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The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (2013) movie poster

Timeline

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 60 mins · English
Directed by
Victor Gonzalez
Starring
Selena Gomez, Tera Hendrickson, Jake T. Austin, Beau Mirchoff, Nikki Hahn, David DeLuise

While attempting to demonstrate maturity and responsibility to her family, teen wizard Alex Russo casts a spell intended to eliminate her negative traits. However, this spell inadvertently creates two distinct versions of herself: a Good Alex and an Evil Alex. When the Evil Alex becomes entangled in a dark wizard's scheme to dominate the world, Good Alex must embark on a quest to protect her family, all of humankind, and ultimately confront and save herself in an extraordinary battle between good and evil.

Family Comedy Fantasy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (2013)

Where can you watch The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Disney Plus: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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12 events in order · contains spoilers

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (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. Family plans Tuscany reunion and portal link

    The Russo family announces a reunion in Tuscany, setting the trip in motion. To make the journey easier, Alex secretly creates a portal linking their Italian villa with their New York loft, hinting at a bridge between two worlds. The mood remains buoyant as they anticipate a long-awaited gathering.

    When
    Before departure
    Where
    New York loft / Tuscany

  2. Dominic visits and stirs jealousy

    Dominic visits the Russo home to announce that Justin cannot attend in person, and his flirty manner with Alex triggers Mason's jealousy. The moment foreshadows romantic tension and the upcoming journey. The family senses trouble brewing beneath the celebration.

    When
    Pre-trip
    Where
    Russo residence

  3. Reunion plan and portal shortcut

    Jerry announces the family reunion in Italy, and the idea injects extra energy into the trip. Alex's portal links the New York life to the Tuscan villa, bridging two worlds as plans take shape. The family buzzes with excitement despite the chaos ahead.

    When
    Pre-trip planning
    Where
    Russo residence

  4. Alex conjures Evil Alex

    After a private talk with Dominic, Alex tries to purge her darker side with a spell meant to expel negativity, but she accidentally conjures an evil doppelgänger. Evil Alex slips free, setting a shadow of danger over the upcoming journey. The real Alex is left fearing that her powers could betray her.

    When
    After talk
    Where
    Russo residence

  5. Evil Alex heads toward Italy

    Evil Alex, aided by Dominic, slips away and heads for Italy to set the stage for looming threats. The real Alex grapples with the possibility that her magic could be used against her loved ones.

    When
    En route
    Where
    Italy

  6. Max's caper and protective pursuit

    Max catches the eye of an Italian girl, triggering playful intrigue as the family’s journey begins to take shape. Jerry and Theresa shadow him, hoping to keep the reunion on track and protect the fragile peace of the trip.

    When
    During travel
    Where
    Italy

  7. Bead imprisonment of Max, Jerry, and Theresa

    Evil Alex uses her power to shrink and imprison Max, Jerry, and Theresa into tiny beads, dramatically raising the stakes for the family. Harper, Alex, and the others scramble to mount a rescue as the danger tightens.

    When
    Mid-journey
    Where
    Somewhere in Italy

  8. Pursuit to Pisa and Harper's capture

    The rescue mission pushes toward the Leaning Tower of Pisa, where Harper herself is captured by the captors. Dominic unveils a plan to install a spell replicator at the tower’s summit to convert mortals into beads and seize control through Alex’s magic.

    When
    Climax setup
    Where
    Leaning Tower of Pisa

  9. Alex agrees to Dominic's plan and is betrayed

    To save her family, Alex agrees to follow Dominic’s machinations and activates the device at the tower’s top, only to be whisked away and branded a threat to the mortal world. The betrayal raises the stakes and splits the group’s loyalties.

    When
    Tower top sequence
    Where
    Leaning Tower of Pisa

  10. Mason frees Alex and the final chase

    Mason blasts a path to freedom, rescuing Alex from confinement, and the two race back toward the tower as a dramatic clash unfolds. Good Alex vs Evil Alex duels intensify, while Mason faces Dominic in a brutal struggle.

    When
    Tower climax
    Where
    Leaning Tower of Pisa

  11. Bracelet, death and purging of Evil Alex

    In the heat of battle, Alex retrieves the bracelet from Evil Alex, turning the tide. Dominic delivers a heavy blow to Mason and pushes the confrontation toward a fatal outcome, but Mason ultimately forces Dominic toward a deadly plunge. Alex then relinquishes her powers to banish Evil Alex and destroy the machine.

    When
    Final tower sequence
    Where
    Leaning Tower of Pisa

  12. Restoration and decision to stay in Italy

    The mortals are freed and the true Alex regains her magic after accepting she does not need it to be whole. The Russo family, with Harper and Mason, celebrates a renewed sense of togetherness at the reunion. They decide to linger in Italy to mend the living room and savor their hard-won harmony, choosing to stay rather than just visit.

    When
    After victory
    Where
    Tuscan villa / Italy

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:48

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Timeline questions answered

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why did Alex create an evil version of herself?

Alex tried to prove she was mature and responsible by casting a spell meant to purge her negative traits. The spell was intended to remove her darker personality aspects, but it backfired and instead created a physical doppelgänger representing her evil side. This accidental creation happened after a private talk with Dominic, when Alex attempted to demonstrate personal growth to her family.

  • evil alex
  • doppelganger
  • spell gone wrong
  • magic accident
  • character transformation
Q2

What was Dominic's plan at the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

Dominic planned to install a spell replicator at the tower's summit that could convert mortals into beads, allowing him to seize control of the world by weaponizing Alex's magic. He used Evil Alex to help him kidnap Alex's family members and trap them in beads, then forced Alex to activate the machine by threatening her loved ones.

