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Plot summary

Blind Date (1987) Plot Summary & Timeline

Blind Date (1987) movie poster

Blind Date is a 1987 comedy and romance film directed by Blake Edwards, running 1 hour 35 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 567 words (about 2 minutes to read) and covers 13 key events in order, 2 characters, where and when it is set and 4 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Blind Date.

to read the plot summary
2 min
key events in the timeline
13
characters profiled
2
themes explained
4
Blind Date (1987) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m
Director
Blake Edwards
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is Blind Date About?

The premise of Blind Date in 272 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In the sleek, high‑stakes world of corporate negotiations, Walter Davis lives by a strict code of efficiency. As a senior associate racing to close a pivotal deal with a powerful Japanese industrialist, his days are a blur of spreadsheets, conference calls, and relentless ambition. The pressure to secure the agreement is matched only by the looming expectation to appear impeccably polished at the celebratory dinner that will seal the partnership. When a well‑meaning brother persuades him to accept a blind‑date invitation, Walter’s meticulously ordered life is suddenly nudged onto an uncharted path.

The evening’s mystery revolves around Nadia, a cousin of Walter’s sister‑in‑law whose reputation for spontaneity precedes her. She is described as beautiful, kind, and alluring, yet clearly unorthodox, hinting at a past that has left her with an unconventional outlook on life. Their meeting promises an encounter that will tug Walter away from spreadsheets and into a series of unpredictable, off‑beat situations. The contrast between Walter’s buttoned‑up professionalism and Nadia’s free‑spirited demeanor sets the stage for a lively clash of personalities.

The film’s tone balances sharp corporate satire with a warm, comedic romance. As the pair navigates a night that quickly spirals beyond the ordinary—mixing upscale dining, unexpected social dynamics, and the pressure of a high‑profile business gathering—the audience is invited to wonder how far Walter will let go of his rigid routine. The setting, from sleek boardrooms to lively city venues, provides a vibrant backdrop where personal doubts and hidden desires surface in humorous, awkward, and endearing ways. The story promises a playful exploration of whether stepping outside one’s comfort zone can spark both professional insight and unexpected love.

Full plot

What Happens in Blind Date?

The complete story of Blind Date, from the first scene to the last, in 567 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

Workaholic Walter Davis is under immense pressure to secure a deal that would let his employer manage the vast assets of Japanese industrialist Yakamoto. With a celebratory dinner on the horizon, he urgently needs a date, and his brother Ted offers a blind date with his wife Susie’s cousin Nadia, though Ted and Susie caution that Nadia should not drink alcohol because she can lose control.

When Walter meets [Nadia], he finds her beautiful, kind, and alluring, but her jealous ex, David, immediately tests Walter by attacking him. After narrowly avoiding a confrontation, Walter takes Nadia to a recording studio to hear his musician friend and reveals that he sacrificed his own dream of becoming a musician for a steady job. Despite the prior warnings, he shares a champagne toast with her, opening a door to trouble.

At the dinner with Yakamoto, Nadia’s inhibitions melt away and she acts on impulse: she calls out a colleague who tries to seduce her, mocks a waiter who irks her, and accidentally sprays Walter’s boss with champagne. Yakamoto, who expects women to be quiet and subservient, grows frustrated as Nadia destabilizes the room. She even convinces Yakamoto’s meek wife to divorce him and take half his assets, a move that sabotages the deal and leads to Walter being fired.

Walter tries to drive Nadia home, but David’s pursuit continues, thwarting their attempts to find a quiet exit. Upset, Nadia flees to a disco, with Walter in pursuit; the pair find common ground again while dancing, but David arrives and triggers a bar brawl. They escape, and Nadia proposes going to a friend’s party, but Walter insists on taking her to the address she provided. Once there, misfortune strikes—the house has been towed away, his car is stripped while he’s distracted, and muggers move in, even hiding a gun as the police later arrive.

Nadia wakes up sober and laments the consequences of the night, while Walter becomes increasingly unhinged and battles David in a final chase. The car chase ends in a crash, and the two face arrest as the night spirals out of control. Nadia posts a glimmer of hope when she helps secure Walter’s release, and she confesses that she thought he was someone she could fall in love with—someone who seemed genuinely sweet and generous.

As the wedding inched closer, Nadia’s fate veers again when David’s family hosts the ceremony and Walter tries to win her back. Nadia enlists David’s help as a defense attorney, in a twist that sees David’s father, Judge Harold Bedford, influence the outcome so that Walter’s fate rests on David’s relocation. Susie sends Walter a note from Nadia, hinting at missing him and urging him to pick up his guitar again.

On the eve of the wedding, Walter secretly peddles a box of chocolates laced with brandy to Nadia at the mansion where the ceremony will take place. Nadia, unaware of the trap, becomes drunk and disrupts the wedding, choosing love over David as she declares she will not marry him. Walter arrives just in time to share a kiss with Nadia, eliciting cheers from the crowd and anger from David.

