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Youth in Revolt (2009) movie poster

Timeline

Youth in Revolt (2009) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2009 · 89 mins · English
JustWatch #5,981 1
Starring
Steve Buscemi, Mary Kay Place, Zach Galifianakis, Rooney Mara, Justin Long, Miguel Arteta
Budget
$18M

Every “Revolution” Needs a Leader. Fan of Albert Camus and Jean‑Luc Godard, teenage Nick Twisp feels out of place when his mother and her boyfriend move the family to a trailer park. He falls instantly for the pretty neighbor Sheeni, who spins French crooner records. Discovering she has a boyfriend, Nick embarks on a hilariously desperate quest to win her heart…and more.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Youth in Revolt
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Youth in Revolt (2009)

Where can you watch Youth in Revolt? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Fawesome, Hoopla and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Youth in Revolt Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Youth in Revolt (2009) 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. Nick's Oakland adolescence

    Nick Twisp, a 14-year-old prodigy from Oakland, navigates the everyday rhythms of teenage life with his best friend Leroy and his divorced parents. He observes family dynamics and his own rising intelligence shaping his worldview. This is the grounded start before the eruptions of later adventures.

    When
    early adolescence
    Where
    Oakland, California
  2. Jerry's car, sailors' revenge, and the vacation plan

    Anarchy begins with Jerry selling a Chevy Nova to sailors, who soon face car trouble and seek revenge. In response, the family worries about safety as the trouble escalates. To escape, Jerry arranges a vacation, sending them all to Clearlake.

    When
    shortly after the car incident
    Where
    Oakland, California; Clearlake, California
  3. Vacation in Clearlake begins

    The family arrives at a religious mobile home camp in Clearlake, a resort town, for a holiday trip. The atmosphere contrasts with Nick's usual life and sets the stage for new encounters. It is here that Nick first spots Sheridan 'Sheeni' Saunders and the change begins.

    When
    summer vacation
    Where
    Clearlake, California
  4. Meeting Sheeni Saunders

    Nick meets Sheeni and is immediately drawn to her. He hatches plots to win her attention, pulling him into a web of mischief that foreshadows bigger trouble. This budding romance becomes the catalyst for Nick's reckless actions.

    When
    during the Clearlake trip
    Where
    Clearlake, California
  5. Crimes pile up

    In his bid to win Sheeni, Nick begins a spree of offenses, including arson and grand theft auto, among other misdeeds. His escalating misdeeds draw police attention and turn his life into near-constant danger. The line between clever schemes and real crime starts to blur.

    When
    over the following days
    Where
    Clearlake, California
  6. Nick goes on the run and fakes India

    Facing pursuit, Nick fools the authorities by pretending he has gone to India, using the ruse to slip away. He hides from the law while maintaining the illusion and plotting his next moves. The chase forces him deeper into a life on the run.

    When
    soon after the escape
    Where
    California
  7. Hiding with Joanie in Ukiah

    With his sister Joanie and a friend, Frank 'Fuzzy' DeFalco, Nick heads to Ukiah to lay low. He adopts the alias Carlotta, dressing in his late grandmother's clothes to craft a conservative persona. In this disguise, he begins reconnecting with Sheeni and old acquaintances.

    When
    after escape
    Where
    Ukiah, California
  8. Reconnection and social circles

    Under the Carlotta guise, Nick re-enters social circles and slowly rekindles friendships, including with Sheeni. The disguise gives him cover but also complicates relationships as he grows closer to those he knows. He starts to navigate this new chapter with a delicate balance of deception and charm.

    When
    after returning
    Where
    Ukiah area, California
  9. Christmas Eve revelation and secret romance

    On Christmas Eve, Nick spends the night with Sheeni, and she reveals she has known all along that he is Nick, not Carlotta. They decide to pursue a secret relationship despite the risks. This revelation marks a turning point, sealing their bond.

    When
    Christmas Eve
    Where
    Clearlake/Ukiah area, California
  10. Inheritance from Joanie's neighbor

    Nick unexpectedly inherits a fortune when Joanie's elderly neighbor includes him in her will. After the neighbor dies, Nick briefly becomes half a million dollars richer. The windfall looks like a new beginning, until trouble closes in.

