Death at a Funeral
A myriad of outrageous calamities befalls an eccentric English clan with more than a few skeletons in its closets when the family's patriarch dies an unexpected death.
Despite its small-scale budget of $9.0M, Death at a Funeral became a solid performer, earning $46.8M worldwide—a 420% return. The film's compelling narrative engaged audiences, proving 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%)
Death at a Funeral (2007) demonstrates strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Frank Oz's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Daniel arrives at his childhood home to prepare for his father's funeral. He's the responsible older son, stressed and trying to hold everything together while living in the shadow of his more successful writer brother Robert.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Peter Dinklage's character Frank arrives—a mysterious stranger no one knows. He pulls Daniel aside and reveals he was the father's lover, and he has compromising photos that he'll expose unless paid off.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Daniel decides to confide in his brother Robert about Frank's blackmail. The brothers must work together despite their rivalry, entering a world where they can no longer maintain the dignified facade of a proper funeral., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Frank rejects their payment offer and threatens to show the photographs to everyone at the funeral. The stakes raise—it's no longer about quiet negotiation but preventing public humiliation. False defeat: they thought money would solve it., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Frank's body (hidden in the coffin with Daniel's father) is about to be buried, and in the chaos, the coffin opens during the service, nearly exposing both bodies. Literal death meets social death—the ultimate loss of control and dignity., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The funeral concludes with the family coming together despite (and because of) the chaos. They dispose of Frank's body, reconcile their differences, support each other through the disasters, and find unexpected connection through shared absurdity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Death at a Funeral's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Death at a Funeral against these established plot points, we can identify how Frank Oz utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Death at a Funeral within the comedy genre.
Frank Oz's Structural Approach
Among the 11 Frank Oz films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Death at a Funeral takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Frank Oz filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Frank Oz analyses, see The Indian in the Cupboard, The Score and The Dark Crystal.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Daniel arrives at his childhood home to prepare for his father's funeral. He's the responsible older son, stressed and trying to hold everything together while living in the shadow of his more successful writer brother Robert.
Theme
Uncle Alfie complains about his seating arrangement, establishing the theme: family gatherings force us to confront uncomfortable truths and put aside our dignity. "It's a funeral, not a flower show."
Worldbuilding
Guests arrive for the funeral: Daniel's vain brother Robert shows up late, cousin Martha accidentally gives her fiancé Simon hallucinogenic drugs thinking they're Valium, wheelchair-bound Uncle Alfie causes trouble, and tensions between family members surface.
Disruption
Peter Dinklage's character Frank arrives—a mysterious stranger no one knows. He pulls Daniel aside and reveals he was the father's lover, and he has compromising photos that he'll expose unless paid off.
Resistance
Daniel struggles with the shocking revelation while juggling escalating chaos: Simon's drug trip intensifies, guests arrive, the wrong body is delivered by the funeral home, and Daniel debates whether to tell anyone about Frank or handle it himself.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Daniel decides to confide in his brother Robert about Frank's blackmail. The brothers must work together despite their rivalry, entering a world where they can no longer maintain the dignified facade of a proper funeral.
Mirror World
Simon, completely hallucinating on the rooftop, provides comic relief but also reflects the theme: he literally cannot maintain normal appearances and speaks uncomfortable truths, mirroring how the funeral strips away everyone's social masks.
Premise
The "fun and games" of funeral chaos: Simon's escalating drug-fueled disasters (rooftop nudity, destroying the coffin lid), Daniel and Robert attempting to negotiate with Frank, Uncle Alfie's bathroom emergency, family secrets spilling out, and mounting physical comedy.
Midpoint
Frank rejects their payment offer and threatens to show the photographs to everyone at the funeral. The stakes raise—it's no longer about quiet negotiation but preventing public humiliation. False defeat: they thought money would solve it.
Opposition
Everything intensifies: Martha and her family try to manage Simon's worsening condition, Justin accidentally kills Frank (who hits his head), the brothers now must hide a body, Uncle Alfie gets stuck on the roof, and multiple crises converge as the eulogy approaches.
Collapse
Frank's body (hidden in the coffin with Daniel's father) is about to be buried, and in the chaos, the coffin opens during the service, nearly exposing both bodies. Literal death meets social death—the ultimate loss of control and dignity.
Crisis
The family scrambles to close the coffin and maintain order. Daniel faces the complete breakdown of his careful planning. The funeral he tried to control perfectly has become absolute chaos, and he must accept he cannot maintain appearances.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The funeral concludes with the family coming together despite (and because of) the chaos. They dispose of Frank's body, reconcile their differences, support each other through the disasters, and find unexpected connection through shared absurdity.