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Timeline

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 151 min · English
Echo score 55
JustWatch #2,041 57
Directed by
Patty Jenkins
Starring
Julian Ferro, Sonia Goswami, Gal Gadot, Alex Delescu, Amr Waked, Amreen N. Yaqoob
Budget
$200M

In 1984, Diana Prince balances her work as an archaeologist at the Smithsonian Institute with her secret identity as Wonder Woman. She confronts new villains while striving to uphold justice and protect the world from looming threats. Navigating the vibrant and iconic landscape of the 1980s, she embodies hope and courage in the face of danger, proving to be a powerful force for good.

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 Wonder Woman 1984
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Where can you watch Wonder Woman 1984? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on HBO Max, YouTube TV and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Wonder Woman 1984 Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) 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. Diana's Early Competition

    As a child on Themyscira, Diana takes part in an intense athletic competition against older Amazons. During the event, she is disqualified after falling from her horse while trying to take a risky shortcut, a moment that teaches her valuable lessons about honesty and resilience.

    When
    Childhood
    Where
    Themyscira
  2. Lessons from Mother and Aunt

    Following her disqualification, Diana is admonished by her mother, Queen Hippolyta, and her aunt, Antiope. They emphasize the importance of truth, insisting that 'no hero is born from lies,' shaping Diana's moral compass for the future.

    When
    Childhood
    Where
    Themyscira
  3. Diana in 1984

    Fast forward to 1984, Diana is now a respected senior anthropologist at the Smithsonian Institute. While she studies ancient Mediterranean cultures, she continues to embody her alter ego, Wonder Woman, helping those in need behind the scenes.

    When
    1984
    Where
    Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
  4. Meeting Barbara

    While working at the Smithsonian, Diana meets Barbara Ann Minerva, a young woman who admires her beauty and confidence. Their initial friendship blossoms, but underlying tensions and insecurities affect their relationship, leading to a darker turn.

    When
    1984
    Where
    Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
  5. The Robbery Incident

    Diana intervenes during a robbery at the Smithsonian, showcasing her strength and skills as Wonder Woman. This incident results in the FBI engaging Barbara, who is put to work identifying stolen antiquities linked to a mysterious item inscribed in Latin.

    When
    1984
    Where
    Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
  6. Enter Maxwell Lord

    Maxwell Lord, a businessman, visits the Smithsonian under the guise of donating artifacts. In reality, he is after the Dreamstone, a mythical object that could help him save his failing oil empire.

    When
    1984
    Where
    Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
  7. Wishes Granted

    Diana and Barbara both unwittingly utilize the Dreamstone to fulfill their desires. Diana wishes for her lost lover, Steve Trevor, while Barbara yearns for strength and beauty, altering the dynamics of their lives.

    When
    1984
  8. Chaos From Wishes

    As Maxwell gains power from the Dreamstone, chaos ensues, impacting his health and the world around him. He becomes increasingly desperate and ambitious, leading to a reckless plan to use a satellite to grant global wishes.

    When
    1984
  9. Diana's Discoveries

    With the help of Steve and Barbara, Diana investigates the origins of the Dreamstone. They learn that it was crafted by the god of treachery, revealing the dark consequences that come with the wishes it grants.

    When
    1984
  10. Betrayal and Alliance

    In a shocking twist, Barbara betrays Diana, joining forces with Maxwell. This decision leads to Barbara becoming a fierce combatant, transformed by her own wish, as she seeks to defeat Diana.

    When
    1984
  11. Final Confrontation

    Diana dons the legendary armor of Asteria and faces off against Barbara, who is now a powerful apex predator. In an intense battle, Diana's skills and resolve are put to the ultimate test as she fights for what she believes.

    When
    1984
  12. Using the Lasso of Truth

    In a desperate attempt to save the world from disaster, Diana uses her Lasso of Truth to reach out through Maxwell. She shares a vision of his son, Alistair, lost amid the chaos of unchecked desires, prompting him to reconsider his actions.

