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Timeline

Wonder Woman (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 141 min · English
Echo score 82
JustWatch #2,824 86
Directed by
Patty Jenkins
Starring
Saïd Taghmaoui, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston
Budget
$149M

During World War I, Diana, an Amazonian princess, leaves her isolated island home after encountering a fallen American pilot. Believing he holds clues to stopping a global conflict, she ventures into the war-torn world, determined to end it. Discovering her remarkable abilities and unwavering resolve, Diana embraces her role as Wonder Woman, challenging the forces of evil and proving herself a powerful symbol of hope and heroism.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Wonder Woman
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Wonder Woman (2017)

Where can you watch Wonder Woman? 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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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Wonder Woman Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Wonder Woman (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. Delivery at the Louvre

    Diana Prince receives a briefcase delivered by Wayne Enterprises at the Louvre in Paris. Inside, she discovers an old photograph featuring herself with four men from World War I, igniting her memories and curiosity about her past.

    Where
    Louvre, Paris
  2. Childhood on Themyscira

    The story flashes back to Diana's childhood on the magical island of Themyscira, home to the fierce Amazons. Young Diana, eager to join their ranks, watches the intense training led by General Antiope as she yearns to prove her worth.

    Where
    Themyscira
  3. Queen Hippolyta's Warning

    Queen Hippolyta, Diana's mother, shares the myth of Zeus, explaining the creation of humans and the threat posed by Ares, the god of war. This deepens Diana's understanding of the dangers that might loom beyond their sheltered island.

    Where
    Themyscira
  4. Training Under Antiope

    After much deliberation, the Amazons agree to let Diana train under General Antiope's guidance. Diana excels in her training, demonstrating remarkable talent and strength, but a moment of carelessness leads to her accidentally injuring Antiope.

    Where
    Themyscira
  5. The Plane Crash

    Diana witnesses a plane crashing through Themyscira's protective barrier, prompting her to jump into action. She bravely rescues the pilot, Steve Trevor, marking her first encounter with a man and leading to an unexpected invasion by German soldiers.

    Where
    Themyscira
  6. Battle with German Soldiers

    In the wake of the plane crash, a fierce battle breaks out between the Amazons and invading German soldiers. Tragically, the fight results in heavy losses, including the sacrifice of General Antiope, who dies protecting Diana.

    Where
    Themyscira
  7. Steve's Revelation

    After the battle, Steve reveals he is a spy for the Allied forces and informs Diana about the brutalities of World War I. He discusses a dangerous plot by General Ludendorff and his chemist, Dr. Poison, further motivating Diana to act.

    Where
    Themyscira
  8. Alliance with Steve

    Determined to confront Ares and the evil influencing the war, Diana decides to join Steve on his mission. Armed with her iconic weapons, she prepares to leave Themyscira, embracing her role in the fight for justice.

    Where
    Themyscira
  9. Arriving in London

    Diana and Steve arrive in London, where they meet Etta Candy, Steve's secretary. Diana quickly adapts to the unfamiliar world, learning social customs while showcasing her extraordinary strength in a street confrontation.

    Where
    London
  10. Infiltrating the Gala

    Diana and Steve infiltrate a high-profile gala where General Ludendorff plans his next move. Upon realizing that Ludendorff aims to unleash a bio-weapon on innocent civilians, Diana's resolve to stop him intensifies significantly.

    Where
    London
  11. Confronting Ludendorff

    During the gala, Diana confronts Ludendorff, but soon discovers that defeating one enemy won't end the war. She realizes that the true battle lies beyond singular foes and addresses the deeper evils of humanity.

    Where
    London
  12. Steve's Sacrifice

    As chaos unfolds, Steve bravely commandeers a plane filled with explosives, intending to thwart Ludendorff's destructive plans. His courageous sacrifice deeply affects Diana, forcing her to confront her own feelings in the face of war.

    Where
    Airspace over enemy territory
  13. Battle Against Ares

    Pushed to her limits by the loss of Steve, Diana faces Ares in a climactic battle. This confrontation tests her strength and emotions, highlighting her transformational journey from grief to embracing love and hope.

    Where
    The battlefield
  14. Embracing Her Destiny

    In the aftermath of her battle with Ares, Diana reflects on the complex nature of humanity and her personal losses. She chooses to embrace her role as Wonder Woman, vowing to continue her fight for justice and a brighter tomorrow.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 16:44

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Timeline questions answered

Wonder Woman Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

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

Q1

Why does Diana leave Themyscira?

