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Timeline

This Is 40 (2012) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2012 · 134 min · English
Directed by
Judd Apatow
Starring
Melissa McCarthy, Megan Fox, John Lithgow, Albert Brooks, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel
Budget
$35M

Approaching his fortieth birthday, Pete faces a cascade of family and personal challenges. His marriage to Debbie is tested by the demands of parenthood, career anxieties, and the realities of aging. As they navigate these difficulties, Pete and Debbie must also confront their own evolving identities and desires. The film explores their journey to reconnect and rediscover the passion that first brought them together, while confronting the pressures of middle age.

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 This Is 40
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch This Is 40 (2012)

Where can you watch This Is 40? 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

This Is 40 Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of This Is 40 (2012) 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. Intimate Moment

    The film begins with Pete and Debbie sharing an intimate moment in the shower. However, it quickly turns sour when Pete admits to taking a Viagra pill, causing Debbie to react with anger and disappointment.

  2. Five Years Later

    Fast forwarding five years, Debbie is now the owner of a boutique store, and Pete manages a struggling record label. They are now parents to two daughters, navigating the trials of family life.

  3. Birthday Getaway

    In an attempt to celebrate Debbie's birthday, they embark on a romantic getaway. Amidst indulging in marijuana cookies, they jokingly discuss the absurdity of what it would take to eliminate one another.

  4. Candid Conversations

    After a heartfelt discussion with her friends, Debbie decides to work on her marriage. She believes that exercise and better communication with her parents could strengthen their family bonds.

  5. Financial Strain

    Debbie confronts Pete about the financial strain incurred from his continuous support of his deadbeat father, Larry. Despite her concerns, Pete remains unable to deny his father the help he seeks.

  6. Unexpected Pregnancy

    During a visit to her gynecologist, Debbie discovers she is pregnant. She decides to keep this life-altering news from Pete, further complicating their already strained relationship.

  7. School Confrontation

    Debbie confronts a school bully, which leads to a heated confrontation with his mother, Catherine. In a meeting with the principal, both women maintain a front of ignorance, resulting in an unexpected understanding.

    Where
    School
  8. Discovery of Desi's Secret

    While out dancing with her friend Desi, Debbie's suspicions about possible embezzlement arise. She learns that Desi's extravagant lifestyle is due to her being an escort, shattering her trust.

  9. Arguing with Daughters

    Tensions rise at home as Sadie and Charlotte's squabbles begin to affect Pete and Debbie's relationship. The constant bickering creates friction between the couple, escalating their issues.

  10. Heated Arguments

    On Pete's 40th birthday, confrontations are unavoidable. He argues with Larry over finances, while Debbie faces her father Oliver about his absence, revealing cracks in their familial relationships.

  11. The Bicycle Incident

    In a rage after discovering Debbie's pregnancy, Pete storms out on his bicycle. This impulsive decision leads to an unfortunate accident, highlighting the dangers of unaddressed emotions.

  12. Post-Accident Insights

    After the accident, both Debbie and Larry gain insights into their familial roles. Larry reassures Debbie of her importance in keeping the family together, emphasizing the power of support.

  13. Reconciliation

    Eventually, Pete approaches Debbie with genuine excitement about their growing family. This moment of honesty leads to reconciliation, prompting a hopeful new beginning for them.

  14. Concert Decision

    The couple concludes their story by attending a small concert. Debbie encourages Pete to consider signing Ryan Adams, prompting him to take the initiative in his career once again.

    Where
    Concert
  15. Humorous Credits Scene

    As the film ends, a humorous scene unfolds during the credits. Catherine showcases her talent for improvising witty insults, leaving a lasting impression of laughter and light-heartedness.

Last updated: November 08, 2024 at 03:16

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Timeline questions answered

This Is 40 Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of This Is 40 (2012): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Debbie get upset about the Viagra pill?

Debbie becomes angry because Pete admits to taking a Viagra pill that was given to him by his friend Barry. This revelation shocks her and makes her question their intimacy, especially as she's already anxious about turning 40 and feeling insecure about aging.

  • viagra
  • pete
  • debbie
  • marriage
  • intimacy
Q2

Why does Pete keep giving money to his deadbeat father Larry?

Pete continues giving money to Larry because despite his father's unreliability, Pete cannot bring himself to refuse his father help. This creates tension with Debbie, who sees it as a financial drain on their family, but Pete feels obligated as Larry's son.

  • pete
  • larry
  • father
  • money
  • financial support
Q3

Why does Debbie hide her pregnancy from Pete?

Debbie keeps her pregnancy hidden because their relationship is already strained with financial problems, parenting challenges, and marital tension. She fears adding another child to their struggling marriage will only worsen things, especially since Pete is already stressed about turning 40 and his business failing.

