About Last Night...
Danny and Bernie are two single men living their lives on the wild side. But when Danny meets Debbie at a bar and the two start a relationship with a one night stand, Danny's life takes a different turn. How does this passionate night become a full affair and what effect will this relationship have on both people and their friendship with their best mates ?
Despite its modest budget of $8.5M, About Last Night... became a box office success, earning $38.7M worldwide—a 355% return. The film's distinctive approach attracted moviegoers, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
About Last Night... (1986) exhibits meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Edward Zwick's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 53 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Danny Martin
Debbie Sullivan
Bernie Litko
Joan
Main Cast & Characters
Danny Martin
Played by Rob Lowe
A successful advertising executive who falls into a passionate relationship with Debbie, struggling between intimacy and independence.
Debbie Sullivan
Played by Demi Moore
An art director seeking genuine connection and commitment, navigating the complexities of modern romance.
Bernie Litko
Played by James Belushi
Danny's brash, commitment-phobic best friend who champions bachelor life and provides comic relief.
Joan
Played by Elizabeth Perkins
Debbie's best friend and confidante, equally cynical about relationships but secretly desiring connection.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Danny and Bernie engage in casual bar pickup culture, establishing their commitment-phobic lifestyle and juvenile approach to relationships in Chicago's singles scene.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Danny and Debbie meet at Mother's bar and share immediate chemistry, different from their usual superficial encounters—a genuine connection neither expected.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Danny and Debbie decide to move in together, making an active choice to commit to a relationship despite their fears and friends' skepticism., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat First major fight: intimacy triggers fear and old patterns resurface. Danny withdraws emotionally, going out with Bernie instead of communicating, revealing that proximity has raised the stakes., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Danny and Debbie break up in a devastating confrontation. The relationship—and their hope for genuine intimacy—dies. Both retreat to their old, safe, empty lifestyles., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Danny realizes he wants Debbie despite the fear—genuine love requires vulnerability. He gains clarity that running from intimacy only guarantees loneliness, choosing growth over safety., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
About Last Night...'s emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping About Last Night... against these established plot points, we can identify how Edward Zwick utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish About Last Night... within the comedy genre.
Edward Zwick's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Edward Zwick films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. About Last Night... represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Edward Zwick filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Edward Zwick analyses, see Courage Under Fire, Blood Diamond and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Danny and Bernie engage in casual bar pickup culture, establishing their commitment-phobic lifestyle and juvenile approach to relationships in Chicago's singles scene.
Theme
Joan asks Debbie, "What do you want?" foreshadowing the central question about what people truly need versus what they think they want in relationships.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Danny and Bernie's bachelor lifestyle, Debbie and Joan's friendship, workplace dynamics, and the Chicago singles bar scene that defines their world.
Disruption
Danny and Debbie meet at Mother's bar and share immediate chemistry, different from their usual superficial encounters—a genuine connection neither expected.
Resistance
Danny and Debbie tentatively date while their friends Bernie and Joan offer contrasting advice. Both resist commitment, debating whether to pursue something serious or maintain independence.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Danny and Debbie decide to move in together, making an active choice to commit to a relationship despite their fears and friends' skepticism.
Mirror World
Bernie and Joan begin their own volatile relationship, serving as the thematic mirror—showing the same fear of intimacy played out through conflict and sarcasm rather than Danny and Debbie's earnest attempts.
Premise
The promise of romantic bliss: Danny and Debbie enjoy domestic life together, experiencing the honeymoon phase with passion, playfulness, and building a shared life.
Midpoint
First major fight: intimacy triggers fear and old patterns resurface. Danny withdraws emotionally, going out with Bernie instead of communicating, revealing that proximity has raised the stakes.
Opposition
Escalating conflicts driven by commitment fears: petty arguments mask deeper anxieties, Danny prioritizes friendships over the relationship, and both struggle with vulnerability as pressure from work and friends intensifies.
Collapse
Danny and Debbie break up in a devastating confrontation. The relationship—and their hope for genuine intimacy—dies. Both retreat to their old, safe, empty lifestyles.
Crisis
Danny and Debbie separately process the loss, experiencing loneliness and recognizing the emptiness of their old patterns. Both hit emotional bottom, realizing what they've lost.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Danny realizes he wants Debbie despite the fear—genuine love requires vulnerability. He gains clarity that running from intimacy only guarantees loneliness, choosing growth over safety.
Synthesis
Danny pursues Debbie with newfound maturity, they tentatively reconcile, and both demonstrate growth—communicating openly, acknowledging fears, and choosing commitment with eyes open.
Transformation
Danny and Debbie together, transformed from commitment-phobic singles into partners willing to be vulnerable. The final image mirrors the opening bars, but now they choose intimacy over games.