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Wilson (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 94 min · English
JustWatch #6,762 23
Directed by
Craig Johnson

Woody Harrelson portrays Wilson, a man struggling with social awkwardness who embarks on a journey to reconnect with his former wife, Laura Dern, and their teenage daughter he never knew. As he confronts the complexities of fatherhood and rekindled romance, Wilson's anxieties and neuroses are challenged in a humorous and ultimately heartwarming exploration of self-discovery and second chances.

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 Wilson
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Wilson (2017)

Where can you watch Wilson? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Wilson Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Wilson (2017) 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. Wilson's Lonely Life

    Wilson is introduced as a lonely and neurotic middle-aged man living in Minnesota. He spends his days in solitude, alongside his dog Pepper, reflecting on his past and isolation since his divorce from Pippi seventeen years ago.

    Where
    Minnesota
  2. Robert Moves Away

    Wilson's friend Robert moves to St. Louis with his family, leaving Wilson feeling even more isolated. Jodie, Robert's wife, has always disliked Wilson and put pressure on Robert to leave, deepening Wilson's loneliness.

    Where
    St. Louis, Missouri
  3. Visit to Terminally Ill Father

    Wilson receives the news that his father has stage four lung cancer, prompting him to travel to see him. He leaves Pepper with a sitter, reflecting on the strained relationship he has with his father throughout the journey.

  4. Father's Death

    When Wilson arrives at the hospital, his father passes away without showing any emotional connection. This leaves Wilson to handle the funeral arrangements and further crystallizes the emotional void between them.

    Where
    Hospital
  5. Encounter with Old Friend

    At the funeral, Wilson meets Orson, an old school friend who brings back mixed memories. However, he quickly realizes Orson has become toxic and decides against rekindling their friendship.

    Where
    Funeral
  6. Uneventful Courtship Attempt

    Desperate to connect with someone, Wilson attempts to flirt with a woman at a pet store. His awkwardness leads to him accidentally rear-ending her car, pushing her away and amplifying his loneliness.

    Where
    Pet Store
  7. Date with Alta

    Wilson has a date with Alta, a woman he meets at the supermarket. During their conversation, he reveals the painful details of his past, including his ex-wife and the daughter he never knew.

    Where
    Supermarket
  8. Finding Pippi

    Alta helps Wilson track down Pippi's sister Polly, leading him on a journey to reunite with his ex-wife. He learns that Pippi has moved back to Los Angeles, igniting hope for their reconnection.

    Where
    Los Angeles
  9. Reunion with Pippi

    Wilson finally finds Pippi working as a waitress and their reunion is initially tense. During their time together, they discuss the past and Pippi reveals she gave their daughter up for adoption instead of aborting.

    Where
    Restaurant
  10. Tracking Their Daughter

    Seeking to know their daughter, Claire, Wilson and Pippi find her through the adoption agency. They meet Claire at a mall, where Wilson, Pippi, and Claire bond over shared experiences despite her struggles at school.

    Where
    Mall
  11. Weekend with Polly's Family

    Pippi decides to introduce Wilson and Claire to her sister Polly's family for a weekend. The trip quickly spirals into chaos, exposing familial tensions and culminates in a massive fight between Pippi and Polly.

    Where
    Suburbs
  12. Arrest and Imprisonment

    Due to the fallout from the family clash, Wilson is arrested for kidnapping after Polly presses charges. This results in Wilson being sentenced to 36 months in prison, marking a dark turn in his life.

    Where
    Prison
  13. Time in Prison

    While in prison, Wilson struggles with the harsh realities of incarceration but gradually wins over some of his fellow inmates with his innocence. After 2.5 years, Pippi visits him only to inform him she's moving to Australia.

    Where
    Prison
  14. Release and Loss

    Upon his release, Wilson returns to find that his former life has vanished and Pepper has passed away during his absence. This deep loss amplifies his sense of solitude as he seeks to rebuild his life.

    Where
    Hometown
  15. Unexpected News from Claire

    Claire reaches out to Wilson, informing him that she is pregnant, which brings a glimmer of hope to his life. Despite the interference from her adoptive parents, they work towards making Wilson a part of the child's life.

Last updated: November 25, 2024 at 19:24

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Timeline questions answered

Wilson Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Wilson (2017): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Pippi leave Wilson?

Pippi left Wilson seventeen years before the story begins because she wanted a different life. She became involved in prostitution and drug use, which led to the breakdown of their marriage. Rather than staying in Minnesota with Wilson, she left to pursue a new life in Los Angeles.

  • pippi
  • ex-wife
  • divorce
  • drugs
  • prostitution
Q2

Why was Wilson arrested and sent to prison?

Wilson was arrested for kidnapping after a catastrophic falling out during a weekend visit to his ex-wife Pippi's sister Polly's family. Polly pressed charges against Wilson, resulting in a 36-month prison sentence.

  • arrest
  • kidnapping
  • prison
  • polly
  • family fight
Q3

Did Pippi really have an abortion?

No. Pippi told Wilson she had an abortion, but she actually gave their daughter Claire up for adoption. She revealed this secret when Wilson tracked her down in Los Angeles, explaining why Claire existed despite Wilson believing the pregnancy ended.