Sometime later, Walter and Nadia begin a new chapter, honeymooning on a sunlit beach. He tunes his guitar for her, while a chilled Coca-Cola waits in a champagne bucket—signaling a hopeful and quieter closeness after the stormy events that tested them.

Timeline

Blind Date Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

13 key events in the order they happen, from “Pressure to close the deal” to “A hopeful afterglow: a beach honeymoon”. 13 events name a place, across 13 locations.

  1. 1

    Pressure to close the deal

    Walter Davis is under heavy pressure to secure a deal that will let his company manage Yakamoto's assets. A celebratory dinner is planned, and a date is needed. Ted and Susie urge Walter to take Nadia, Susie's cousin, while warning him not to let her drink.

    When:early in the story Where:Walter's corporate office

  2. 2

    Blind date arranged and warning

    Ted and Susie arrange a blind date between Walter and Nadia for the upcoming dinner. Nadia is introduced as charming and attractive. They warn Walter not to let Nadia drink alcohol because she loses control.

    When:before the dinner Where:Susie's home

  3. 3

    David attacks; Walter escorts Nadia to safety

    Nadia's ex boyfriend David attacks Walter, forcing him to defend both himself and her. After evading David, Walter escorts Nadia to a recording studio. The tense moment hints at the growing connection between them.

    When:shortly after meeting Where:Outside the recording studio

  4. 4

    Musician dream revealed; champagne despite warnings

    At the recording studio, Walter confesses that he sacrificed his dream of being a musician for a steady job. He shares this with Nadia, and then reveals that he gave Nadia champagne despite warnings. The moment deepens their bond and the stakes of the night.

    When:that night Where:Recording studio

  5. 5

    Dinner with Yakamoto; Nadia's impulsive outbursts

    Nadia accompanies Walter to a dinner with Yakamoto. She calls out a colleague, mocks a waiter, and inadvertently sprays champagne, drawing Yakamoto's ire. The scene highlights the clash between Nadia's spontaneity and Yakamoto's expectations.

    When:that evening Where:Yakamoto's dining room

  6. 6

    Nadia negotiates a divorce; deal collapses; Walter is fired

    Nadia persuades Yakamoto's meek wife to divorce him and take half his assets. The bombshell causes the deal to collapse and Walter to be fired. The immediate consequences show how a single impulsive night can ruin a career.

    When:after dinner Where:Yakamoto's mansion

  7. 7

    Pursuit, disco, and reconciliation on the dance floor

    Walter tries to take Nadia home, but David keeps pursuing them. They hide out at a disco where they finally reconcile on the dance floor. The night between them grows more intense amid the music and lights.

    When:late night Where:Disco

  8. 8

    Bar brawl and looming danger

    David instigates a bar brawl; Walter and Nadia manage to escape the chaos. The violence underscores the danger that follows their fragile romance. They press on through the unpredictable turn of events.

    When:shortly after the disco Where:Bar

  9. 9

    Return home gone wrong: a tow, a theft, and a confrontation

    On the way to Nadia's address, their plans go wrong as a van pulls the house away, Walter's car is stripped, and muggers confront him as the police arrive. The night shifts from scandal to danger and loss. The couple is forced to face the consequences of their choices.

    When:late night Where:Nadia's address area

  10. 10

    Morning reversal: Walter jailed and bail

    The following morning Nadia bails Walter out of jail. She reminds him that he gave her alcohol, and he bitterly concedes that their night was never simple. The moment sets up a new level of legal and emotional entanglements.

    When:following morning Where:Police station / bail location

Show the other 3 events of Blind Date
  1. 11

    Legal maneuvering and a reluctant alliance

    David, now a defense lawyer, agrees to represent Walter in exchange for Nadia agreeing to marry him. Judge Harold Bedford, David's father, pressures him to relocate away from the case and promises to help if needed. The plan sets a troubling legal triangle in motion.

    When:shortly after bail Where:David's family residence / courtroom

  2. 12

    Branded chocolates, wedding disruption, and a kiss

    Before the wedding, Walter injects a box of chocolates with brandy and sends them to Nadia at David's parents' mansion. Nadia eats them, becomes intoxicated, and disrupts the wedding by refusing to marry David because she loves Walter. Walter arrives and kisses Nadia as the crowd cheers.

    When:wedding day Where:David's parents' mansion / wedding venue

  3. 13

    A hopeful afterglow: a beach honeymoon

    Sometime after the chaos, Walter and Nadia honeymoon on a beach. He plays the guitar for her, and a champagne bucket with Coca-Cola rests nearby.

    When:some time later Where:Beach

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Blind Date?

2 characters, among them Walter Davis (Bruce Willis) and Nadia (Kim Basinger): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

  • Bruce Willis as Walter Davis (Bruce Willis) in Blind Date

    Walter Davis (Bruce Willis)

    Played by Bruce Willis

    A workaholic executive under pressure to close a deal, Walter struggles to balance professional demands with a growing, chaotic attraction to Nadia. His confidence wavers as impulsive actions lead to consequences he never anticipated, including arrest and a courtroom threat. He reveals a buried musical dream, which clashes with his need for security and status.

