About Time
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year's party, Tim's father tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. They can't change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus begins the start of a lesson in learning to appreciate life itself as it is, as it comes, and most importantly, the people living alongside us.
Despite its modest budget of $12.0M, About Time became a commercial juggernaut, earning $87.1M worldwide—a remarkable 626% return. The film's bold vision found its audience, demonstrating 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 Time (2013) demonstrates precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Richard Curtis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 3 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tim Lake
Mary
Dad
Kit Kat
Rory
Main Cast & Characters
Tim Lake
Played by Domhnall Gleeson
A young man who discovers he can travel in time and uses this ability to improve his life and find love.
Mary
Played by Rachel McAdams
An American woman working in London who becomes Tim's love interest and eventual wife.
Dad
Played by Bill Nighy
Tim's father, a wise and loving man who teaches Tim about time travel and what truly matters in life.
Kit Kat
Played by Lydia Wilson
Tim's quirky and troubled younger sister who struggles with relationships and self-confidence.
Rory
Played by Tom Hollander
Tim's awkward playwright friend and roommate who struggles with his own romantic life.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tim narrates his awkward, ordinary life in Cornwall - unsuccessful with girls, close family, New Year's parties. Establishes his "before" state as someone waiting for life to begin.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Tim decides to use time travel to get a girlfriend. This external "power" disrupts his passive acceptance of loneliness and gives him agency to pursue love, setting the story in motion.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Tim meets Mary in a "Dans Le Noir" restaurant (dining in darkness). He makes the active choice to pursue her genuinely, using time travel to perfect their first conversation. Enters the world of real romantic pursuit., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 48% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Tim and Mary's wedding day. A false victory - everything seems perfect, his life appears complete. He's achieved his goal of finding love through time travel, but the stakes are about to raise as he learns time travel can't fix everything., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tim's father reveals he has cancer and is dying. The "whiff of death" is literal. Tim realizes he cannot save his father - if he goes back before his third child's conception to visit his dad, he'll lose that child. Time travel cannot prevent this loss., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 98 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Tim's father dies. In the aftermath, Tim realizes the synthesis: he can visit his dad in the past before his third child. He does so, playing ping-pong one last time. Dad tells him the secret - "The truth is, I now don't travel back at all." He's learned to just live., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
About Time's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping About Time against these established plot points, we can identify how Richard Curtis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish About Time within the drama genre.
Richard Curtis's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Richard Curtis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. About Time takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Richard Curtis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Richard Curtis analyses, see Love Actually, The Boat That Rocked.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tim narrates his awkward, ordinary life in Cornwall - unsuccessful with girls, close family, New Year's parties. Establishes his "before" state as someone waiting for life to begin.
Theme
Tim's father tells him the men in their family can travel in time. He advises: "Try to live every day as if you've deliberately come back to enjoy it." Theme stated: ordinary moments are what matter most.
Worldbuilding
Tim learns about time travel ability, tests it by reliving New Year's kiss with Jimmy Fontaine (which fails again). Establishes rules: can only travel within own lifetime, into past not future. Shows his loving but quirky family dynamic.
Disruption
Tim decides to use time travel to get a girlfriend. This external "power" disrupts his passive acceptance of loneliness and gives him agency to pursue love, setting the story in motion.
Resistance
Tim moves to London to become a lawyer. He experiments with his power in small ways but hasn't yet committed to a major life change. Settles into new life, meets playwright Harry (his eccentric roommate). Period of adjustment and preparation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tim meets Mary in a "Dans Le Noir" restaurant (dining in darkness). He makes the active choice to pursue her genuinely, using time travel to perfect their first conversation. Enters the world of real romantic pursuit.
Mirror World
Tim and Mary's relationship deepens. She represents living authentically in the moment - she doesn't know about his time travel and loves him for who he is. This relationship will teach him the theme.
Premise
The "fun and games" of using time travel to build perfect relationship with Mary. Multiple do-overs: fixing dates, improving sex, navigating meeting her parents, proposing. The promise of the premise delivered - watching him optimize life through time travel.
Midpoint
Tim and Mary's wedding day. A false victory - everything seems perfect, his life appears complete. He's achieved his goal of finding love through time travel, but the stakes are about to raise as he learns time travel can't fix everything.
Opposition
Complications mount: Tim tries to help his sister Kit-Kat by time traveling, but this erases his daughter's conception - he has a different baby. He learns time travel has irreversible consequences. Mary gets pregnant, family pressures increase, his father's health declines. The limits of his power become clear.
Collapse
Tim's father reveals he has cancer and is dying. The "whiff of death" is literal. Tim realizes he cannot save his father - if he goes back before his third child's conception to visit his dad, he'll lose that child. Time travel cannot prevent this loss.
Crisis
Tim processes his father's impending death. Emotional conversations about mortality, meaning, and what matters. His father shares his own philosophy of living each day twice - once normally, once appreciating every moment. Tim grapples with losing his guide and mentor.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tim's father dies. In the aftermath, Tim realizes the synthesis: he can visit his dad in the past before his third child. He does so, playing ping-pong one last time. Dad tells him the secret - "The truth is, I now don't travel back at all." He's learned to just live.
Synthesis
Tim adopts his father's philosophy evolution: first living each day twice (once normal, once savoring), then realizing he doesn't need to travel back at all. Final montage shows him living ordinary moments - playing with kids, commuting, daily life - with full presence and appreciation.
Transformation
Final image mirrors opening: Tim with his family, but now fully present and appreciating the ordinariness. Voiceover: "We're all traveling through time together, every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride." Complete transformation from waiting for life to living it.