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Underdogs (2018) movie poster

Timeline

Underdogs (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 65 mins · English
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Directed by
Téo Frank
Starring
Phoniks, Awon

Following a series of encounters while traveling, aspiring filmmaker Téo Frank, just 18, finds himself in New York, working with passionate hip hop artists and producers like Awon Phoniks. The journey began with a meeting with photographer Mason Strehl in Alaska, leading to an unexpected collaboration and the creation of a documentary. The film explores the lives and talents of a group of rappers Téo didn't know, documenting how their connection profoundly impacted his life.

Documentary Music Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Underdogs Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Underdogs (2018) 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. Coach quits; new coach sought

    At the Mid-County Community Center, the coach quits teaching the ragtag martial arts team, leaving Charlie to search for a replacement. The sudden vacancy creates uncertainty and a sense that the team's future hangs in the balance. This opening setback sets the stage for a new mentor and a tougher road ahead.

    Where
    Mid-County Community Center

  2. Jimmy Lee arrives; reluctant coach

    Former mixed martial arts champion Jimmy Lee, a protégé of Charlie, arrives after years away following a career-ending accident. He is reluctant at first, unsure if he can connect with the kids or handle their rough edges. Yet he agrees to coach to give them a chance and to pursue his own comeback.

    Where
    Mid-County Community Center

  3. Kids' personal struggles

    Each team member grapples with personal troubles—from poverty and bullying to seeking parental approval and coping with loss. These issues affect their confidence and performance in every training session. Jimmy begins to see that coaching means guiding lives as much as teaching moves.

    Where
    Mid-County Community Center

  4. First training; Jimmy warms to them

    As weeks pass, Jimmy gradually warms to the kids and learns to tailor drills to their needs. He earns their trust by listening, encouraging, and staying patient. The team shows early signs of improvement and renewed hope.

    Where
    Training gym, Mid-County Community Center

  5. First competition; meeting the Scorpions rival

    The Underdogs attend their first competition and encounter Ted Barrett, their old childhood rival who now coaches the Beverly Hills Scorpions. Ted uses his fame to sway judges and sponsors, trying to keep Jimmy and the team on the sidelines. The kids feel humiliated by the losses and the power plays around them.

    Where
    Competition arena

  6. Sponsorship offered; a harsh barrier

    Ted schemes to blacklist Jimmy, making sponsorship unobtainable. Yet Big Mama, Jimmy’s old friend who runs a food truck, steps in to sponsor them. Jimmy starts the process of earning support and proving the team’s worth despite the obstacles.

    Where
    Big Mama's food truck

  7. Hot dog uniform; next competition

    To secure the sponsorship, Jimmy attends the next competition dressed as a hot dog, adding another layer of humiliation for the team. His stunt underscores his commitment and the lengths he will go to keep them funded. The kids initially react with mixed emotions but stay focused on their goal.

    Where
    Next competition venue

  8. Underdogs name; acceptance

    With the sponsorship in place, the team reluctantly embraces the nickname 'Underdogs.' They accept the identity and train harder, using it as motivation. The name becomes a symbol of resilience and unity.

    Where
    Training facility

  9. New member Rasheed joins

    Jimmy introduces Rasheed, a quiet but intensely volatile new member whose mother wants him to learn discipline. Rasheed's presence brings raw power and risk, challenging the group's balance. They learn to channel his energy into controlled, disciplined moves.

    Where
    Training gym

  10. Dance lessons for balance

    Aunt Valerie teaches ballet to help the team with balance and rhythm; the idea surprises everyone. The dancers' drills blend with fighting drills, improving footwork and timing. The team begins to see movement in a new light and benefits from the unusual training.

    Where
    Valerie's dance studio

  11. Dance class filmed; YouTube clip

    Several Scorpion members discover the Underdogs at the dance class and secretly film the session for YouTube. The clip spreads online, inviting ridicule and teasing, particularly for Rasheed who has a speech problem. The incident raises the stakes before the big showdown.

