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What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) movie poster

Timeline

What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2001 · 94 min · English
JustWatch #11,975 9
Directed by
Sam Weisman
Starring
Danny DeVito, Martin Lawrence
Budget
$60M

A ruthless entrepreneur, Max Fairbanks, and a charming thief, Kevin Caffrey, find their lives unexpectedly intertwined, leading to a series of comedic misadventures. Their differing personalities and ambitions clash as they navigate a chaotic situation, resulting in a battle of wits and egos where the stakes keep rising with each unexpected turn.

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 What's the Worst That Could Happen?
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)

Where can you watch What's the Worst That Could Happen?? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus and Hoopla: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

What's the Worst That Could Happen? Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) 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. Kevin Meets Amber

    Kevin Caffery, a suave thief, returns a stolen painting to Amber Belhaven's hotel room. During this encounter, he forthrightly shares his criminal background, surprising Amber but ultimately charming her.

    Where
    Hotel Room
  2. A Growing Romance

    As Kevin and Amber's relationship blossoms, Amber offers Kevin her father's lucky ring as a token of affection. This gesture indicates the deepening trust and emotional bond they are forming amidst his elusive criminal life.

  3. Max's Financial Troubles

    Max Fairbanks, a flamboyant businessman, remains oblivious to his financial collapse. His lawyer, Walter Greenbaum, implores him to take action, yet Max indulges further in his extravagant lifestyle, risking everything.

  4. The Plot Thickens

    Kevin discovers Max's financial woes through an acquaintance named Berger and formulates a plan to rob Max's opulent beach house. The stakes heighten as Kevin prepares to execute his heist.

    Where
    Max's Beach House
  5. The Heist Goes Wrong

    During the robbery, Kevin and Berger are caught in the act by Max, who recognizes Amber's stolen ring on Kevin's finger. This confrontation triggers a chaotic escape, as tensions escalate.

    Where
    Max's Beach House
  6. Walter's Warning

    Walter warns Max about the repercussions of his bankruptcy violations, informing him of the ban from his summer getaway. Max remains skeptical and clings to the belief that the lucky ring will turn his fortunes around.

  7. Seeking Expertise

    In an attempt to orchestrate their scheme more effectively, Kevin and Berger bring in a skilled hacker named Shelly Nix. Shelly's expertise will be crucial for tracing Max's digital movements and planning their next move.

  8. Max Consults Gloria

    On a flight, Max meets with his psychic associate, Gloria, who shares unsettling insights about the ring's significance. Her cryptic messages leave Max distressed, reflecting the mounting pressure of his circumstances.

    Where
    Airplane
  9. Auction Set in Motion

    Faced with looming bankruptcy, Max is ordered by a judge to auction his summer residence. The stakes are raised, setting the stage for a confrontational showdown as the criminals gear up for their plan.

    Where
    Court
  10. Women Unite

    As tensions flare, Lutetia confronts Amber for wearing stolen jewelry, leading to an unexpected alliance between the two women. Their shared struggle against Max's deception catalyzes a collaborative plot against him.

  11. Gloria Cuts Ties

    Increasingly uneasy about Max’s erratic behavior and their partnership, Gloria decides to sever ties. She delivers critical documents to Detective Tardio, triggering repercussions that will unfold in the upcoming chaos.

  12. The Bankruptcy Auction

    At the auction, Lutetia sends a masseuse to distract Max while the criminals execute a previously devised distraction technique. Smoke bombs and fake videos create confusion, leading to chaotic theft attempts.

    Where
    Auction House
  13. A Sinking Confrontation

    Amidst the commotion, Kevin confronts Max on a sinking boat, where Max discovers that the coveted ring is merely a fake. As chaos reigns, Detective Tardio arrives just in time, complicating Kevin's escape.

    Where
    Sinking Vessel
  14. Amber's Final Advisory

    After the tumult, Amber re-emerges as the mastermind behind the heist, disguised as a masseuse. She advises Kevin to abandon the cursed ring, which is purported to bring misfortune, prompting him to discard it into the ocean.

    Where
    Ocean
  15. Kevin's Grand Deception

    In a climactic move, Kevin pretends to be Max's lawyer during a Senate hearing, crafting a manipulative narrative that ensures a favorable outcome for Max. He revels in his triumph, leaving with one of Max's prized watches.

    Where
    Senate Hearing

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 10:46

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Timeline questions answered

What's the Worst That Could Happen? Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Kevin tell Amber about his criminal background so quickly?

Kevin openly shares his criminal career with Amber when he returns the stolen painting to her hotel room. His forthright approach is part of his charm strategy, he believes honesty about who he is will either intrigue her or push her away, but the boldness unexpectedly wins her over.

  • kevin
  • amber
  • confession
  • romance
  • thief
Q2

Why does Max want the ring back so badly?

Max becomes convinced the ring is a genuine lucky charm that can reverse his financial collapse. Even after learning it's stolen, he clings to the superstition that the ring possesses mystical powers to bring him good fortune and save him from bankruptcy.

Foreshadowing: The ring was given to Amber by her father as a cherished family heirloom, making it both emotionally and symbolically valuable.