Foreshadowing: Dominic's flirty behavior toward Alex during his initial visit foreshadowed his manipulative nature and hidden agenda.

  • dominic
  • spell replicator
  • world domination
  • leaning tower of pisa
  • villain plan
Q3

Why did Alex agree to activate the spell machine?

Alex agreed to activate the machine at the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa because Dominic had captured her family members, Max, Jerry, and Theresa, and imprisoned them in beads. She also had Harper captured during the pursuit. To save her loved ones, she complied with Dominic's demands, though she was ultimately betrayed and branded as a threat to the mortal world.

  • family rescue
  • spell machine
  • dominic betrayal
  • alex captured
Q4

How did Alex defeat Evil Alex?

During the final battle at the tower, Alex retrieved a crucial bracelet from Evil Alex's grasp, which turned the tide of the duel. To fully banish her evil self and destroy the machine, Alex chose to relinquish her magical powers entirely. This sacrifice allowed her to destroy both Evil Alex and the spell replicator, freeing the captured mortals.

  • bracelet
  • final battle
  • evil alex defeat
  • magic sacrifice
Q5

What happened to Dominic at the end?

Dominic was defeated when Mason fought him during the tower climax. After a brutal struggle, Mason forced Dominic toward a fatal plunge from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, ending his threat permanently.

  • dominic death
  • fall from tower
  • villain defeat
Q6

Why did Alex regain her magic after giving it up?

Alex regained her magical powers after accepting that she does not truly need them to be whole. Her willingness to sacrifice her powers to save her family and defeat Evil Alex demonstrated genuine maturity and responsibility, the very qualities she had been trying to prove she possessed throughout the movie.

  • magic return
  • maturity
  • character growth
  • alex powers
Q7

How did Dominic shrink the family into beads?

Evil Alex, aided by Dominic, used her magical powers to shrink and imprison Max, Jerry, and Theresa Russo into tiny beads. This was part of Dominic's scheme to control Alex through her family's captivity and force her to cooperate with his world domination plan.

  • max jerry theresa captured
  • beads
  • family imprisoned
  • magic shrinking
Q8

What was the significance of the bracelet in the final battle?

The bracelet was a magical item that Evil Alex possessed. During the climactic duel between Good Alex and Evil Alex, the real Alex managed to retrieve the bracelet from her evil counterpart's grasp. This retrieval was crucial in turning the tide of the battle and ultimately enabled Alex to banish Evil Alex and destroy the machine.

  • bracelet
  • magical item
  • duel
  • evil alex weapon
Q9

Why was Mason jealous of Dominic?

Mason became jealous when Dominic visited the Russo home and displayed flirty behavior toward Alex. Dominic's manner with Alex, combined with the fact that Dominic was a fellow wizard student at WizTech, sparked feelings of insecurity in Mason regarding his relationship with Alex.

Foreshadowing: This romantic tension was foreshadowed during Dominic's initial visit when he announced Justin couldn't attend the reunion.

  • mason
  • dominic
  • jealousy
  • romantic tension
  • alex boyfriend
Q10

Why did Alex create a portal between New York and Italy?

Alex secretly created a portal linking their Italian villa with their New York loft to make the family trip to Tuscany easier and more convenient. This act demonstrated her magical abilities but also ruffled her father Jerry's feathers, who scolded her for acting immaturely despite the impressive magical feat.

  • portal
  • italy
  • tuscany
  • new york
  • magic shortcut

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, by Mood & Story

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

Magical Mishap Movies like The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex

When a magical experiment backfires, creating a chaotic double. If you enjoyed the spell-gone-wrong chaos of The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, this collection is for you. Discover other fun family comedies and fantasy adventures where a simple magical mistake creates a doppelgänger or double, leading to a fast-paced, whimsical rescue mission.

  • magical mishap
  • doppelgänger
  • chaotic
  • whimsical
  • playful
  • rescue mission
  • Tone: light, whimsical, playful
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: This narrative pattern begins with a character attempting to use magic for personal gain or to solve a problem, only to have it misfire spectacularly. The central conflict arises from the creation of an antagonistic double, forcing the original character on a quest to contain the chaos and restore order, often learning a lesson about responsibility along the way.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core premise of self-inflicted magical trouble, a fast and playful tone, and a focus on lighthearted adventure over genuine peril. They are grouped together by their specific plot device—the runaway doppelgänger—and their blend of family-friendly comedy and fantasy action.

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Family Fantasy Adventures similar to The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex

Bright, fast-paced escapades where magic and family collide. Fans of The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex will love this selection of whimsical family fantasy movies. These titles share a light tone, fast pacing, and uplifting stories centered on magic, family bonds, and good versus evil, perfect for a fun and heartwarming viewing experience.

  • whimsical
  • family-centered
  • uplifting
  • magical
  • playful
  • adventure
  • Tone: light, uplifting, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, adventure-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow a straightforward, heroic journey where a family or young protagonist discovers or wields magic. The conflict is clear-cut—good versus evil—and the pacing is brisk, moving from one entertaining set-piece to the next. The emotional core revolves around family support and self-acceptance, culminating in a triumphant resolution.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their cohesive vibe: a consistently light tone, medium intensity that feels adventurous but not scary, and a fast-paced, straightforward plot. They prioritize fun, humor, and a heartfelt message, making them perfect for viewers seeking an uplifting and magical escape.

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Every angle

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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