  • pippi
  • abortion
  • adoption
  • claire
  • daughter
Q4

Why was Wilson so affected by his father's death?

Wilson's father died of stage four lung cancer in the hospital. Wilson was deeply affected because his father never showed any emotional connection to him - even on his deathbed, Wilson hoped for some display of emotion but received none, leaving Wilson emotionally unmoored.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Wilson compulsively tells strangers about his father's illness, hinting at his unresolved feelings about their strained relationship.

  • father
  • death
  • cancer
  • hospital
  • emotional void
Q5

Why did Pippi move to Australia after Wilson went to prison?

After Wilson had been in prison for about 2.5 years, Pippi visited him and informed him that she was moving to Australia. The reason for this move isn't fully explained in the film, but it represents another major loss Wilson must endure.

  • pippi
  • australia
  • prison
  • visit
Q6

What happened to Pepper the dog?

When Wilson was released from prison after serving 36 months, he learned that Pepper had died during his incarceration. This was one of the many losses he faced upon returning to a drastically changed life.

  • pepper
  • dog
  • death
  • prison
  • release
Q7

Why did Claire decide to keep her baby?

Despite her adoptive parents' disapproval, Claire chose to keep her baby and wanted Wilson to be part of the child's life. This represents a new beginning for Wilson, giving him a chance at fatherhood and family that he's never had before.

  • claire
  • pregnancy
  • baby
  • adoptive parents
  • family
Q8

Why did Wilson's friend Robert move away?

Robert moved to St. Louis, Missouri with his wife Jodie. The move was influenced by Jodie's disdain for Wilson, who she disliked. This left Wilson without a single true friend in Minnesota, deepening his isolation.

  • robert
  • jodie
  • st louis
  • friend moved away
Q9

Why did Wilson start dating Shelly?

Shelly was the dog sitter who cared for Pepper while Wilson was traveling to see his father. After Wilson was released from prison and learned Pepper had died, he returned to Shelly for comfort. Their relationship developed into romance, with Shelly and Wilson eventually adopting a new dog together.

  • shelly
  • dog sitter
  • relationship
  • dating
  • new dog
Q10

How did Wilson adjust to prison life?

Wilson struggled with the harsh realities of incarceration but gradually won over some fellow inmates with his honesty and innocent nature. After serving 2.5 years, he received a visit from Pippi, who told him about her plans to move to Australia.

  • prison
  • inmates
  • adjustment
  • 2.5 years
Q11

Who was Orson and why did Wilson dislike him?

Orson was an old school friend Wilson encountered at his father's funeral. Wilson quickly realized Orson had become a toxic person, describing him as a 'soul-sucking vampire.' When Wilson mentioned wanting to date again, Orson dismissively told him he had no interest in relationships.

  • orson
  • friend
  • toxic
  • funeral
Q12

How did Wilson meet Alta and Pippi again?

Wilson met Alta, a woman at a supermarket, and they went on a date. During their conversation about his past, Alta suggested he use a People Finder application to track down his ex-wife. With Alta's help, he located Pippi's sister Polly and discovered Pippi had returned to Los Angeles.

  • alta
  • people finder
  • pippi
  • polly
  • los angeles

Movie threads

More Movies Like Wilson, by Mood & Story

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

Quirky character journeys like in Wilson

Eccentric protagonists navigate life's messiness to find connection and meaning. Find movies like Wilson that feature offbeat protagonists on heartfelt journeys of self-discovery. If you enjoyed Wilson's blend of social awkwardness and sincere emotion, you'll appreciate these similar stories about quirky individuals finding their place in the world.

  • quirky
  • heartwarming
  • awkward
  • neurotic
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • Tone: bittersweet, quirky
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories follow a central, eccentric character as they confront a major life change or personal deficit. The narrative is driven by their unique perspective and interactions, often leading to humorous misadventures that gradually reveal deeper emotional truths and opportunities for growth.

Why they belong together: They share a focus on character over plot, blending comedy and drama through a distinctive protagonist's worldview. The tone is consistently bittersweet, finding humor in sadness and warmth in awkwardness, creating a uniquely relatable and human experience.

Bittersweet family reunion stories like Wilson

Emotionally complex stories of rebuilding fractured families later in life. Discover movies similar to Wilson about second chances and reconnecting with family. If you liked Wilson's exploration of fatherhood and mending broken bonds, these films offer comparable emotionally complex stories of rebuilding relationships and finding hope after loss.

  • heartwarming
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • family drama
  • second chances
  • lonely
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, linear
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot typically revolves around a long-separated family member attempting to re-enter the lives of their relatives, uncovering secrets and navigating complex emotions along the way. The journey is filled with awkwardness, regret, and humor, ultimately leading to a redefined, often imperfect, but hopeful new family dynamic.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their central theme of familial reconciliation and the specific bittersweet tone that comes from blending sadness over lost time with the warmth of rediscovered connection. The emotional arc consistently moves from loneliness towards a hard-won, realistic hope.

If you liked this

Movies Like Wilson

Similar movies to Wilson: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Wilson (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Wilson 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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