Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure 1989

In the futuristic society of 2688, humanity thrives under the profound influence of William “Bill” S. Preston, Esq., and Ted Theodore Logan, whose innovative music and philosophical ideas have crafted a utopian world. Amidst this idyllic backdrop, Rufus is dispatched by the governing authorities to travel back in time to San Dimas, California, in 1988 via a phone booth-shaped time machine. His mission is to ensure that the young Bill and Ted, two endearingly dim-witted high school students, successfully complete their history class without fail. If they don’t pass, Ted’s father, police Captain Logan, intends to send Ted to a military academy in Alaska, effectively putting an end to Bill and Ted’s fledgling rock band, Wyld Stallyns, and altering the course of history.

Rufus finds himself face-to-face with the present-day Bill and Ted at a Circle K convenience store, where they’re struggling to complete their history report. The task requires them to imagine how historical figures would perceive the contemporary San Dimas. Rufus offers his assistance just as another phone booth time machine materializes, and future versions of Bill and Ted emerge. After reassuring the present-day duo that his claims are true and they can trust him, the three disappear into the time machine.

Back in 2688, Rufus guides Bill and Ted through the operation of the time machine, taking them back to 1805 where Napoleon Bonaparte is leading his forces against Austria. As Rufus departs, leaving Bill and Ted to their own devices, Napoleon is swept up by a cannonball explosion and becomes entangled in the Circuits of Time alongside them. Rufus explains that time will continue its natural progression for Bill and Ted, ensuring they won’t miss their class presentation the following day; he then vanishes, leaving the empty time booth behind.

As Bill and Ted ponder their next move, they stumble upon Napoleon stuck in a nearby tree, which sparks an idea to abduct historical figures and bring them to the present for their school project. They leave Napoleon with Ted’s younger brother Deacon before embarking on their journey through time.

As they traverse the vast expanse of time, Bill and Ted’s extraordinary adventures continue to unfold. They form an unlikely bond with Billy the Kid in the Wild West, Socrates in Ancient Greece, and find themselves in 15th-century England, where they fall head over heels for princesses Joanna and Elizabeth. However, their father, the king, becomes increasingly displeased with their dalliances and attempts to have them executed on the spot. Enter Billy and Socrates, who utilize their remarkable skills to facilitate a daring escape, leaving the booth slightly battered but still functional. This incredible vessel whisks them away to a futuristic society that reveres these two most excellent dudes and their impending musical legacy. Inspired by this newfound appreciation, they decide to complete their report with an “extra credit” twist - abducting some of history’s most influential figures, including Sigmund Freud, Ludwig van Beethoven, Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, and Abraham Lincoln. A brief pit stop in prehistoric times allows them to repair the booth, before they program it to return to the present. However, an unexpected detour finds them standing outside a Circle K convenience store on the eve of their first introduction, where Rufus is busy enlightening them about the importance of trust.

As they navigate the complexities of time travel, Bill and Ted learn that Deacon has abandoned Napoleon at a local bowling alley. They decide to leave the historical figures behind and focus on retrieving Napoleon, who has been left high and dry. A thrilling adventure takes them to Waterloo, a water park in their hometown of San Dimas, where they encounter their friends from history getting into all sorts of mischief. Captain Logan, ever the vigilant lawman, sees fit to arrest these wayward historical figures, prompting Bill and Ted to concoct an escape plan based on setting up a series of events in the future that will ultimately aid them in the present.

With the time booth now functioning as their ultimate getaway vehicle, they orchestrate a daring breakout, freeing their friends from captivity. Back at school, they proudly present each historical figure to their classmates, complete with elaborate stage lighting and a rousing musical accompaniment. This extraordinary report earns them a thunderous standing ovation, securing their passing grade.

As the dust settles on this most triumphant of adventures, Rufus reappears, accompanied by the two princesses he has rescued from their pre-arranged marriages. He reveals that they will be joining the Wyld Stallyns musical collective and, together with Bill and Ted, they will change the world through the power of music. As they embark on this new chapter in their journey, Rufus turns to the audience, offering a reassuring smile: “They do get better.”