Collateral Beauty
Retreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions the universe by writing to Love, Time and Death. Receiving unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things interlock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.
Despite a moderate budget of $36.0M, Collateral Beauty became a commercial success, earning $88.5M worldwide—a 146% return.
1 win & 6 nominations
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%)
Collateral Beauty (2016) exemplifies carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of David Frankel's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Howard Inlet
Death
Time
Love
Whit Yardsham
Claire Wilson
Simon Scott
Madeleine
Main Cast & Characters
Howard Inlet
Played by Will Smith
A successful advertising executive devastated by the death of his young daughter, who withdraws from life and writes letters to Death, Time, and Love.
Death
Played by Helen Mirren
A mysterious woman who personifies Death itself, confronting Howard about his anger and helping him face his grief.
Time
Played by Jacob Latimore
A philosophical man who personifies Time, challenging Howard's perspective on how he spends his moments.
Love
Played by Keira Knightley
A compassionate woman who personifies Love, attempting to reach Howard's closed-off heart.
Whit Yardsham
Played by Edward Norton
Howard's business partner and friend, struggling with his own estrangement from his daughter while trying to save the company.
Claire Wilson
Played by Kate Winslet
Howard's business partner dealing with infertility issues, who develops a connection with Raffi the grief counselor.
Simon Scott
Played by Michael Peña
Howard's business partner facing a terminal illness, who finds solace in his relationship with Death.
Madeleine
Played by Naomie Harris
A grief group counselor who lost her own daughter and provides wisdom and understanding to those in pain.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Howard delivers an inspiring speech to his advertising team about connection and "collateral beauty" - the profound human experiences that connect us all. He is charismatic, successful, and full of life.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The partners discover Howard has been writing letters to Love, Time, and Death - abstract concepts he blames for his loss. They realize he's completely disconnected from reality and the business will collapse unless they act.. At 12% 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to The partners commit to the deception. They hire three struggling actors - Raffi, Amy, and Brigitte - to play Death, Love, and Time. The plan is set in motion., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Death (Brigitte) confronts Howard directly about his inability to accept his daughter's fate. Howard breaks down, admitting he can't forgive himself. The encounters are working - but Howard is getting worse, not better, and the partners' guilt intensifies., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, At the support group, Howard finally speaks his truth: his daughter died and he feels responsible. He reveals her name was Olivia and she was six. His complete breakdown represents the death of his last defenses., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Madeleine reveals to Howard that she is Olivia's grandmother - his daughter's maternal grandmother. She's been attending the group to be near him. This connection reframes everything: he's not alone in his grief., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Collateral Beauty's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Collateral Beauty against these established plot points, we can identify how David Frankel utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Collateral Beauty within the drama genre.
David Frankel's Structural Approach
Among the 5 David Frankel films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Collateral Beauty takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete David Frankel filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more David Frankel analyses, see Marley & Me, The Big Year and One Chance.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Howard delivers an inspiring speech to his advertising team about connection and "collateral beauty" - the profound human experiences that connect us all. He is charismatic, successful, and full of life.
Theme
Howard tells his team: "We're here to connect. Love, time, death - these are the three things we long for, yet these three things connect every single human being on Earth." This thematic statement frames the entire story.
Worldbuilding
Two years later: Howard is broken after his daughter's death. His partners Whit, Claire, and Simon reveal the company is failing because Howard does nothing but build elaborate domino structures. They need to sell but Howard owns 60% and won't engage.
Disruption
The partners discover Howard has been writing letters to Love, Time, and Death - abstract concepts he blames for his loss. They realize he's completely disconnected from reality and the business will collapse unless they act.
Resistance
The partners debate an unethical plan: hire actors to personify Love, Time, and Death, interact with Howard, then digitally erase them from footage to make him look insane and declare him unfit. Meanwhile, each partner attends a grief support group led by Madeleine.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The partners commit to the deception. They hire three struggling actors - Raffi, Amy, and Brigitte - to play Death, Love, and Time. The plan is set in motion.
Mirror World
Howard encounters Madeleine at the grief support group. She represents genuine connection through shared pain, contrasting with Howard's isolation. She will become the character who helps him see meaning again.
Premise
The actors begin confronting Howard as Love, Time, and Death in public places. Each encounter challenges Howard while simultaneously revealing the partners' own struggles: Whit's estranged daughter, Claire's biological clock, Simon's terminal illness. The manipulation unfolds.
Midpoint
Death (Brigitte) confronts Howard directly about his inability to accept his daughter's fate. Howard breaks down, admitting he can't forgive himself. The encounters are working - but Howard is getting worse, not better, and the partners' guilt intensifies.
Opposition
The scheme progresses but cracks appear. Each partner faces consequences of their own avoidance: Whit must confront his daughter, Claire faces fertility reality, Simon hides his illness. Howard continues dialogues with the actors, while the partners collect footage for their deception.
Collapse
At the support group, Howard finally speaks his truth: his daughter died and he feels responsible. He reveals her name was Olivia and she was six. His complete breakdown represents the death of his last defenses.
Crisis
The partners watch the manipulated footage and feel profound shame. Each realizes they've been running from their own encounters with Love, Time, and Death. Howard sits alone, processing his grief.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Madeleine reveals to Howard that she is Olivia's grandmother - his daughter's maternal grandmother. She's been attending the group to be near him. This connection reframes everything: he's not alone in his grief.
Synthesis
Howard chooses to sell his share and step away, finding peace. The partners confess their scheme but Howard forgives them - they're all struggling. Each partner takes action: Whit reconnects with his daughter, Claire pursues adoption, Simon tells his wife the truth. The actors vanish mysteriously, suggesting they may have been real all along.
Transformation
Howard scatters dominoes into the river - releasing his obsessive control. He meets Madeleine and they walk together, two people connected by love and loss. Howard has moved from isolation to connection, finding the "collateral beauty" in his grief.