Diana leaves Themyscira after learning about World War I from Steve Trevor. She believes the war is caused by Ares, the god of war, and wants to stop it. Additionally, her mentor Antiope dies during the German invasion, which motivates her to join Steve's mission and fight the evil influencing humanity.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Queen Hippolyta warns Diana about Ares's corrupting influence on mankind, setting up Diana's motivation to confront this threat.

  • themyscira
  • steve trevor
  • world war 1
  • ares
  • antiope death
Q2

What is Ares in Wonder Woman?

Ares is the Greek god of war, described in mythology as the force that corrupts humanity and drives them to conflict. In the film, Diana believes Ares is responsible for World War I and seeks to defeat him. The twist reveals that Ares is actually Dr. Isabel Maru (Dr. Poison), while General Ludendorff was merely her pawn.

Foreshadowing: Queen Hippolyta tells Diana the myth of Zeus creating humans and Ares corrupting them with evil intentions, establishing the central villain concept.

  • ares
  • god of war
  • zeus
  • dr. poison
  • ludendorff
Q3

Why does Antiope die?

Antiope dies protecting Diana during the battle with German soldiers who invade Themyscira after Steve's plane crashes through the island's barrier. Antiope sacrifices herself by taking an arrow meant for Diana, making the ultimate choice to save the woman she trained to become the greatest warrior.

Foreshadowing: Diana accidentally injures Antiope during training, showing that Antiope already cares deeply for Diana's safety despite her tough training methods.

  • antiope
  • amazon
  • german soldiers
  • themyscira
  • sacrifice
Q4

What is the God Killer sword?

The God Killer is a legendary sword wielded by Diana, believed to be capable of killing Ares, the god of war. It is one of the weapons she takes from Themyscira when joining Steve's mission. However, the film reveals that no weapon can truly kill a god, Diana's power ultimately comes from her own resolve and love.

Foreshadowing: The Amazons keep this powerful weapon hidden, suggesting its importance in the fight against Ares's influence.

  • god killer sword
  • amazon weapons
  • ares
  • themyscira
Q5

Why does Steve Trevor sacrifice himself?

Steve sacrifices himself by piloting a plane filled with explosives into the sky to destroy Ludendorff's weapons depot and prevent the bio-weapon from killing innocent civilians. He makes this choice knowing the plane will explode, giving his life to stop the massacre and protect thousands of people.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Steve repeatedly demonstrates his willingness to put others before himself, setting up his ultimate act of heroism.

  • steve trevor
  • sacrifice
  • explosives
  • ludendorff
  • bio-weapon
Q6

Who is the real Ares in Wonder Woman?

The real Ares is Dr. Isabel Maru (Dr. Poison), the German chemist creating the deadly bio-weapon. She was recruited by the British but harbored resentment, becoming corrupted by her desire for revenge. Ares takes human form through her, though he claims to have been influencing humanity toward peace by having them destroy each other.

Foreshadowing: Dr. Poison's presence is established early as the creator of the weapon, and Ludendorff takes orders from her throughout the film.

  • dr. poison
  • isabel maru
  • ares
  • ludendorff
  • real villain
Q7

Why does Hippolyta forbid Diana's training?

Queen Hippolyta forbids Diana's training because she fears the outside world and wants to protect her daughter from the dangers beyond Themyscira. Hippolyta knows Ares still exists and worries Diana will seek him out. She also fears Diana's potential power, knowing Zeus created her as a potential weapon against Ares.

Foreshadowing: Hippolyta tells Diana the story of the Amazons' creation by Zeus and their purpose to fight Ares if he returns, hinting at Diana's destined role.

  • hippolyta
  • queen amazon
  • themyscira
  • training ban
  • zeus
Q8

What is the photo Bruce Wayne sends Diana?

Bruce Wayne sends Diana an old photograph taken during World War I showing her with four men, including Steve Trevor. This triggers Diana's memories and serves as the framing device for the film's narrative. The note expresses Bruce's desire to learn the story behind the image, prompting Diana to recall her past.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene in the Louvre establishes this photo as the catalyst for Diana to share her full story.

