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Timeline

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2012 · 94 min · English
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Starring
Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Zach Galifianakis, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim

Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim are given a billion-dollar budget for a film, but quickly squander it on increasingly bizarre and chaotic projects. Facing the consequences of their actions, they attempt to recover their losses by transforming a rundown mall into a unique entertainment destination. Their ambitious plan involves strange attractions and unexpected challenges, including a wolf that mysteriously appears in the food court, adding to the absurdity of their situation.

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 Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (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. Tim and Eric Receive Funding

    Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, known for their unconventional filmmaking, are granted a staggering budget of $1 billion to make 'Bonjour, Diamond Jim'. This unexpected funding comes from Tommy Schlaaang, the enigmatic head of the Schlaaang Corporation, setting the stage for a series of outrageous events.

  2. Extravagant Spending Begins

    With access to their enormous budget, Tim and Eric indulge in a whirlwind of extravagance, including luxurious makeovers, extravagant 10-course meals, and even incorporating real diamonds into the wardrobe of their lead character, Diamond Jim. Their lavish spending quickly becomes ostentatious and over the top.

  3. The Casting Mishap

    In a shocking turn of events, Tim and Eric accidentally cast an impersonator to play the role of Johnny Depp instead of the actual actor. This blunder solidifies the film's fate as a dismal failure, particularly when it turns out that the entire film lasts a mere three minutes.

  4. Schlaaang Confrontation

    As the reality of their disastrous film sets in, executives from the Schlaaang Corporation confront Tim and Eric over the staggering $1 billion that they have squandered. The duo faces the terrifying prospect of accountability, with the threat of imprisonment looming over them.

  5. Descent into Panic

    With their funds dwindling to near nothing, Tim and Eric spiral into panic. In their desperation to salvage the situation, they have a sudden epiphany in a nightclub bathroom, leading them to consider a new venture that could provide financial relief.

  6. Discovering S'Wallow Valley Mall

    After their bathroom revelation, Tim and Eric encounter an advertisement for the S'Wallow Valley Mall, touted as a potential goldmine by its quirky owner, Damien Weebs. They abandon their film project to pursue a new business adventure as they rebrand themselves as Dobis PR.

    Where
    S'Wallow Valley Mall
  7. Exploring the Run-Down Mall

    Upon arriving at S'Wallow Valley Mall, Tim and Eric navigate through its eerie, decrepit hallways. They meet an assortment of odd characters, including Taquito, who exhibits a child's mentality, as they begin to formulate their revitalization plans.

    Where
    S'Wallow Valley Mall
  8. The Food Court Peril

    As they delve into the mall's operations, Tim and Eric uncover a terrifying secret lurking in the food court—a man-eating wolf with an endless appetite. They must confront this ancient peril while trying to salvage their floundering business venture.

    Where
    S'Wallow Valley Mall
  9. Conflict with Allen Bishopman

    Their revitalization efforts are met with resistance from Allen Bishopman, a tenacious shop owner vehemently opposed to change. This challenge complicates Tim and Eric’s attempts to turn the mall into a profitable venture.

    Where
    S'Wallow Valley Mall
  10. Eric's Love Struggles

    Compounding their professional challenges, Eric grapples with unreciprocated feelings for Katie, a mall employee. His emotional turmoil leads him down a destructive path, further complicating his partnership with Tim.

    Where
    S'Wallow Valley Mall
  11. Tim's Betrayal

    In a twisted turn of events, Tim seizes the moment to pursue a romantic interest in Katie while Eric is preoccupied. This betrayal intensifies the conflict between the two friends and ultimately leads to an epic confrontation.

  12. Revenue Targets Unmet

    Despite their relentless efforts to rejuvenate the mall, Tim and Eric fail to meet their ambitious revenue goals. The consequences of their shortcomings become apparent as the Schlaaang Corporation intensifies its scrutiny on their activities.

  13. The Shootout

    As the tension peaks, a chaotic shootout erupts outside the mall, resulting in the tragic deaths of several key characters. Tim and Eric, caught in the violence, are forced to deal with the fallout of their decisions and the impending retribution from Schlaaang.

    Where
    S'Wallow Valley Mall
  14. Facing Judgment

    In the aftermath of the chaos, Tim and Eric's revenge against the corporation leads to dire consequences; they are sentenced to death for murder. The weight of their actions crashes down upon them in their moment of supposed victory.

  15. The Revelation

    In a mind-bending twist, it is revealed that all these events were part of a film being screened for filmmaking legend Steven Spielberg. The director praises Tim and Eric's work as the greatest film ever made, leading to a jubilant celebration of their unexpected success.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 11:11

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Timeline questions answered

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Tommy Schlaaang give Tim and Eric $1 billion?

Tommy Schlaaang, the head of the Schlaaang Corporation, mysteriously grants Tim and Eric the $1 billion budget to make their film 'Bonjour, Diamond Jim.' The source of this funding and Schlaaang's motivations remain unclear, as the film serves as the setup for their subsequent downfall.

Foreshadowing: The abrupt nature of the funding hints at ulterior motives, as Schlaaang later demands accountability for every dollar spent.

  • tommy schlaaang
  • funding
  • billion dollars
  • schlaaang corporation
Q2

How did Tim and Eric spend the $1 billion so quickly?

