10 'Entourage' Episodes to Watch Before the Movie
The day we’ve long feared is almost here: The feature film version of Entourage is opening in theaters on June 3, re-introducing viewers to the fantastically obnoxious life of a group of Hollywood bros. Picking up where the eight-season series left off, the movie version pretty much plays like an episode of the TV series, only longer and with more celebrity cameos. We know what you’re thinking: Oh man, now I have to binge-watch all 96 episodes of the series or else I won’t be prepared for the movie! Never fear — this handy 10-episode playlist that will bring you up to speed for the Entourage movie experience. Never say we’re not here for you. (Warning: Spoilers for the film ahead.)
“Entourage” (Season 1, Episode 1)
Logline: Meet rising movie star Vincent Chase (Adrien Grenier) and his band of buddies — right hand man Eric (Kevin Connolly), older brother Johnny “Drama” (Kevin Dillon), hanger-on Turtle (Jerry Ferrara), and agent Ari (Jeremy Piven) — as they set out to take Hollywood by storm.
How It Connects to the Movie: Consider this an expanded version of the five-minute expository recap/news story that opens the feature, in which Piers Morgan (who apparently still has a job in TV news in the Entourage-verse) walks us through Vince’s early years.
“I Love You Too” (Season 2, Episode 9)
Logline: The crew heads to Comic-Con so Vince can promote his starring role in James Cameron’s comic book epic, Aquaman, while Drama revisits his own moment of glory signing autographs for his long-canceled cult fantasy series, Viking Quest.
How It Connects to the Movie: The plot (such as it is) of the film revolves around Vince’s attempts to direct his first blockbuster, Hyde, a big-budget, sci-fi interpretation of the classic Jekyll and Hyde story. He hopes it’ll be a franchise-launcher like Aquaman — a movie that’s referenced twice — and, based on everyone’s beyond-enthused reactions to Hyde, we’re also expected to believe that Chase is the next Cameron.
“Adios Amigos” (Season 3, Episode 20)
Logline: Much of the events of Season 3 revolve around Vince’s attempts to launch Medellin, a boondoggle of a movie that casts him as infamous Colombian drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar. In the season finale, he finally heads off to make the movie on location with wild card director, Billy Walsh (Rhys Coiro), sitting behind the camera.
How It Connects to the Movie: Though Billy and Vince don’t prove to be great collaborators, they are still on friendly terms. Walsh is among the partygoers invited to a “friends and family” screening of Hyde and he’s proudly sporting a Medellin tattoo on his back.
“Malibooty” (Season 4, Episode 3)
Logline: Over Eric’s strenuous objections, Billy enters Medellin in the Cannes Film Festival lineup, believing that the film is done, even though E insists it needs another stint in the editing room.
How It Connects to the Movie: Hyde becomes the subject of an editing room battle when the studio’s chief investors — a father/son pair of Texas tycoons (Billy Bob Thornton and Haley Joel Osment) — decide that it needs major re-working. Osment even locks Chase out of his own editing suite with the plan of re-making the movie according to his own notes… notes that include cutting Drama’s supporting role and replacing Vince with a hologram.
“Sorry Harvey” (Season 4, Episode 4)
Logline: While the saga of Medellin continues, the Chase brothers treat Beverly Hills’s mayor to a big night out, only to have their antics wind up on TMZ.
How It Connects to the Movie: TMZ continues to be a thorn in the Chase clan’s side, leaking a video of Drama exposing his… um, little Drama, on the same day he’s auditioning in front of Richard Schiff (playing himself) for a guest spot on a top-rated procedural.
“Gotta Look Up to Get Down (Season 5, Episode 7)
Logline: Ari’s presence at a funeral for the dearly departed head of Warner Bros. leads to him being offered the job of running the studio, an opportunity he ultimately turns down out of loyalty to Vince.
How It Connects to the Movie: Ari is finally living the dream of running a major movie studio and for his act as studio chief, he hands a multi-million dollar film to his favorite client, despite the fact that Vince has never directed so much as a soda commercial before. The decision comes back to bite him in the rear — by the end of the movie, Ari is a free agent once again.
“Fore!” (Season 6, Episode 5)
Logline: A charity golf tournament pairs Drama and Vince with the unlikely combination of Mark Wahlberg and Tom Brady. Boston vs. New York sports jokes predictably ensue.
How It Connects to the Movie: Entourage is famously based on Wahlberg’s real-life entourage and the Ted star (who also produced the series and the movie) occasionally appeared on-screen as himself in the world of the show. Wahlberg reappears in the film as well (and eagle-eyed viewers will spot a quick Brady cameo, too), at one point bumping into Vince outside of the Hyde editing room and name-dropping his A&E series, Wahlburgers. In the climactic scene at the Golden Globes, he presents Drama with a Best Supporting Actor statue for his critically acclaimed role in Hyde. Frankly, that’s more fantastical than anything that happens in Vince’s movie.
“Tequila Sunrise” (Season 7, Episode 4)
Logline: After a failed career as a music manager, Turtle is talked into launching a new business venture as a promoter for the real-life tequila brand, Avión. It’s a job that later brings him to the attention of brash billionaire Mark Cuban, who decides he wants in on the tequila business.
How It Connects to the Movie: Since selling his Avión stock for a crapload of money, Turtle is quite possibly the richest member of the entourage, which gives him lots of time to pine for MMA star Ronda Rousey (playing herself) and still pal around with Cuban.
“Motherf–ker” (Season 8, Episode 5)
Logline: Never particularly savvy when it comes to matters of the heart, Eric torpedoes his on-again, off-again relationship with Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui) in jeopardy once again by sleeping with her stepmother, (The O.C. temptress Melinda Clarke).
How It Connects to the Movie: Eric’s commitment problems are on display again in the film version, as he enjoys not just one, but two flings while he and Sloan are on yet another break. (Also, she totally throws the stepmom hook-up back in his face.)
“The End” (Season 8, Episode 8)
Logline: Everyone gets a happy ending: Vince gets hitched to a smoking hot reporter (played by Alice Eve); Eric learns that Sloan is preggers and they fly away together; Drama’s career prospects are looking up; Turtle sells his tequila stock; and Ari retires… for a little while anyway.
How It Connects to the Movie: Basically, all of those happy endings are undone. Vince and his new bride get divorced after nine days; Eric and Sloan break up again; Drama’s career is back in the tank; Turtle… well, Turtle’s actually doing just fine; and Ari’s new job is once again causing him major stress. Food for thought: Maybe they would have been better off if the movie had never been made?
Entourage opens in theaters on June 3; the show’s eight-season run can be streamed on HBO Go.