  • max
  • ring
  • lucky
  • bankruptcy
  • superstition
Q3

Who is the masseuse at the bankruptcy auction?

The masseuse sent to distract Max during the auction is actually Amber in disguise. She orchestrates the heist by posing as the professional sent by Lutetia, allowing her to get close enough to execute the plan while smoke bombs and fake videos create chaos.

Foreshadowing: Amber and Lutetia previously formed an alliance after discovering they were both wronged by Max and Kevin.

  • amber
  • masque
  • auction
  • disguise
  • heist
Q4

Why does Lutetia team up with Amber against Max?

Lutetia discovers Amber wearing stolen jewelry at a public event and confronts her. Instead of fighting, they realize they're both victims of Max's deception, Lutetia kept in the dark about his financial ruin and Amber caught up in Kevin's criminal schemes. Their shared grievance unites them against him.

  • lutetia
  • amber
  • alliance
  • Max
  • betrayal
Q5

What does Gloria the psychic tell Max about the ring?

During a flight, Max consults his psychic associate Gloria about the ring's significance. She gives him a cryptic, unsettling drawing that disturbs him deeply, though she keeps her true worries to herself. Her discomfort foreshadows the ring's dark history and curses.

  • gloria
  • psychic
  • ring
  • warning
  • tarot
Q6

Why does Kevin throw the ring into the ocean?

After the chaos at the auction, Amber reveals herself as the mastermind behind the heist and warns Kevin about the ring's notorious history of bringing misfortune to its owners. Accepting her advice, Kevin discards what he believes to be a cursed artifact into the ocean to escape its supposed bad luck.

  • kevin
  • ring
  • cursed
  • ocean
  • disposal
Q7

How does Kevin end up at the Senate hearing as Max's lawyer?

In the final act, Kevin adopts the persona of Max's lawyer to manipulate the Senate hearing. His deception ensures a beneficial outcome for Max while allowing Kevin to revel in his triumph. He successfully pulls off the charade and leaves with one of Max's prized watches.

  • kevin
  • senate
  • hearing
  • impersonation
  • lawyer
  • deception
Q8

Is the ring actually valuable or a fake?

During the sinking boat confrontation, Max discovers the ring he coveted throughout the entire film is worthless. The prized possession everyone fought over turns out to be a fake, adding a final twist of irony to their chaotic conflict.

  • ring
  • fake
  • worthless
  • boat
  • twist
Q9

Why does Amber distance herself from Kevin during the conflict?

As the danger escalates between Kevin and Max's feud, Amber ultimately separates herself from Kevin, refusing to be caught in the crossfire of their escalating vendetta. Her departure reflects her desire to avoid being entangled in the dangerous game between the two men.

  • amber
  • kevin
  • leaves
  • conflict
  • danger
Q10

What happens to Max's beach house?

Due to Max's bankruptcy violations and reckless financial decisions, a judge orders his summer residence to be sold at public auction. This event becomes the setting for the climactic heist confrontation between Kevin and Max.

  • max
  • beach house
  • auction
  • bankruptcy

Movie threads

More Movies Like What's the Worst That Could Happen?, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes What's the Worst That Could Happen? tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Fast-paced rivalry comedies like What's the Worst That Could Happen?

Energetic stories where two opposing personalities engage in a chaotic game of one-upmanship. If you enjoyed the chaotic battle of wits between Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito in What's the Worst That Could Happen?, you'll love these movies. This section features similar comedies where charismatic rivals engage in escalating pranks and schemes, all delivered with a fast pace and lighthearted tone.

  • comedic
  • mischievous
  • energetic
  • playful
  • devious
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a personal slight or conflict that sparks a feud. The story unfolds through a series of escalating retaliations, with each character trying to outsmart the other. The structure is built on comedic set pieces and confrontations, leading to a final showdown where the underdog usually wins through cleverness, often with a happy resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core dynamic: a charismatic duo in opposition, a fast-paced sequence of comedic confrontations, and a focus on witty banter and clever antics over serious stakes. The unifying elements are the light tone, high humor score, and the enjoyable spectacle of a personal war fought with pranks instead of violence.

Charming criminal caper comedies similar to What's the Worst That Could Happen?

Lighthearted heist stories where likable rogues pull off absurd capers with playful energy. Fans of the playful heists and charming criminal antics in What's the Worst That Could Happen? will enjoy these movies. Discover similar stories featuring likable rogues, absurd capers, and a lighthearted take on crime, where the fun is in the chase and the clever deception.

  • heist
  • playful
  • clever
  • absurd
  • charismatic
  • misadventure
  • Tone: light, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a charismatic criminal or team as they plan and execute a caper, often targeting an arrogant or unlikable figure. The plot is driven by a cat-and-mouse game with authorities or a rival, but the stakes remain comically low. Unexpected twists and humorous failures add to the chaos, leading to an ending where the protagonist's wit and charm ultimately prevail.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their core premise of treating crime as a source of comedic entertainment. They share a light emotional weight, a fast pace to keep the caper energetic, and a central character who is a clever, if sometimes foolish, rogue. The experience is unified by a mood of mischievous fun rather than criminal tension.

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Every angle

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