Tim and Eric indulged in extreme extravagance: luxurious makeovers, elaborate 10-course meals, real diamonds for Diamond Jim's costume, and allocated $500,000 per week to their 'personal shopper and spiritual guru' Jim Joe Kelly. Their reckless spending spiraled out of control almost immediately.

Foreshadowing: Their spending habits foreshadow their inability to handle financial responsibility.

  • spending
  • billion dollars
  • extravagant
  • budget
Q3

Why did Tim and Eric cast a Johnny Depp impersonator instead of the real actor?

In a stunning bureaucratic blunder, Tim and Eric accidentally hired an impersonator to play Johnny Depp rather than contacting the actual star. The resulting film 'Bonjour, Diamond Jim' flopped catastrophically and ended up being only three minutes long.

Foreshadowing: This casting disaster sets the stage for Schlaaang's wrath and their financial ruin.

  • johnny depp
  • impersonator
  • casting
  • Bonjour Diamond Jim
Q4

Why is there a man-eating wolf in the S'Wallow Valley Mall food court?

An ancient man-eating wolf mysteriously appears in the mall's food court, becoming one of the many absurd obstacles Tim and Eric must confront while trying to revitalize the failing shopping center. The wolf represents the film's trademark absurdist humor.

Foreshadowing: The wolf's presence highlights the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the mall they inherited.

  • wolf
  • food court
  • danger
  • mall
Q5

Why does Tim pursue Katie while Eric is busy?

While Eric is preoccupied struggling with his unreciprocated feelings for Katie, Tim betrays his partner by making a move on her. This betrayal leads to a fierce confrontation between the two friends, escalating the personal conflict beyond their professional troubles.

Foreshadowing: Their rivalry over Katie mirrors the breakdown of their business partnership.

  • tim
  • eric
  • katie
  • betrayal
  • love
Q6

Why do Tim and Eric rebrand themselves as Dobis PR?

After their film fails and they face imprisonment for squandering the $1 billion, Tim and Eric have a nightclub bathroom epiphany. They decide to pursue the S'Wallow Valley Mall opportunity and rebrand as 'Dobis PR' to distance themselves from their filmmaking disaster and pursue a legitimate business venture.

Foreshadowing: The nightclub scene marks their pivot from filmmaking to mall revitalization.

  • dobis pr
  • rebrand
  • mall
  • business
Q7

Why is Allen Bishopman opposed to Tim and Eric's mall plans?

Allen Bishopman is a tenacious shop owner in the S'Wallow Valley Mall who fiercely resists any changes to the status quo. His stubborn opposition creates a significant obstacle to Tim and Eric's revitalization efforts, highlighting the difficulty of transforming the declining mall.

Foreshadowing: Bishopman's resistance represents the broader challenge of reviving a dying business.

  • allen bishopman
  • shop owner
  • resistance
  • mall
Q8

Why are Tim and Eric sentenced to death?

After a shootout outside the mall results in several deaths, Tim and Eric seek revenge against the Schlaaang Corporation. Their actions lead to a grim retribution: they receive a death sentence for murder, as the consequences of their chaotic decisions finally catch up with them.

Foreshadowing: The shootout represents the violent culmination of their reckless behavior.

  • death sentence
  • murder
  • schlaaang
  • shootout
Q9

Why does Steven Spielberg call it the greatest film ever made?

In the film's final twist, it is revealed that every event - from the billion-dollar budget to the shootout and death sentence - was actually a movie that Tim and Eric screened for Steven Spielberg. The legendary director praises it as the greatest film ever made, transforming their apparent failure into an unexpected triumph.

Foreshadowing: The meta-narrative completely reframes all previous events as deliberate filmmaking.

  • steven spielberg
  • revelation
  • twist ending
  • greatest film

Movie threads

More Movies Like Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Unhinged Absurdist Comedies like Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie

Movies that embrace total narrative collapse for surreal, chaotic laughs. Find movies like Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie that dive headfirst into surreal chaos. If you enjoyed the film's bizarre logic and frantic energy, this thread features comedies where the narrative is secondary to the relentless absurdity and unhinged humor.

  • absurd
  • surreal
  • chaotic
  • unhinged
  • satirical
  • irreverent
  • Tone: whimsical, surreal
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often begin with a simple premise that quickly spirals into utter chaos. The traditional plot arc is abandoned in favor of a series of increasingly bizarre and disconnected events, celebrating failure and nonsense rather than resolution or character growth.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared commitment to absurdist humor, fast pacing, and high-intensity energy. They appeal to viewers looking for comedies that are surreal, satirical, and unapologetically weird.

Meta-Satires of Filmmaking like Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie

Self-referential stories that mock the process and ego of filmmaking and art. Discover movies similar to Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie that satirize the film industry and creative ambition. If you liked the film's take on squandering a budget and the chaos of production, this thread collects self-referential comedies about artistic failure.

  • satirical
  • self-referential
  • irreverent
  • meta
  • comedy
  • absurd
  • Tone: satirical, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows ambitious but incompetent creators as they embark on a disastrous project. The story exposes the gap between artistic vision and flawed execution, often culminating in a spectacle of failure that serves as the punchline to the satire.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their thematic focus on satirizing creative endeavors, their self-referential humor, and their light-hearted treatment of subjects like financial ruin and artistic ego.

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Every angle

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie 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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