Weekend at Bernie's

Weekend at Bernie's

Year: 1989

Runtime: 97 min

Language: English

Director: Ted Kotcheff

AdventureComedyCrime

After Bernie Lomax's unexpected death, associates Larry Wilson and Richard Parker are wrongly accused of embezzlement and escape to the Virgin Islands. While trying to clear their names and recover stolen funds, they discover Bernie's body has been mysteriously revived. A chaotic and increasingly absurd series of events unfolds as everyone involved tries to capitalize on the bizarre situation and claim the missing money.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

Trace every key event in Weekend at Bernie's (1989) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Discovery of Fraud

Larry Wilson and Richard Parker, two low-ranking employees at an insurance firm in New York City, discover discrepancies in payment records during their routine examination of actuarial reports. Their find uncovers an significant insurance fraud that shocks their company.

New York City
2

Praise from CEO

After presenting their findings to their CEO, Bernie Lomax, Larry and Richard are praised for their diligence. As a reward for their hard work, they receive an invitation to spend a weekend at Bernie's luxurious beach house in the Hamptons, unaware of his sinister intentions.

Bernie's Beach House, Hamptons
3

Bernie's Murder Plot

Unbeknownst to Larry and Richard, Bernie conspires with mobsters to plan their murders to cover up his fraud. They intend to stage it as a murder-suicide, seeing Larry and Richard as liabilities due to their discoveries.

4

Hitman Arrives

Prior to Larry and Richard's arrival, Bernie contacts hitman Paulie to orchestrate his murder. He plans to frame Larry and Richard by leaving cash and a confession of guilt at the crime scene, unaware that his conversation is being recorded.

5

Arrival at the Beach House

When Larry and Richard arrive at the beach house, they are greeted by the shocking sight of Bernie's dead body. Before they can react, party guests arrive, blissfully oblivious to the grim reality hiding behind Bernie’s sunglasses.

Bernie's Beach House, Hamptons
6

The Plan to Pretend

In a state of panic, Larry suggests to Richard that they pretend Bernie is still alive. Initially resistant to the idea, Richard changes his mind when his office crush, Gwen, arrives, providing motivation to keep up the charade.

Bernie's Beach House, Hamptons
7

Romantic Interlude

While pretending Bernie is alive, Richard shares a romantic moment with Gwen on the beach. Their evening takes a turn for the worse when Bernie’s body unexpectedly washes ashore, leading to a frantic effort to retrieve it without attracting attention.

Beach, Hamptons
8

Complications Arise

Tina, a girlfriend of one of the mobsters, arrives at the beach house, ready to confront Bernie. Chaos ensues when her entrance and mistaken assumptions lead to misinformation being conveyed back to the gangsters about Bernie being alive.

Bernie's Beach House, Hamptons
9

Body Animation

The next morning, Richard finds Larry humorously animating Bernie's corpse in an attempt to relieve tension. Their bickering accidentally uncovers Bernie's plot to have them killed, raising their paranoia about becoming targets.

Bernie's Beach House, Hamptons
10

Escape Attempts

Larry and Richard make desperate attempts to escape the island on various means, including a speedboat. Each attempt results in hilarious mishaps, including running out of gas and being stopped from boarding the ferry.

Hamptons
11

Confrontation with Paulie

Back at the beach house, Gwen confronts Larry and Richard, forcing them to reveal the shocking truth about Bernie. Just then, Paulie arrives, fueled by rage, but ultimately misfires when he tries to shoot Bernie’s corpse.

Bernie's Beach House, Hamptons
12

Paulie's Downfall

In a turn of events, Larry subdues Paulie, allowing Richard and Gwen to call for help. The police arrive, only to find Paulie insisting that Bernie is still alive, adding to the absurdity of the situation.

Bernie's Beach House, Hamptons
13

Final Twist

As Bernie’s body is loaded onto an ambulance, a young boy begins to play in the sand around him after the gurney rolls away. This bizarre twist leaves Larry, Richard, and Gwen to flee the scene, uncertain of their future.

Beach, Hamptons

Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 18:04

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Weekend at Bernie's Summary

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Weekend at Bernie's Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Weekend at Bernie's

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Weekend at Bernie's

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