    When
    1984
  13. Global Renunciation

    The realization of the harm caused by wishes prompts Maxwell to renounce his desire, restoring his relationship with his son and averting a global crisis. This moment of clarity reverberates, as others begin to renounce their wishes as well.

    When
    1984
  14. Diana's Continued Vigil

    After the conflict, Diana's journey continues as she discovers the man who now houses Steve's essence. She remains a guardian of humanity, committed to protecting the world and embracing her identity as Wonder Woman.

    When
    After 1984
  15. Asteria's Secret

    The story concludes with the enigmatic presence of Asteria, a fellow Amazon, who walks among us in secret. Like Diana, she is a symbol of strength and courage, highlighting the ongoing legacy of the Amazons.

    When
    After 1984

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 16:44

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Timeline questions answered

Wonder Woman 1984 Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Wonder Woman 1984 (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

How does Steve Trevor come back to life in the movie?

Diana uses the Dreamstone to wish for her lost lover Steve Trevor. Instead of literally resurrecting him, the stone brings his essence back by occupying the body of a random man who was at the Smithsonian. This allows Steve to return, but in a different physical form.

  • steve trevor
  • dreamstone
  • resurrection
  • wish
Q2

Why does Barbara Minerva turn into a cheetah?

Barbara uses the Dreamstone to wish for the same strength and beauty that Diana has. The stone grants her wish by transforming her into a superhuman cheetah-like predator with incredible speed, strength, and agility. Her wish essentially makes her a dangerous apex predator.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening scene establishes that the Amazons value truth, foreshadowing how wishes based on envy and deception lead to monstrous transformations.

  • barbara minerva
  • cheetah
  • transformation
  • dreamstone
  • wish
Q3

What is the cost of using the Dreamstone?

Every wish granted by the Dreamstone requires a significant sacrifice. Diana gives up her superpowers while Steve exists in someone else's body. Maxwell's health deteriorates as his power grows. The only way to undo a wish is to renounce it willingly, and the person must genuinely let go of what they wished for.

  • dreamstone
  • wish
  • sacrifice
  • cost
  • consequences
Q4

Why does Barbara betray Diana and join Maxwell?

Barbara's jealousy and insecurity drive her to betray Diana. After gaining powers from her wish, she becomes confident and ruthless. When Maxwell offers her a way to keep her powers and defeat Diana, she sides with him. Her transformation has made her more aggressive and willing to harm her former friend.

  • barbara minerva
  • betrayal
  • maxwell lord
  • cheetah
Q5

What is Maxwell Lord's plan with the satellite?

Maxwell Lord plans to use a U.S. satellite broadcast system to grant wishes to everyone on Earth simultaneously. He intends to become like a god by fulfilling the world's desires, but the resulting chaos nearly triggers nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

  • maxwell lord
  • satellite
  • nuclear war
  • global wishes
Q6

How does Diana defeat Barbara/Cheetah?

Diana renounces her wish for Steve, which restores her powers. She then dons the legendary armor of Asteria, another Amazon warrior. This gives her the strength and protection needed to fight Barbara's cheetah-like powers and eventually defeat her in battle.

  • diana
  • barbara
  • cheetah
  • asteria armor
  • battle
Q7

What is the Dreamstone and where does it come from?

The Dreamstone is an ancient artifact forged by the god of treachery and mischief, Dechalafrea Ero. It has the power to grant any wish but always extracts a terrible price. The stone has existed for centuries and corrupts those who use it.

  • dreamstone
  • dechalafrea ero
  • god
  • artifact
Q8

How does Diana use the Lasso of Truth to save the world?

Diana wraps Maxwell Lord with her Lasso of Truth and uses him as a conduit to broadcast to the entire world. She shows everyone, through Maxwell, a vision of what their unchecked wishes are doing to the planet. This emotional appeal convinces Maxwell himself to renounce his wish and inspires others to do the same.

