Grimsby
MI6's top assassin (Mark Strong) has a brother. Unfortunately for him, he's a football hooligan (Sacha Baron Cohen) from the town of Grimsby. Nobby has everything a man from the poor English fishing town of Grimsby could want - 9 children and the most attractive girlfriend in northern England (Rebel Wilson). There's only one thing missing in his life: his little brother, Sebastian. After they were adopted by different families as children, Nobby spent 28 years searching for him. Upon hearing of his location, Nobby sets off to reunite with his brother, unaware that not only is his brother an MI6 agent, but he's just uncovered a plot that puts the world in danger. On the run and wrongfully accused, Sebastian realizes that if he is going to save the world, he will need the help of its biggest idiot.
The film underperformed commercially against its respectable budget of $35.0M, earning $28.0M globally (-20% loss).
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%)
Grimsby (2016) reveals meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Louis Leterrier's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 23 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Norman "Nobby" Butcher lives in Grimsby with his large family in a chaotic working-class existence, still searching for his long-lost brother Sebastian after 28 years of separation.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Nobby discovers Sebastian's location through a genealogy search and decides to attend a charity event to reunite with him, setting the collision course between their two worlds.. At 11% 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 20 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Nobby disrupts Sebastian's assassination prevention mission at the gala, causing Sebastian to accidentally shoot the wrong target. The brothers are reunited, but Sebastian is now framed as a rogue agent and forced to go on the run with Nobby., moving from reaction to action.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The brothers successfully infiltrate a South African location and discover critical information about the virus plot. They bond and seem to be winning, with Sebastian beginning to appreciate Nobby's unorthodox skills and loyalty. False victory - they believe they're ahead of the conspiracy., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 62 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sebastian is shot and infected with the virus, seemingly doomed to die. The brothers' mission appears to have failed completely, and their brief reunion will end in Sebastian's death - a literal "whiff of death."., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 65 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. Sebastian survives and realizes Nobby's loyalty and love are real. They synthesize their skills - Sebastian's training with Nobby's street smarts and selflessness - and discover the final piece of the conspiracy, learning the attack will occur at the World Cup final., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Grimsby'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 Grimsby against these established plot points, we can identify how Louis Leterrier utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Grimsby within the action genre.
Louis Leterrier's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Louis Leterrier films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Grimsby represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Louis Leterrier filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Louis Leterrier analyses, see The Incredible Hulk, Unleashed and Now You See Me.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Norman "Nobby" Butcher lives in Grimsby with his large family in a chaotic working-class existence, still searching for his long-lost brother Sebastian after 28 years of separation.
Theme
Nobby tells his children that "family is everything" and that he'll never stop looking for Sebastian, establishing the film's core theme about brotherhood and loyalty transcending class divisions.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Nobby's chaotic life in Grimsby - his pub culture, football obsession, nine children, and devoted wife Dawn. Meanwhile, Sebastian is revealed as an elite MI6 agent on a dangerous mission, showing the stark contrast between the brothers' worlds.
Disruption
Nobby discovers Sebastian's location through a genealogy search and decides to attend a charity event to reunite with him, setting the collision course between their two worlds.
Resistance
Nobby prepares for the reunion while Sebastian conducts surveillance at the charity gala. The section builds toward their meeting, with Sebastian unaware of Nobby's presence while tracking a potential threat.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nobby disrupts Sebastian's assassination prevention mission at the gala, causing Sebastian to accidentally shoot the wrong target. The brothers are reunited, but Sebastian is now framed as a rogue agent and forced to go on the run with Nobby.
Mirror World
Sebastian reluctantly enters Nobby's world, hiding in his Grimsby home. The relationship between the brothers serves as the thematic mirror - Sebastian must learn what family truly means beyond his isolated spy existence.
Premise
The "odd couple" spy comedy delivers its premise as working-class Nobby and sophisticated Sebastian must work together. Comic set pieces include hiding inside an elephant, escaping MI6, and Nobby's crude methods clashing with Sebastian's training as they investigate the conspiracy.
Midpoint
The brothers successfully infiltrate a South African location and discover critical information about the virus plot. They bond and seem to be winning, with Sebastian beginning to appreciate Nobby's unorthodox skills and loyalty. False victory - they believe they're ahead of the conspiracy.
Opposition
The villain's plot escalates as they race to stop a biological attack. Sebastian's MI6 handler is revealed as corrupt. The brothers' differences create friction, and the stakes rise as they discover the attack will happen at a major event with global consequences.
Collapse
Sebastian is shot and infected with the virus, seemingly doomed to die. The brothers' mission appears to have failed completely, and their brief reunion will end in Sebastian's death - a literal "whiff of death."
Crisis
Nobby faces losing his brother again just after finding him. In desperation and true brotherly love, Nobby sucks the poison from Sebastian's wound, risking his own life. This sacrifice proves the theme and transforms their relationship.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sebastian survives and realizes Nobby's loyalty and love are real. They synthesize their skills - Sebastian's training with Nobby's street smarts and selflessness - and discover the final piece of the conspiracy, learning the attack will occur at the World Cup final.
Synthesis
The brothers infiltrate the World Cup final to stop the virus attack. Working as a true team, they combine their abilities in an action-comedy finale, stop the villain, save millions of lives, and clear Sebastian's name. The family theme culminates with both brothers fighting for each other.
Transformation
Sebastian is reinstated as an agent but chooses to remain connected to Nobby and his Grimsby family. The closing shows Sebastian integrated into Nobby's chaotic family life, having learned that family and connection matter more than status - a complete transformation from the isolated agent at the start.