    Where
    Dance class venue

  12. Rasheed's suspension; Jimmy visits

    Rasheed is teased and suspended after a confrontation with the taunting peers. Jimmy visits him at home to talk and they realize they share struggles and determination. The visit strengthens their bond and reinforces Jimmy’s role as mentor.

    Where
    Rasheed's home

  13. MMA comeback opportunity; leaves for Las Vegas

    Jimmy gets an opportunity to return to MMA and leaves the day before the big showdown. He travels to Las Vegas to consider signing a contract, weighing whether the sport is right for him anymore. Ultimately, he decides that MMA may not be his path, prompting his dramatic return to support the team.

    When
    the day before the big showdown
    Where
    Las Vegas

  14. Showdown; tie; sabotage and triumph

    Back in time for the showdown, the Underdogs and Scorpions trade one-on-one bouts in a hard-fought tie. A group kata is announced as the tiebreaker, heightening the suspense. Ted sabotages the Underdogs by short-circuiting their radio and destroying their music, but Rasheed’s brother and friends create an a cappella beat and the team delivers a flawless kata to win.

    When
    big showdown
    Where
    Showdown arena

  15. Victory and reconciliation

    The Underdogs finally win the competition with a perfect 50. Eric leads the Scorpions in congratulating them and the teams vow to be friends. Ted’s sponsor cuts ties with him in disgust after witnessing his unsportsmanlike conduct, while the Scorpions remain competitive but respectful.

    When
    after the showdown
    Where
    Showdown arena

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:05

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Timeline questions answered

Underdogs Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Underdogs (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Jimmy Lee agree to coach the kids at the community center?

Jimmy Lee agreed to coach because Charlie, the community center leader, asked him to take over after the previous coach quit. Although reluctant at first and unsure if he could connect with the kids, Jimmy accepted to give them a chance while also hoping to pursue his own comeback in mixed martial arts.

Foreshadowing: The story hints early on that Jimmy is still wrestling with whether he can make a comeback himself.

  • Jimmy Lee
  • coach
  • community center
  • kids
  • martial arts
Q2

What is the rivalry between Jimmy Lee and Ted Barrett about?

Jimmy and Ted were childhood rivals who both pursued martial arts. Ted now coaches the Beverly Hills Scorpions, a three-time national karate champion team, and still holds a long-standing grudge against Jimmy from their past. Ted uses his fame and influence to try to undermine Jimmy and the Underdogs throughout the competition.

Foreshadowing: Their rivalry is established early when Ted tries to sway judges and sponsors against Jimmy at the first competition.

  • Jimmy Lee
  • Ted Barrett
  • rivalry
  • childhood rivals
  • Scorpions
Q3

Why did Jimmy dress as a hot dog at the competition?

Jimmy dressed as a hot dog to secure sponsorship from Big Mama, an old friend who runs a food truck. Ted had blacklisted Jimmy by spreading rumors that made other sponsors reluctant, so Jimmy performed this humiliating stunt to prove his dedication and willingness to do whatever it took to fund the team.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the story, Ted's scheme to blacklist Jimmy made sponsorship seemingly impossible.

  • Jimmy Lee
  • hot dog costume
  • sponsorship
  • Big Mama
  • humiliation
Q4

How did the team get the name Underdogs?

The team got the nickname Underdogs after Jimmy's humiliating hot dog stunt at the competition. The kids were initially embarrassed by the spectacle, but when Big Mama explained the hardships Jimmy endured to secure their sponsorship and how no one else would take a chance on them, they chose to embrace the name as a symbol of their resilience and unity.

Foreshadowing: The name represents their journey from being underestimated to becoming a team that fights against all odds.

  • Underdogs name
  • team name
  • Big Mama
  • resilience
  • unity
Q5

Why was Rasheed suspended from the team?

Rasheed was suspended after a confrontation with peers who were teasing him. Several Scorpions members had secretly filmed the Underdogs during their ballet dance class and posted the footage on YouTube, inviting ridicule. Rasheed, who also has a speech problem, endured additional teasing and ended up suspended after reacting to the bullying.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the team had noticed Rasheed's volatile nature and his mother's desire for him to learn discipline.