    When
    after neighbor's death
  11. Police officer seizes the fortune

    Nick's fortune is seized by his mother's boyfriend, a corrupt police officer, depriving him of the money. The loss hits hard and underscores how fragile his new wealth can be. He is pushed toward further instability.

    When
    shortly after inheritance
  12. Homelessness and a new fortune from a wart watch

    Facing homelessness after losing the money and his squatted home, Nick's fortunes take another turn when his 'wart watch' idea catches fire. The invention suddenly makes him rich beyond belief. The cycle of gain and loss continues as he rides this unexpected windfall.

    When
    after inheritance seized
  13. Conclusion: fortune and ongoing relationship

    With wealth restored by the wart watch success and his secret romance with Sheeni continuing, Nick's life moves toward an uncertain, adulthood-tinged future. The film closes on the note of a clever teen stepping into a larger world. His journey from clever boy to young man has only just begun.

    When
    end

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:16

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Timeline questions answered

Youth in Revolt Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Youth in Revolt (2009): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Nick pretend to have gone to India?

Nick fakes going to India to escape police pursuit after his crimes (arson and grand theft auto) in Clearlake draw law enforcement attention. The ruse allows him to disappear from the authorities while actually hiding in California with his sister Joanie and friend Fuzzy. This elaborate lie becomes the foundation for his subsequent Carlotta disguise.

  • india
  • nick twisp
  • police
  • escape
  • run away
Q2

Why does Nick adopt the Carlotta persona?

After fleeing to Ukiah to hide from the police, Nick creates the Carlotta alter ego by dressing in his late grandmother's clothes and acting as a reserved, conservative woman. The disguise provides cover from authorities while allowing him to re-enter social circles and reconnect with Sheeni, who he wants to be near without raising suspicion.

  • carlotta
  • disguise
  • alias
  • ukiah
  • fuzzy
  • grandmother clothes
Q3

How does Sheeni know Nick is Nick while he's Carlotta?

Sheeni discovers Nick's true identity on Christmas Eve when they spend the night together, though the summary doesn't specify exactly how she figures it out. She reveals she has known all along that he is Nick, not Carlotta. Despite knowing the truth, she chooses to pursue a secret relationship with him, accepting both his deception and his real self.

  • sheeni
  • christmas eve
  • secret
  • romance
  • revelation
Q4

Why does Jerry take Nick's inheritance money?

Jerry, who is Nick's mother's boyfriend and a corrupt police officer, seizes the half-million dollar inheritance that Nick received from Joanie's elderly neighbor. This act leaves Nick homeless and financially devastated, stripping away the financial stability the windfall seemed to promise. Jerry's corruption is directly responsible for Nick's return to poverty.

  • jerry
  • inheritance
  • police
  • corruption
  • money
  • seized
Q5

Why does Nick start committing crimes for Sheeni?

Nick commits crimes including arson and grand theft auto in his desperate attempt to win Sheeni's affection. Sheeni is the central motivation for nearly all of Nick's actions throughout the film, and his infatuation drives him to increasingly reckless behavior. His desire to impress her clouds his judgment and leads him down a path of escalating mischief.

  • arson
  • theft
  • crimes
  • sheeni
  • motivation
  • desperate
Q6

How does Nick's wart watch idea become successful?

After losing his inheritance and facing homelessness, Nick invents the 'wart watch' which captures public imagination and turns his fortunes around. The invention suddenly makes him rich beyond belief, signaling a new chapter where his clever schemes meet adolescence and a chance at stability. The wart watch represents his ingenuity successfully translating into financial success.

  • wart watch
  • invention
  • business
  • success
  • money
  • wealth
Q7

Why do the sailors seek revenge against Jerry?

The sailors seek revenge after Jerry sells them a Chevy Nova that promptly has mechanical problems. Their anger at being sold a faulty car motivates them to retaliate against Jerry, which triggers the chain of events that forces the family to flee to Clearlake. This incident sets the entire story's plot in motion.

