EXIT
At his mother's 70th birthday party, Yong-nam runs into Eui-joo, who rejected him in college. When the city is engulfed in toxic gas from a terrorist attack, the two must find a way to escape using all the techniques they learned in their college rock climbing club.
Despite its modest budget of $10.9M, EXIT became a massive hit, earning $69.5M worldwide—a remarkable 538% return. The film's bold vision resonated with audiences, confirming 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%)
EXIT (2019) reveals deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Lee Sang-geun's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Yong-nam, an unemployed former rock climbing champion, wakes up in his cramped room surrounded by job rejection letters, epitomizing his stagnant, directionless life as a disappointment to his family.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when A mysterious white toxic gas begins spreading through Seoul, reaching the convention center where the party is held. Panic erupts as people realize the gas is deadly, transforming a celebration into a life-or-death crisis.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Yong-nam makes the active decision to use his rock climbing expertise to escape via the building's exterior. He chooses to take responsibility for saving Yoon-hee and his family, stepping into the role of hero despite years of failure., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Yong-nam and Yoon-hee successfully reach a higher building and momentarily celebrate, believing they've found safety. This false victory raises stakes as they realize the gas continues spreading and their family members are still in danger below., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Yong-nam loses his grip and nearly falls to his death in the toxic gas below. Yoon-hee barely saves him, but they're trapped with no apparent escape route, separated from family, physically depleted, and surrounded by rising gas on all sides. Hope seems lost., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Yong-nam realizes they can use a construction crane and drone to create an escape route to a nearby helicopter landing zone. Combining his climbing skills with Yoon-hee's problem-solving, he finds renewed purpose: he's not the failure he believed himself to be., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
EXIT'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 EXIT against these established plot points, we can identify how Lee Sang-geun utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish EXIT within the action genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Yong-nam, an unemployed former rock climbing champion, wakes up in his cramped room surrounded by job rejection letters, epitomizing his stagnant, directionless life as a disappointment to his family.
Theme
At the family gathering, Yong-nam's mother tells guests that "everyone has their time to shine" - establishing the theme of finding purpose and redemption when opportunity calls.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Yong-nam's world: his unemployment struggles, family dynamics at his mother's 70th birthday party, the reunion with college crush Yoon-hee (now a successful event coordinator), and the establishment of his past glory as a climbing champion contrasted with present failure.
Disruption
A mysterious white toxic gas begins spreading through Seoul, reaching the convention center where the party is held. Panic erupts as people realize the gas is deadly, transforming a celebration into a life-or-death crisis.
Resistance
Chaos and initial survival attempts as the gas rises floor by floor. Yong-nam hesitates, uncertain if his old climbing skills matter. He reconnects with Yoon-hee as they navigate the panicking crowd, moving upward to escape the rising poison gas.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Yong-nam makes the active decision to use his rock climbing expertise to escape via the building's exterior. He chooses to take responsibility for saving Yoon-hee and his family, stepping into the role of hero despite years of failure.
Mirror World
Yong-nam and Yoon-hee form a partnership, working together on the building's exterior. Their developing connection represents the film's thematic heart: two people finding their worth through mutual support and courage rather than conventional success.
Premise
The "fun and games" of creative climbing and parkour sequences. Yong-nam and Yoon-hee navigate building exteriors, ledges, and rooftops in increasingly inventive ways, using ropes, signs, and urban infrastructure. The premise delivers on its promise: thrilling vertical escape action with comedic chemistry.
Midpoint
Yong-nam and Yoon-hee successfully reach a higher building and momentarily celebrate, believing they've found safety. This false victory raises stakes as they realize the gas continues spreading and their family members are still in danger below.
Opposition
The gas spreads faster and higher than expected. Rescue attempts grow more desperate and dangerous. Yong-nam's physical exhaustion mounts, his old skills faltering. They face increasingly difficult obstacles: wider gaps, unstable structures, and dwindling options as the toxic cloud engulfs more of the city.
Collapse
Yong-nam loses his grip and nearly falls to his death in the toxic gas below. Yoon-hee barely saves him, but they're trapped with no apparent escape route, separated from family, physically depleted, and surrounded by rising gas on all sides. Hope seems lost.
Crisis
Yong-nam confronts his deepest fear: that he's truly worthless and has led Yoon-hee to her death. In their darkest moment, they share vulnerable truths about failure and fear, finding emotional connection in despair before the final push.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Yong-nam realizes they can use a construction crane and drone to create an escape route to a nearby helicopter landing zone. Combining his climbing skills with Yoon-hee's problem-solving, he finds renewed purpose: he's not the failure he believed himself to be.
Synthesis
The finale: an elaborate, death-defying climbing sequence using the crane, cables, and building gaps. Yong-nam executes impossible jumps and climbs, saving Yoon-hee, his family, and other survivors. He synthesizes his past glory with newfound courage and purpose, becoming the hero he was always capable of being.
Transformation
Yong-nam and Yoon-hee, covered in dust but alive, stand together on safe ground surrounded by rescued family members. The former unemployed failure is now celebrated as a hero, having found both his purpose and romantic connection - the complete opposite of the opening's isolation and shame.