  • lasso of truth
  • maxwell lord
  • world
  • broadcast
  • renounce wish
Q9

Why does Steve Trevor leave Diana again at the end?

Steve's existence was the result of Diana's wish, and keeping him alive required her to sacrifice her powers. To stop Barbara and save the world, Diana must renounce her wish, which means Steve must leave again. His second departure is the bittersweet cost of restoring her abilities and saving humanity.

  • steve trevor
  • sacrifice
  • goodbye
  • renounce wish
Q10

What happens when Diana is disqualified as a child?

As a child on Themyscira, Diana competes in an athletic event against older Amazons. After falling from her horse, she tries to take a shortcut to recover. She gets disqualified, and her mother Queen Hippolyta and aunt Antiope admonish her, teaching her that no hero is born from lies. This establishes the film's theme that truth and honesty are essential to heroism.

Foreshadowing: This early lesson directly foreshadows the film's conclusion, where Diana must give up her wish to save the world, choosing truth over personal desire.

  • diana
  • themyscira
  • childhood
  • disqualified
  • truth
Q11

Who is Asteria and why is her appearance significant?

Asteria is a legendary Amazon warrior who, according to history, died fighting centuries ago. At the end of the film, Diana discovers that Asteria has actually been living in secret among humans, much like Diana herself. This reveals another protector has been hiding in the world, maintaining the Amazon legacy.

  • asteria
  • amazon
  • secret
  • legend
Q12

What does Diana show Maxwell Lord about his son?

Through the Lasso of Truth, Diana shows Maxwell a vision of his son Alistair, who has been lost and traumatized by the chaos caused by Maxwell's wishes. Seeing the harm he has done to his own child breaks Maxwell's resolve and motivates him to renounce his wish, ultimately saving the world.

  • maxwell lord
  • alistair
  • son
  • vision
  • lasso of truth

Movie threads

More Movies Like Wonder Woman 1984, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Wonder Woman 1984 tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Superhero Movies with Bittersweet Sacrifices like Wonder Woman 1984

Triumphant victories that carry the heavy weight of a personal cost. Discover movies like Wonder Woman 1984 where the superhero's ultimate triumph comes at a significant personal price. These films combine spectacular action with deep emotional stakes, exploring themes of love, loss, and the courage required to renounce one's deepest desires for the greater good.

  • bittersweet
  • uplifting
  • melancholic
  • courageous
  • spectacular
  • emotional
  • Tone: hopeful, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern revolves around a hero achieving a major victory for the world, but at the climax, they are forced to give up something profoundly important to them personally—be it a loved one, a dream, or their own identity—resulting in a victory that feels bittersweet.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared emotional conclusion: a hopeful win for humanity paired with a poignant personal loss for the protagonist. They balance high-stakes action with a mature exploration of the costs of heroism.

80s-Set Action Spectacles like Wonder Woman 1984

Fast-paced adventures set against a vibrant retro backdrop with global consequences. Find movies like Wonder Woman 1984 that blend a vibrant 1980s setting with high-stakes global threats. These films offer a dose of nostalgic charm alongside fast-paced, spectacular action adventures where the hero must prevent worldwide chaos.

  • nostalgic
  • spectacular
  • tense
  • chaotic
  • uplifting
  • courageous
  • Tone: hopeful, nostalgic
  • Pacing: fast
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narratives are typically fast-paced, pitting a charismatic hero against a villain whose scheme escalates to a global level. The iconic 1980s setting is not just a backdrop but often influences the style, tone, and technology of the conflict, creating a unique blend of retro aesthetics and high-concept danger.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies based on their shared setting and scope. The combination of 1980s nostalgia, a fast pace, high intensity, and a plot involving a worldwide threat creates a distinct and reusable cinematic vibe.

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Movies Like Wonder Woman 1984

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Every angle

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Wonder Woman 1984 in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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