  • pregnancy
  • debbie
  • pete
  • hidden
  • secret
Q4

What is Desi's secret job at the boutique?

Desi works as an escort, which is why she can afford such an extravagant lifestyle despite working at Debbie's small boutique. Debbie discovers this when she confronts Desi about suspected embezzlement, shattering her trust in her employee.

  • desi
  • escort
  • boutique
  • secret
  • money
Q5

Why does Pete crash his bike after learning about the pregnancy?

Pete crashes his bicycle because he storms out in a rage after discovering Debbie has been hiding her pregnancy from him. His impulsive emotional reaction leads to the accident, highlighting how poorly he handles the stress and unexpected news.

  • pete
  • bike
  • accident
  • pregnancy
  • rage
Q6

Why is Debbie angry at her father Oliver?

Debbie is angry at her father Oliver because he has been absent from her life, especially during her childhood and as she's faced growing older. On Pete's 40th birthday, she confronts him about this absence, and he reveals he always cared for her but had different perspectives on life perfection.

  • debbie
  • oliver
  • father
  • confrontation
  • absence
Q7

How do Pete and Debbie reconcile after their fight?

Pete and Debbie reconcile after the bicycle accident when Pete approaches her with genuine excitement about having a third child. This honest shift in attitude, combined with their post-accident reflections, allows them to move past their conflicts and start fresh.

  • reconciliation
  • pete
  • debbie
  • baby
  • marriage
Q8

Why does Debbie confront the school bully's mother?

Debbie confronts the school bully Joseph after he torments her daughter Charlotte. This leads to a heated argument with Joseph's mother Catherine at school. Later, at a principal's meeting, both women pretend not to know each other, which surprisingly leads to mutual understanding.

  • debbie
  • bully
  • school
  • catherine
  • confrontation
Q9

What happens at the concert at the end of the movie?

At the end of the movie, Pete and Debbie attend a small concert where Debbie encourages Pete to sign musician Ryan Adams to his record label. She pushes him to take initiative in his career again, signaling hope for their future and Pete's professional revival.

  • concert
  • ryan adams
  • pete
  • record label
  • ending
Q10

What happens during Pete and Debbie's birthday getaway?

During their romantic birthday getaway, Pete and Debbie eat marijuana cookies together. The experience leads them to jokingly discuss what it would take to kill each other, revealing the underlying resentment and humor in their strained marriage.

  • marijuana
  • cookies
  • getaway
  • birthday
  • joking

Movie threads

More Movies Like This Is 40, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes This Is 40 tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Bittersweet marital comedies like This Is 40

Comedic yet heartfelt looks at long-term relationships tested by real life. If you enjoyed the candid look at marriage in This Is 40, you'll find similar stories here. These movies like This Is 40 blend relatable family humor with heartfelt drama, focusing on couples reconnecting amidst the pressures of midlife, parenthood, and fading passion.

  • heartfelt
  • relatable
  • frustrated
  • wry
  • candid
  • middle-aged angst
  • Tone: bittersweet, wry, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically center on an established couple facing a crisis point, often related to aging, career dissatisfaction, or family dynamics. The narrative follows their arguments, missteps, and moments of clarity as they work to rebuild their relationship, usually culminating in a hard-earned but hopeful reconciliation.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their unique tonal balance, using comedy to explore serious relational issues without diminishing their emotional weight. The shared focus on realistic, character-driven conflicts and a ultimately hopeful outlook creates a cohesive viewing experience.

Relatable midlife angst dramedies like This Is 40

Stories where the pressures of adulthood collide with fading youth. Find movies similar to This Is 40 that explore the funny and frustrating side of turning 40. These films focus on characters grappling with financial worries, parenting teens, and personal identity, offering a candid and often wry perspective on the midlife experience.

  • middle-aged angst
  • relatable
  • frustrated
  • candid
  • financial stress
  • parenting
  • Tone: candid, frustrated, wry
  • Pacing: steady, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows protagonists confronting their own aging and unmet expectations. Through a series of interconnected personal and professional setbacks, they are forced to reevaluate their lives, often leading to a humorous and poignant acceptance of their circumstances and a renewed appreciation for what they have.

Why they belong together: They share a specific thematic focus on the existential and practical crises of middle age, presented with a candid, relatable tone. The combination of medium emotional weight, steady pacing, and a bittersweet-but-hopeful resolution creates a distinct vibe that resonates with viewers experiencing similar life stages.

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Movies Like This Is 40

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Every angle

This Is 40 (2012) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about This Is 40 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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