Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

The New Kids (1985) movie poster

Timeline

The New Kids (1985) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1985 · 86 min · English
JustWatch #24,583 4
Directed by
Sean S. Cunningham
Starring
James Spader, Eric Stoltz, John Philbin, Lori Loughlin, Eddie Jones, Lucy Martin

Relocating to Florida, a brother and sister unexpectedly find themselves facing a dangerous situation. They become entangled with a powerful and ruthless drug kingpin, forcing them to confront escalating threats. To protect their newfound freedom and secure their future, they must find a way to overcome the menacing force they're up against and fight back.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The New Kids
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The New Kids (1985)

Where can you watch The New Kids? 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.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

14 events in order · contains spoilers

The New Kids Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The New Kids (1985) 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. McWilliams Sisters Arrive in Glenby

    The McWilliams sisters, Abby and Loren, arrive in Glenby, Florida, where they are trying to start anew after the tragic death of their parents. They seek solace and comfort at their uncle Charlie's gas station and amusement park, a cherished property that feels like a safe haven in their time of grief.

    Where
    Glenby, Florida
  2. New Relationships Begin

    As the sisters settle into their new lives, Loren enters a romantic relationship with Karen, the sheriff's daughter. Meanwhile, Abby finds herself the object of affection for Mark, which adds an unexpected twist to the sisters' dynamic and complicates their already fragile situation.

    Where
    Glenby
  3. Confrontation with Eddie Dutra

    Things take a dark turn when a confrontation erupts between Abby and Eddie Dutra, a volatile youth who leads a gang of troublemakers. Loren steps into the conflict, trying to protect her sister, but this only intensifies Dutra's obsession with Abby and sets off a chain of violent events.

    Where
    Amusement Park
  4. Dutra's Obsession Grows

    Dutra becomes dangerously fixated on Abby, enlisting his gang to exert control and instill fear in the sisters. Abby’s presence in his life serves as both a distraction and a target, leading to a series of escalating threats against their safety.

  5. Violence Erupts at the Amusement Park

    Dutra and his gang retaliate by vandalizing the amusement park, which was once a sanctuary for Abby and Loren. Their uncle Charlie becomes a victim of the escalating violence, deeply affecting the sisters' sense of security and igniting hope for revenge.

    Where
    Amusement Park
  6. Gordo's Tragic Fate

    The gang's terror takes a deadly turn when Gordo is attacked by a vicious dog, marking the first major casualty in their violent feud. This incident heightens the stakes and draws a line in the sand for the sisters, who realize they must take action to fight back.

  7. Joe Bob's Death

    In a shocking act of brutality, Dutra murders Joe Bob by electrocution on the bumper car ride. This gruesome event pushes Loren further into a vengeful mindset, as the violence spirals out of control, leaving devastation in its wake.

    Where
    Bumper Car Ride
  8. Loren's Transformation

    Driven by despair and anger, Loren takes it upon herself to turn the amusement park's attractions into weapons against the gang. Her strategic and increasingly lethal efforts mark her transformation from a protective sister into a fierce avenger.

    Where
    Amusement Park
  9. Moonie's Demise

    The chaos peaks when Moonie meets a horrifying end atop the Ferris wheel, a symbolic downfall representing the loss of innocence amidst the rising tide of revenge. This brutal twist reinforces the sisters' need to confront their enemies head-on.

    Where
    Ferris Wheel
  10. Gideon's Gruesome End

    Inevitably, Gideon faces a horrific fate as he is decapitated by the roller coaster. This shocking moment serves not only as a pivotal escalation in violence but also solidifies the stakes for the surviving characters.

    Where
    Roller Coaster
  11. Uncle Charlie Injured

    Amidst the escalating violence, Uncle Charlie finds himself seriously injured while trying to protect the sisters and his property. His suffering highlights the personal toll of the gang's brutality, pushing the sisters further into a state of desperation.

    Where
    Amusement Park
  12. Climactic Showdown

    The tension culminates in a climactic showdown, where Dutra makes a deadly attempt on Abby's life. In a moment of fierce determination, Loren confronts Dutra and uses a flamethrower, ending his terror and reclaiming their safety.

    Where
    Amusement Park
  13. Escaping Glenby

    Once the violence has subsided, Abby, Loren, and Karen manage to escape Glenby in their car, leaving behind the remnants of their harrowing experience and the destruction that unfolded. This escape signifies a new beginning for the sisters but also carries the weight of their traumatic past.

    Where
    Glenby
  14. Joe Bob's Brother Lurks

    As the amusement park prepares to reopen, a sinister shadow looms over the sisters' victory. Joe Bob's younger brother emerges from the shadows, consumed with vengeance and dark intentions, indicating that the struggles in Glenby may not be over yet.

    Where
    Amusement Park

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 20:27

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

The New Kids Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The New Kids (1985): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Eddie Dutra become obsessed with Abby?

Eddie Dutra develops an unhealthy obsession with Abby after she becomes the object of his affection. When Loren intervenes in a confrontation between Abby and Dutra, it only intensifies his fixation, treating Abby as a pawn in his dangerous game of dominance and control.

Foreshadowing: Earlier interactions at the amusement park show Dutra's volatile nature and his pattern of targeting those who reject him.

  • eddie dutra
  • abby
  • obsession
  • gang leader
  • control
Q2

How does Loren turn the amusement park into weapons?

Driven by despair and anger after the gang kills Joe Bob and injures Uncle Charlie, Loren strategically uses the amusement park's attractions as lethal weapons. She repurposes rides like the Ferris wheel and roller coaster to kill the gang members one by one.

Foreshadowing: The amusement park was introduced as a safe haven, and its transformation into a battlefield reflects the complete corruption of the sisters' sanctuary.

