Five Feet Apart
Seventeen-year-old Stella spends most of her time in the hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control — all of which get put to the test when she meets Will, an impossibly charming teen who has the same illness. There's an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction.
Despite its small-scale budget of $7.0M, Five Feet Apart became a commercial juggernaut, earning $92.6M worldwide—a remarkable 1223% return. The film's compelling narrative found its audience, 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%)
Five Feet Apart (2019) showcases deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Justin Baldoni's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Stella Grant narrates her regimented life with cystic fibrosis in the hospital, showing her obsessive control over her treatment routine and meticulously organized world.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Will Newman arrives at the hospital, a rebellious CF patient with B. Cepacia who isn't compliant with treatment and could jeopardize Stella's transplant chances if she gets infected by him.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Stella decides to take control by helping Will with his treatments in exchange for him doing an art project. They agree to collaborate while maintaining exactly five feet apart (one foot closer than protocol) using a pool cue to measure., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Poe, Stella's best friend, collapses and dies suddenly from his CF, delivering a devastating blow and raising the stakes by showing the deadly reality they all face., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Stella falls through the ice into freezing water during an impulsive outing. Will breaks protocol to save her life by touching her and performing CPR, but she gets infected and loses her spot on the transplant list., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Stella realizes through Poe's video and her own reflection that she wants to truly live and experience love, even with the risk. She chooses to be with Will despite the impossibility, embracing life over mere survival., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Five Feet Apart'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 Five Feet Apart against these established plot points, we can identify how Justin Baldoni utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Five Feet Apart within the romance genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Stella Grant narrates her regimented life with cystic fibrosis in the hospital, showing her obsessive control over her treatment routine and meticulously organized world.
Theme
Stella's nurse Barb tells her "You're not in control of everything," establishing the theme about control versus living fully in the face of mortality.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the hospital world, CF protocols including the six-feet rule between patients, Stella's friendships with Poe and other CF teens, her YouTube channel documenting treatment, and her dedication to staying compliant for a lung transplant.
Disruption
Will Newman arrives at the hospital, a rebellious CF patient with B. cepacia who isn't compliant with treatment and could jeopardize Stella's transplant chances if she gets infected by him.
Resistance
Stella initially tries to avoid Will but becomes determined to force him into treatment compliance. They begin interacting through texts and FaceTime, maintaining the six-feet distance while developing a connection through their shared experience of CF.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Stella decides to take control by helping Will with his treatments in exchange for him doing an art project. They agree to collaborate while maintaining exactly five feet apart (one foot closer than protocol) using a pool cue to measure.
Mirror World
Will and Stella bond during their first treatment session together, sharing personal stories. Will represents freedom and living in the moment, challenging Stella's need for rigid control.
Premise
Stella and Will fall in love while maintaining their five-feet distance, finding creative ways to be together—birthday dinner, walking the halls, treating together. They experience the joy and romance they came for despite their medical limitations.
Midpoint
Poe, Stella's best friend, collapses and dies suddenly from his CF, delivering a devastating blow and raising the stakes by showing the deadly reality they all face.
Opposition
Stella spirals into grief and guilt over Poe's death. Her relationship with Will intensifies but faces opposition from her fear of loss, medical realities, and the impossibility of physical closeness. Will gets accepted into a drug trial, creating potential separation.
Collapse
Stella falls through the ice into freezing water during an impulsive outing. Will breaks protocol to save her life by touching her and performing CPR, but she gets infected and loses her spot on the transplant list.
Crisis
Stella devastated by losing the transplant, faces her darkest moment realizing her need for control cost her everything. She pushes Will away, believing their love is impossible and too painful.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Stella realizes through Poe's video and her own reflection that she wants to truly live and experience love, even with the risk. She chooses to be with Will despite the impossibility, embracing life over mere survival.
Synthesis
Stella finds Will before he leaves for the drug trial. They share an emotional goodbye, acknowledging their love while accepting they must stay apart for her health. They hold each other with a pool cue between them, finding peace in their impossible love.
Transformation
Stella narrates that her life is no longer about merely surviving but about living fully in the time she has, showing her transformation from control-obsessed to embracing the beauty of living with love and uncertainty.