bridge
  • drunk phone
  • invention
  • .lyle
Q4

Why did Billy decide to leave Google during the internship?

During a team challenge, Billy performed well but failed to correctly log his calls, resulting in zero points for their group. Disheartened by this failure and feeling like a burden to his team, Billy decided to leave Google to pursue a sales opportunity elsewhere.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Billy struggled with self-doubt during the technical support hotline task, showing his insecurity about keeping up with the younger interns.

  • billy departure
  • failure
  • team challenge
  • leaving google
Q5

What convinced Billy to return for the final challenge?

After Billy left, Nick persuaded him to return by emphasizing the importance of their team dynamic. Billy came back to help his teammates with their final sales pitch to a local pizzeria owner, demonstrating the power of friendship and teamwork.

Foreshadowing: The Muggle Quidditch game earlier showed Billy's ability to rally and motivate his team, foreshadowing his leadership in the final challenge.

  • billy return
  • nick persuasion
  • final challenge
  • pizzeria
Q6

Who was 'Headphones' at Google and what advice did he give Billy?

Headphones was a quiet Google employee often seen wearing headphones who approached Billy during his moment of doubt. He revealed that Billy's interpersonal skills were a unique asset and helped him recognize his value beyond technical knowledge, encouraging him to master the technical material.

  • headphones
  • josh gad
  • google employee
  • advice
  • billy growth
Q7

How did Billy's team win the final Google internship challenge?

The final challenge was a sales pitch to attract the largest client to Google. With Billy back on the team, they convinced Sal, a local pizzeria owner, to use Google's resources to enhance his business while upholding his principles. Mr. Chetty recognized the limitless potential of the pizzeria despite its small size, and Graham's objections were dismissed by Headphones, who was revealed to be the head of Google Search.

  • final challenge
  • sales pitch
  • pizzeria
  • google
  • victory
Q8

Why did Mr. Chetty allow the last-minute presentation with the pizzeria?

Mr. Chetty, the head of the internship program, initially harbored skepticism about the older interns but recognized the innovative approach Billy's team took. When the rules permitted last-minute presentations, he saw the potential in the humble pizzeria concept and allowed it to compete, ultimately valuing creativity over traditional business size.

  • mr chetty
  • pizzeria
  • last minute presentation
  • rules
Q9

Did all the interns get jobs at Google at the end?

In the triumphant conclusion, Billy, Nick, Stuart, Yo-Yo, and Neha were celebrated as the winners and secured jobs at Google. However, Stuart, Yo-Yo, and Neha were lined up to start after their college graduation, while Billy and Nick began immediately.

  • jobs
  • google
  • stuart
  • yo-yo
  • neha
  • graduation
Q10

How did Nick's relationship with Dana develop throughout the internship?

Nick initially tried to woo Google executive Dana through superficial means with little success. He then attended technical presentations to impress her, which led to a genuine interest in the subject matter. His authentic growth and interest in her work eventually earned her respect and led to a date, with their relationship continuing after the internship.

  • nick
  • dana
  • rose byrne
  • romance
  • google executive
Q11

Why did Billy and Nick get sent on a wild goose chase during the debugging task?

During the debugging task, Billy and Nick's teammates Stuart, Yo-Yo, and Neha deemed them useless due to their lack of technical skills. They sent Billy and Nick on an errand that turned out to be unproductive, which humiliated the older interns and reinforced their feelings of inadequacy among the younger interns.

  • debugging task
  • wild goose chase
  • stuart
  • yo-yo
  • neha
  • humiliation
Q12

Why did the younger interns bully Billy and Nick?

The younger interns, including rival Graham Hawtrey, looked down on Billy and Nick due to their age and lack of technical experience. The competitive environment fostered rivalry, and Graham was particularly antagonistic throughout the internship program, constantly trying to undermine the older interns.

  • bullying
  • graham hawtrey
  • nooglers
  • rivalry
  • age discrimination

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Internship, by Mood & Story

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

Workplace Underdog Comedies like The Internship

Misfits banding together to prove their worth in a new and quirky professional arena. If you liked the feel-good teamwork of 'The Internship', you'll enjoy these movies about underdogs finding success in a new workplace. This list features humorous stories of personal growth, intergenerational collaboration, and triumphant team efforts in modern professional settings.

  • feel-good
  • underdog
  • teamwork
  • workplace comedy
  • uplifting
  • encouraging
  • Tone: light, hopeful, uplifting
  • Pacing: steady, goal-oriented
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically begin with protagonists entering an unfamiliar or intimidating workplace. A structured series of challenges or tasks forces them to collaborate with a diverse team, often of rivals or younger, more tech-savvy colleagues. The central conflict revolves around proving their value, leading to a predictable but satisfying arc of personal and professional triumph.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on the underdog narrative within a corporate or workplace setting, blending light comedy with themes of adaptation, teamwork, and the validation of experience. The pacing is steady, driven by clear goals, and the tone remains optimistic and encouraging throughout.

Movies about Bridging Generational Gaps like The Internship

Older characters navigating the culture shock of a youth-dominated, fast-paced world with humor. Fans of 'The Internship' and its story of adapting to a new generation will like these comedies. Discover similar films about older protagonists learning to navigate youth culture and modern technology, finding common ground through humor and shared challenges.

  • intergenerational
  • culture-clash
  • adaptation
  • lighthearted
  • energetic
  • personal growth
  • Tone: lighthearted, energetic, optimistic
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves established characters from an older era being thrust into a contemporary setting dominated by younger people and new technologies. The journey is one of adaptation, where initial friction and comedic missteps give way to learning, mentorship in both directions, and the discovery that different generations have complementary strengths.

Why they belong together: These films share a core thematic focus on intergenerational dynamics, using comedy to explore adaptation and the value of experience versus innovation. They maintain a light, energetic tone while delivering a positive message about collaboration across age groups.

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Movies Like The Internship

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring The Internship

The Internship 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.

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Every angle

The Internship (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Internship 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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