  • sailors
  • revenge
  • chevy nova
  • car
  • jerry
  • trouble
Q8

Where does Nick first meet Sheeni and why is it significant?

Nick first meets Sheeni Saunders during a family vacation at a religious mobile-home camp in Clearlake, California. This encounter completely shifts the direction of his life, as he becomes instantly drawn to her and begins plotting ways to win her affection. Sheeni's love for French crooner records and her distinct personality make her the catalyst for Nick's transformation from a clever teenager to a reckless schemer.

  • sheeni
  • clearlake
  • meeting
  • vacation
  • first meeting
Q9

Why does Nick become homeless after getting rich?

Nick becomes homeless after Jerry, the corrupt police officer and his mother's boyfriend, seizes the half-million dollar inheritance he received from Joanie's elderly neighbor. The sudden loss of wealth strips away the stability the money represented, leaving Nick without a home and forcing him to confront extreme instability yet again in his young life.

  • homeless
  • money
  • inheritance
  • loss
  • jerry
  • housing
Q10

How does Nick get rich again after losing the inheritance?

Nick rebounds from homelessness and financial ruin by inventing the 'wart watch,' which captures public imagination and generates massive wealth. This entrepreneurial success marks a turning point in his life, providing the stability and fortune he desperately needed after the turmoil of adolescence. The wart watch represents his transition from troubled teen to successful young innovator.

  • wart watch
  • wealth
  • money
  • success
  • business
  • rich again
Q11

Why does Sheeni keep Nick's secret about being Carlotta?

Sheeni chooses to keep Nick's secret and pursue a secret relationship with him despite knowing he is Nick and not Carlotta. The Christmas Eve revelation shows she accepts both his deception and his true identity. Her decision suggests she sees through his schemes to the genuine person beneath, valuing their connection over his dishonesty.

  • sheeni
  • secret
  • relationship
  • acceptance
  • deception
  • carlotta

Movie threads

More Movies Like Youth in Revolt, by Mood & Story

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

Movies with quirky teen rebellion like Youth in Revolt

Precocious teens use elaborate schemes to achieve their romantic or personal goals. If you liked the chaotic and clever schemes in Youth in Revolt, you'll enjoy these movies about precocious teens on a mission. This list features similar coming-of-age stories with a mix of romance, comedy, and light-hearted mischief.

  • mischievous
  • quirky
  • youthful
  • adventurous
  • romantic
  • awkward
  • Tone: whimsical, mischievous
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a clever but socially inexperienced protagonist who becomes obsessed with a specific goal. To overcome obstacles, they invent elaborate plans or personas, leading to a chain reaction of comedic mishaps and unintended consequences, all while navigating the complexities of family and first love.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared mood of whimsical rebellion and a fast-paced, comedic tone. They feature protagonists on a focused, often romantic quest, using intelligence and mischief in equal measure, resulting in a lighthearted but adventurous viewing experience.

Movies with lighthearted crime sprees like Youth in Revolt

Characters commit absurd, non-violent crimes in the name of romance. Fans of the hilariously desperate crimes in Youth in Revolt will love these movies where characters break the law for love. Discover similar romantic comedies and dramas where illegal acts are part of a charmingly chaotic quest.

  • romantic
  • mischievous
  • adventurous
  • quirky
  • hopeful
  • chaotic
  • Tone: whimsical, romantic
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is driven by a protagonist who, motivated by an intense romantic infatuation, decides that criminal activity is the only solution to their problems. These crimes spiral comically out of control, creating a series of obstacles that the protagonist must cleverly navigate, all while maintaining the film's light and humorous tone.

Why they belong together: This grouping focuses on a unique blend of romance and comedy where crime is a central, yet lighthearted, plot device. The shared element is the framing of illegal acts as humorous expressions of desperation and love, resulting in a specific, upbeat chaotic vibe.

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Movies Like Youth in Revolt

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Every angle

Youth in Revolt (2009) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Youth in Revolt 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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