    • 💼 Ambition
    • 😰 Stress
    • 🧭 Moral conflict
    • 🎯 Focus
  • Kim Basinger as Nadia (Kim Basinger) in Blind Date

    Nadia (Kim Basinger)

    Played by Kim Basinger

    Nadia is a beautiful, charming, and initially carefree woman whose intensity and jealousy destabilize those around her. Her impulsive behavior amplifies the chaos of the night, yet her remorse grows as consequences mount. She seeks connection and love, but her actions pull her into morally gray territory involving her ex-boyfriend and power struggles.

    • 💃 Charisma
    • 😡 Jealousy
    • 🌀 Impulsiveness
    • 💔 Heartbreak
Setting

Where and When Is Blind Date Set?

Blind Date is set in Recording studio, upscale restaurant, nightclub (disco), private mansion… (Late 1980s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.

When

Late 1980s

Set in the late 1980s, the film captures the era's corporate culture and nightlife fever. It portrays deal-making pressure, celebrity-like social scenes, and a casual attitude toward alcohol. The aesthetics and fashion of the period underline the movie's energetic, sometimes reckless mood.

Where

Recording studio, upscale restaurant, nightclub (disco), private mansion, wedding venue, beach

The movie unfolds across a string of urban locations, from a recording studio where Walter reveals his musician past to a high-end dining room during the deal, then into a nightclub and a private mansion. It also features a wedding venue and a seaside honeymoon, framing the plot's mix of business, nightlife, and romance. These settings highlight the film's tone of fast-paced social circles and chaotic romantic misadventure.

  • 🎬 Urban settings
  • 🎶 Nightlife
  • 🏛️ High-society venues
  • 🏖️ Beach scenes
Themes

What Are the Themes of Blind Date?

4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Romance under Pressure, Consequences and Power & Money.

  1. 01

    Romance under Pressure

    Walter and Nadia's budding romance unfolds amid high-stakes business and impulsive decisions. Their connection thrives on charm and mischief, yet is constantly tested by fear, jealousy, and a desire for control. The relationship develops in a chaotic environment where private feelings collide with public consequences. The movie uses their chemistry to explore whether love can survive under pressure.

  2. 02

    Consequences

    A chain of impulsive acts—Nadia's intoxication, Walter's questionable choices, and the champagne mishap—sets off a cascade that jeopardizes the deal and Walter's career. The fallout extends beyond the dinner, culminating in legal trouble and personal risk. The narrative emphasizes how momentary temptations can restructure lives and reputations.

  3. 03

    Power & Money

    Yakamoto's vast assets and the possibility of losing control over them drive the film's tension. Nadia's schemes reveal how wealth can be leveraged to sway decisions and destabilize relationships. The story contrasts corporate ambition with personal risk, showing wealth as both opportunity and danger.

  4. 04

    Dream vs Security

    Walter sacrifices his dream of being a musician for the security of a stable job, highlighting the tension between passion and practicality. The finale with Walter playing guitar on the beach reaffirms the dream in a new light, suggesting a balance between art and partnership. The ending implies that personal fulfillment can coexist with a committed life, if pursued with someone who accepts the dream.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Blind Date?

Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Light
Pacing
Fast
Story
Straightforward
Intensity
Medium
Ending
Happy

A fast-paced and chaotic romantic comedy that follows a strait-laced businessman on a disastrously hilarious blind date, filled with slapstick mishaps and a growing, genuine connection.

  • chaotic
  • romantic
  • humorous
  • energetic
  • sweet
  • playful
  • blind date
  • opposites attract
  • workaholic
  • letting loose
Where to watch

Where to Watch Blind Date

Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Howdy, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

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FAQ

Blind Date Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Blind Date, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Blind Date about?

In the sleek, high‑stakes world of corporate negotiations, Walter Davis lives by a strict code of efficiency. As a senior associate racing to close a pivotal deal with a powerful Japanese industrialist, his days are a blur of spreadsheets, conference calls, and relentless ambition.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Blind Date take place?

Blind Date is set in Recording studio, upscale restaurant, nightclub (disco), private mansion, wedding venue… (Late 1980s). Set in the late 1980s, the film captures the era's corporate culture and nightlife fever. It portrays deal-making pressure, celebrity-like social scenes, and a casual attitude toward alcohol.

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Blind Date?

The story follows Walter Davis (Bruce Willis) (played by Bruce Willis) and Nadia (Kim Basinger) (played by Kim Basinger).

All the characters

What are the main themes of Blind Date?

The summary picks out 4 themes: Romance under Pressure, Consequences, Power & Money and Dream vs Security.

The themes explained

Who directed Blind Date?

Blind Date (1987) was directed by Blake Edwards and runs 1 hour 35 minutes.

Blake Edwards’s films

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