  • loren
  • amusement park
  • weapons
  • ferris wheel
  • roller coaster
  • revenge
Q3

What happens to Uncle Charlie in The New Kids?

Uncle Charlie, who runs the gas station and amusement park, becomes a victim of the gang's escalating violence. He is seriously injured while trying to protect the sisters and his property from Dutra's gang.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes establish Uncle Charlie as the protective figure and sole protector of the sisters' safe haven.

  • uncle charlie
  • injured
  • amusement park
  • protection
Q4

Why does the violence escalate so quickly at the amusement park?

The violence escalates because Loren's attempts to protect Abby only aggravate Dutra's fury. When Loren intervenes in the confrontation, Dutra retaliates by making the amusement park a battleground, turning their sanctuary into a war zone.

Foreshadowing: The initial confrontation between Abby and Dutra establishes the pattern of escalation with each attempted protection.

  • violence escalation
  • gang
  • amusement park
  • retaliation
Q5

How does the movie end for the McWilliams sisters?

In the climactic showdown, Loren kills Dutra by forcing his face into a flamethrower nozzle. After the carnage subsides, Abby, Loren, and Karen escape Glenby together in a car, leaving the destruction behind them.

Foreshadowing: The earlier presence of Joe Bob's younger brother hints that their troubles may not be over despite their escape.

  • ending
  • escape
  • loren
  • dutra
  • flamethrower
Q6

Who is Joe Bob's brother and what does he want?

Joe Bob's younger brother appears in the final scene as the amusement park reopens. He lurks in the shadows with dark, vengeful intentions, suggesting he seeks revenge for his brother's death and may become the next antagonist.

Foreshadowing: Joe Bob's death by electrocution on the bumper car ride sets the stage for his brother's potential vengeance.

  • joe bob brother
  • vengeance
  • shadow
  • new threat
Q7

Why is the ending considered so dark and ambiguous?

The ending is dark because the sisters achieve victory only through extreme violence, leaving multiple people dead. While Dutra is eliminated, they become fugitives running from their actions. The lingering presence of Joe Bob's brother suggests ongoing danger, creating a mixed victory shadowed by trauma.

Foreshadowing: The escalating violence throughout the film builds toward a pyrrhic conclusion rather than a clean resolution.

  • dark ending
  • ambiguous
  • fugitives
  • joe bob brother
  • trauma
Q8

What triggers Loren's transformation into an avenger?

Lorens transformation from protective sister to fierce avenger begins when Gordo is killed by a dog and escalates further when Dutra murders Joe Bob through electrocution. These events, combined with Uncle Charlie's injury, push her from desperation into unbridled rage.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows her relationships with Karen and Abby as her primary motivations for fighting back.

  • loren
  • transformation
  • vengeance
  • avenger
  • motivation
Q9

Why do the McWilliams sisters become targets of Dutra's gang?

The sisters become targets primarily because Dutra becomes fixated on Abby. When Loren attempts to protect her sister, it onlyaggravates Dutra's obsession, leading the gang to retaliate against both sisters and their uncle Charlie's property.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes show the sisters' vulnerability as newcomers to Glenby while grieving their parents' death.

  • mcwilliams sisters
  • gang
  • target
  • dutra
  • abuse
Q10

How does Joe Bob die in The New Kids?

Joe Bob is brutally murdered by Dutra himself through electrocution on the bumper car ride. This shocking act of brutality demonstrates the extent of Dutra's violence and pushes Loren further into her vengeful mindset.

Foreshadowing: Joe Bob's earlier involvement in the gang's violence foreshadows his violent end.

  • joe bob
  • death
  • electrocution
  • bumper cars
  • dutra

Movie threads

More Movies Like The New Kids, by Mood & Story

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

Movies with relentless small-town violence like The New Kids

Isolated protagonists pushed to their limits by sadistic local antagonists. If you liked The New Kids, explore other movies where protagonists face off against sadistic local gangs in a small-town setting. These films share a high-intensity, fast-paced narrative of revenge and survival, featuring dark tones, heavy emotional weight, and a fight against oppressive, homegrown menace.

  • revenge-driven
  • tense
  • brutal
  • oppressive
  • violent
  • vengeful
  • Tone: dark, tense, brutal
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a clear path: an attempt at a peaceful new beginning is shattered by a violent local power structure. The conflict escalates rapidly from intimidation to life-or-death stakes, forcing the protagonists to shed their innocence and engage in a brutal, often bloody, fight for survival and vengeance.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here by their shared setting of claustrophobic small-towns controlled by ruthless local gangs, a linear and fast-paced narrative of revenge, and an overwhelming sense of oppressive dread. They offer a cathartic, though dark, experience of watching the underdog violently fight back.

Movies with traumatic survival and fugitive endings like The New Kids

Characters achieve victory at a great cost, leaving them scarred and on the run. Find movies similar to The New Kids that explore the heavy cost of survival. These stories feature protagonists who win their freedom but are left as fugitives, haunted by trauma. If you liked the mixed, unsettled ending of The New Kids, you'll appreciate these dark thrillers and dramas about pyrrhic victories.

  • anxious
  • brutal
  • traumatic
  • pyrrhic victory
  • fugitive
  • unsettled
  • Tone: dark, heavy, bleak
  • Pacing: fast, then contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey is defined by a descent into violence necessary for survival. The climax resolves the primary conflict but does not restore order or innocence. Instead, it leaves the characters in a state of limbo—alive but forever changed, often facing new consequences for their actions, creating a somber and ambiguous conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are connected by their focus on the psychological and physical aftermath of extreme violence. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and an ending that is more about survival than happiness, creating a coherent experience of bleak, costly triumphs.

If you liked this

Movies Like The New Kids

Similar movies to The New Kids: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

The New Kids (1985) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The New Kids 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app