A young jazz drummer pursues a place among the country’s best, pushing himself toward greatness under the control of a brilliant, abusive instructor.
- Scenes 1–6
Andrew lives inside solitary practice, family movie nights, and an ideal of greatness learned from jazz legends.
- Scenes 7–13
Shaffer's hierarchy makes Andrew doubt his prospects, while he wants a chance to become an exceptional drummer.
- Scenes 14–17
Fletcher draws Andrew back from transferring, and Andrew enters Studio Band while beginning a relationship with Nicole.
- Scenes 18–48
Andrew learns Fletcher's brutal rules, competes for status, and tries to survive the first rehearsals.
- Scenes 49–50
Andrew plays Whiplash from memory and helps Shaffer win the competition, gaining the core position he wanted.
- Just before
- Scene 48
Fletcher blames Carl for the lost folder; Andrew says he knows Whiplash by heart and can play.
- Scene 49
Andrew performs Whiplash from memory, surviving the pressure while Fletcher watches for a mistake.
- Scene 50
After Shaffer wins, Fletcher praises the players publicly and casts his abusive methods as family care.
- Scene 51
This scene