  • Rasheed
  • suspension
  • bullying
  • YouTube video
  • speech problem
Q6

Why did Jimmy Lee leave for Las Vegas before the big competition?

Jimmy left for Las Vegas the day before the big showdown because he was offered a chance to return to professional MMA. He traveled there to consider signing a contract and weigh whether the sport was still right for him. However, he ultimately realized that MMA was no longer the life he wanted and returned in time to support the team.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the story, Jimmy quietly wrestles with whether he can make his own comeback.

  • Jimmy Lee
  • Las Vegas
  • MMA
  • comeback
  • team
Q7

How did the Underdogs win despite Ted's sabotage?

The Underdogs won by adapting when Ted sabotaged their performance. Ted cut the music and short-circuited their radio during the group kata tiebreaker. However, Jimmy rallied Rasheed's brother and his friends to create an a cappella beat, allowing the Underdogs to perform their kata flawlessly. They earned a perfect score of 50, defeating the Scorpions who scored 49.

Foreshadowing: Ted's unsportsmanlike conduct had been building throughout the competition.

  • Underdogs win
  • Ted sabotage
  • a cappella
  • kata
  • perfect score
Q8

What happened to Ted Barrett after the competition?

After the competition, Ted lost his sponsor's support due to his unsportsmanlike conduct. While attempting to sabotage the Underdogs by cutting their music, Ted was exposed for his unsportsmanlike behavior. His own son Eric had already voiced doubts about his methods, and Ted's sponsor dropped him in disgust. The Scorpions team itself remained unaffected and maintained respectful relations with the Underdogs.

Foreshadowing: Eric, Ted's son, had expressed doubts about his father's behavior earlier in the film.

  • Ted Barrett
  • sponsor
  • lost
  • unsportsmanlike
  • Scorpions

Movie threads

More Movies Like Underdogs, by Mood & Story

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

Uplifting Creative Collaboration Movies like Underdogs

Stories of passionate artists and misfits finding their voice through unexpected partnerships. If you liked the authentic creative journey in Underdogs, explore other movies about passionate artists, musicians, and filmmakers finding their voice through collaboration. These stories celebrate the process of creation, mentorship, and the uplifting feeling of making art with a found family.

  • uplifting
  • authentic
  • heartwarming
  • creative
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  • Tone: hopeful, authentic, heartwarming
  • Pacing: steady, process-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow a straightforward narrative of discovery, often beginning with a chance encounter that sparks a creative partnership. The journey focuses on the process—the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the deepening bonds between collaborators—culminating in a satisfying creation or performance that validates their shared effort.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared hopeful tone, authentic portrayal of artistic passion, and uplifting emotional core. They prioritize character connection and the joy of collaborative creation over high-stakes drama, resulting in a consistently heartwarming and steady-paced viewing experience.

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Authentic Underdog Journey Movies like Underdogs

Gritty yet hopeful stories of real people overcoming adversity to find their place. Find more movies like Underdogs that capture the gritty but hopeful spirit of the underdog. These films feature relatable characters overcoming personal and external adversity, often with the help of a mentor or found family, leading to a satisfying and uplifting conclusion.

  • underdog
  • gritty
  • hopeful
  • heartwarming
  • redemption
  • mentorship
  • Tone: hopeful, gritty, heartwarming
  • Pacing: steady, linear rise
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a protagonist or group starting from a position of disadvantage. Through a steady-paced arc, they encounter mentors and allies, confront challenges like bullying or self-doubt, and gradually build confidence and skill. The conflict is interpersonal and realistic, leading to a triumph that feels earned and personally significant rather than grandiose.

Why they belong together: These movies share a core identity: they are about underdogs whose victories feel authentic and earned. They balance gritty, real-world struggles with a consistently hopeful tone and a happy ending. The emotional weight is medium, making them engaging and uplifting without being overly heavy or distressing.

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Every angle

Underdogs (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Underdogs 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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