  • bruce wayne
  • photograph
  • louvre
  • steve trevor
  • world war 1
Q9

What does Diana learn about humanity?

Diana learns that humanity is capable of both great evil and great good, not simply corrupted by Ares. After Steve's sacrifice, she realizes humans choose war and hatred on their own, but they also choose love, compassion, and heroism. This understanding transforms her from naive idealism to a more mature perspective while maintaining her hope.

Foreshadowing: Steve tells Diana that people can be good or bad, setting up her eventual realization that humanity chooses its own path.

  • humanity
  • humanity nature
  • steve sacrifice
  • good and evil
  • hope
Q10

Why can't Diana kill Ares with the sword?

Diana cannot kill Ares with the God Killer sword because no mortal weapon can actually kill a god. When she defeats Ludendorff, she expects the war to end, but Ares (in Dr. Poison's form) reveals that killing one person won't stop humanity's capacity for war. Diana ultimately defeats Ares not through the sword, but by embracing love and rejecting hatred.

Foreshadowing: Antiope tells Diana that the sword is just a tool and her strength comes from within, foreshadowing that her true power is emotional.

  • god killer
  • sword
  • ares
  • defeat
  • love power
Q11

What happens to Dr. Poison after being revealed as Ares?

After being revealed as the true Ares, Dr. Poison is killed by Diana during their climactic battle. Diana destroys Dr. Poison/Ares using her bracelets to deflect lightning, a power granted by Zeus. This act signifies the defeat of the god of war and marks Diana's emergence as Wonder Woman.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Diana deflecting bullets with her bracelets, hinting at her ability to channel and reflect divine power.

  • dr. poison
  • ares defeat
  • lightning
  • bracelets
  • zeus power
Q12

Why do German soldiers attack Themyscira?

German soldiers attack Themyscira because Steve Trevor's plane crashed through the island's protective barrier while being pursued by German forces. The crash knocked Steve unconscious, and the pursuing Germans followed him through the hidden entrance, leading them directly to the Amazon island.

Foreshadowing: Steve mentions being chased by Germans before crashing, explaining how the enemy tracked him to Themyscira.

  • german soldiers
  • themyscira invasion
  • plane crash
  • steve trevor
  • barrier

Movie threads

More Movies Like Wonder Woman, by Mood & Story

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

Epic War Hero Journeys like Wonder Woman

A hero rises from myth to confront the brutal reality of human conflict. Discover movies like Wonder Woman that feature powerful heroes entering a world at war. These similar action and fantasy stories combine epic myth with the harsh reality of battle, following a determined protagonist on a mission to bring hope and end the conflict, often at a great personal cost.

  • epic
  • heroic
  • tense
  • tragic
  • hopeful
  • empowering
  • Tone: hopeful, epic, tragic
  • Pacing: variable, building to climactic battles
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a classic hero's journey, but set against the backdrop of a large-scale war. The protagonist, often possessing unique abilities or a pure heart, leaves a sheltered life to confront the chaos of battle. Their quest is to stop the war, but they must grapple with the complex morals of humanity and the true nature of evil, leading to a climactic confrontation that tests their core beliefs.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared structure of placing a mythic or super-powered hero into a historical or fictional war. They balance large-scale action set pieces with a character-driven exploration of idealism versus disillusionment, resulting in stories that are both thrilling and emotionally resonant.

Bittersweet Superhero Stories like Wonder Woman

Stories where saving the world comes with a profound personal price. If you liked the ending of Wonder Woman, explore other movies with bittersweet superhero victories. These similar films feature heroes who save the day but are left changed by the cost of their triumph, blending action and adventure with a poignant, emotionally mature conclusion.

  • bittersweet
  • heroic
  • tragic
  • resonant
  • hopeful
  • sacrifice
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful, resonant
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative arc follows a hero who succeeds in their primary mission, but the path to victory forces them to confront harsh truths and make significant sacrifices. The ending acknowledges the win but emphasizes the scars it left, focusing on the hero's growth from naive idealism to a more complex, wiser understanding of their role and the world they protect.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their emotionally complex endings that balance triumph with tragedy. They resonate with viewers seeking stories where heroism has tangible consequences, moving beyond simple good-versus-evil narratives to explore the nuanced, often painful, realities of being a savior.

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Movies Like Wonder Woman

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Every angle

Wonder Woman (2017) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Wonder Woman 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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